Simple Future Tense
What Is the Simple Future Tense? (with Examples)
The simple future tense is used for an action that will occur in the future.Examples of the Simple Future Tense
Here are some examples of the simple future tense (shaded):- The Moscow State Circus will perform in Cheltenham next year.
- We will celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York.
- The Moscow State Circus will not perform in Cheltenham next year.
- We won't celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York. (Note: "Will not" can be shortened to "won't" in English.)
- Will the Moscow State Circus perform in Cheltenham next year?
- Will we celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York?
Forming the Simple Future Tense
Here is an infographic explaining the simple future tense:The simple future is one of four future tenses. They are:
The 4 Future Tenses | Example |
---|---|
simple future tense | I will go |
future progressive tense | I will be going |
future perfect tense | I will have gone |
future perfect progressive tense | I will have been going |
Forming the Simple Future Tense
The simple future tense is formed:will + [base form of verb]
For example:
- She will play.
- Martin will paint.
Contractions with the Simple Future Tense
Be aware that in speech and writing (particularly informal writing), it is common for will to be shortened to 'll. This is especially common when will follows a a personal pronoun (e.g. I, he, she).- I will > I値l
- he will > he値l
- she will > she値l
- it will > it'll (This is not as common as the others.)
- you will > you値l
- we will > we値l
- they will > they値l
- who will > who'll (This is not as common as the others.)
Expressing a Negative with the Simple Future Tense
When expressing a negative, the simple future tense is formed "will not" + "[base form of the verb]". For example:- She will not play.
- Martin will not paint.
Be aware that will not is often shortened to won't in speech and informal writing.
Getting Some Emphasis in There
Be aware that will can be stressed for emphasis. (When looking for emphasis, you can't use the shortened versions.)- When will the cake be ready?
- I can tell you now. She will be accepted. (NB: You can't use She'll if you want to stress the word will for emphasis.)
With the negative version, the not is stressed, but, again, you can't use the shortened version.
- I will not tolerate sloppy drills. (NB: You can't use I'll if you want to stress the word not for emphasis. You have to use "I will not...".)
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See Also
Tenses Simple past tense Past progressive tense Past perfect tense Past perfect progressive tense Simple present tense Present progressive tense Present perfect tense Present perfect progressive tense Simple future tenseFuture progressive tense Future perfect tense Future perfect progressive tense Glossary of grammatical terms