Actions and states that are related to upcoming events are most often spoken about using Future Simple time. Examples of sentences for future uncertain times can be divided into three groups: statements, denials, and questions.
Simple (or uncertain) future tense and is formed simply. In order to build sentences in Future Simple, just use the auxiliary verb will or the construct going to.
Statements with will
The assertion formation scheme is as follows: will + [infinitive without to]. Goals and related example sentences with Future Simple:
- Desire to do something: I will help you. The same item includes aspirations, promises, threats, offers and requests.
- Decisions made at the time of the call: I'm hot. I'll open the door (I'm hot. I'll open the door).
- Facts about the future: It will be winter soon.
- Predictions and predictions (often using expressions with think, believe, perhaps): I think, it will be snow (I think it will snow).
Affirmative sentences often use the abbreviated form of the verb will: I will do it tomorrow = I'll do it tomorrow (I will do it tomorrow).
Other sample sentences in Future Simple:
| Subject | Aux. verb | Main verb | Minor Proposal Members | Transfer |
| I | will | learn | English | I will learn English. |
| You | see | him | You will see him. |
| We | drink | juice | We will drink juice. |
| They | go | to city | They will go to the city. |
| She | sleep | in her room | She will sleep in her room. |
| He | read | this book | He will read this book. |
| It | flop | | This will fail (will not succeed). |
Claims with be going to
In addition to will, the future can be said with going to + [infinitive without to]. Will will be more neutral than going to.
- With will talk about instant decisions or concluding an agreement right at the time of what is happening, and with going to - about decisions made before the moment of speech:
| Will | Going to |
There's a postbox over there. I'll post these letters (The mailbox is over there. I will send these letters.) | I'm going out. I'm going to post these letters. (I will go outside. I am going to send these letters.) |
You still haven't read this book, Trevor / OK, I'll do it tomorrow (You still haven't read this book, Trevor. / Okay, I'll do it tomorrow.) | You still haven't read this book, Trevor / I know. I'm going to do it tomorrow. (You still haven't read this book, Trevor. / I know. I'm going to do it tomorrow.) |
- Going to is often used to “predict” the future, as will will. The differences are that will is used when they make the usual forecast "in general", and going to - when they make a conclusion from the current situation:
| Will | Going to |
I think united will win the game (I think Manchester United will win.) | There isn't a cloud in the sky. It's going to be a lovely day (Not a cloud in the sky. It will be a beautiful day.) |
One day people will travel to Mars (One day, people will go to Mars.) | This bag isn't very strong. It's going to break (This bag is not very strong. It will tear.) |
In modern colloquial English, the formula is popular for transmitting Future Simple. Example sentences with going to:
| Subject | Form to be | | Main verb | Minor Proposal Members | Transfer |
| I | am | going to | prepare | a place for you | I will prepare a place for you. |
| You | are | try | it | You are going to try this. |
| We | seek | our fortune | We will seek our happiness. |
| They | respond | to the question | They are going to answer the question. |
| She | is | massage | you | She will massage you. |
| He | play | soccer | He is going to play football. |
| It | snow | during the night | It will snow at night. |
The differences between will and going to are most easily traced from the context. The sentences themselves rarely contain the necessary information about whether a decision has been made in a speech situation.
On the other hand, one can focus on subjectivity, evaluative statements. The more it is based on a “personal approach,” as O. Dyakonov put it, the better it will be for him to use.
Denial
The formation of negative sentences in Future Simple follows the general pattern of negative education in English. The particle not is added to the auxiliary verb will:
| Affirmative sentence | Negative sentence |
I will be silent. (I will be silent.) | I will not be silent. (I will not be silent.) |
In the case of going to, the particle not comes after the form of the verb to be (i.e. again after the auxiliary verb):
| Affirmative sentence | Negative sentence |
I am going to sell this company. (I am going to sell this company.) | I am not going to sell this company. (I'm not going to sell this company.) |
The form of the verb will with the particle not often shortens to won't. For example, I will not keep silent = I won't keep silent.
Questions
The formation of the question in the simple future: (interrogative word) + will + subject + the remainder of the predicate. Requests are often formulated using the Future Simple question. Examples of sentences with will:
| Statement | Question |
You will give me your car. (You give me your car.) | Will you give me your car? (Will you give me your car?) |
You will help me. (Will you help me.) | Will you help me, please? (Will you help me?) |
It will be cool. (It'll be cool.) | Will it be cool? (It'll be cool?) |
You will require skills. (You will need skills.) | What skills will you require (What skills do you need?) |
You will prepare for it. (You will prepare for this.) | How will you prepare for it? (How will you prepare for this?) |
I will find happiness. (I will find happiness.) | When will you find happiness? (When will you find happiness?) |
The same rule is true for going to fair. The pattern of the question when using going to: (interrogative word) + the form of the verb to be + subject + the remainder of the predicate.
| Statement | Question |
They are going to respond to the question. (They are going to answer the question.) | Are they going to respond to the question? (Are they going to answer the question?) |
We are going to talk about it. (We are going to talk about this.) | What are you going to talk about? (What are you going to talk about?) |
Emotional expressiveness
Previously, along with will, the verb shall (shan't for short) was used to compose sentences in the simple future tense. As a rule, the shallow verb was used with the first person, and will - with the second and third.
- To express inflexibility, they often used the construction with will and shall: I will not and shall not do it (I do not want and will not do this).
- Now the verb shall makes speech somewhat formal.
- Not used in American English.
For emphase (emotional expressiveness) shall and will cease to obey the rules. Shall is used as will - with a second and third party:
- You shall not pass - you will not pass.
- You shall pay for everything - you will pay for everything.
When you need to politely ask about something or offer something, use statements with shall (only with the first person). An example of such statements are questions:
- Shall we all go out together? (Maybe let's go somewhere?)
- Shall we go by bus? (Take the bus).
Summary
A simple future allows us to talk about an indefinite period of time that comes after the present. Using Future simple, you can say or formulate:
- facts (what exactly will happen);
- decisions that are made at the time of the conversation (using will);
- predictions, assumptions and predictions based on personal preferences (using will);
- decisions that are made outside the speech situation (using going to);
- predictions, assumptions and forecasts as conclusions from situations, for example, “strong wind, the weather will go bad” (using going to);
- desires, requests, promises, refusals (using will and shall).
Future Simple is a simple but important time. Thanks to him, in English, you can promise to keep a secret, recall a significant date (facts), say how the public will accept your favorite movie (subjective forecast), what awaits a negligent student (objective forecast) and not only.