Grammar
Simple future tense: predictions, decisions, and promises
Sign in to saveYour friend drops a bag of oranges. You decide at once: I will help you. Later, you say, I think the weather will improve tomorrow. Both sentences look to the future, but one is an immediate decision and the other is a prediction.
Use will plus a base verb to make a prediction, a decision made now, an offer, or a promise; form simple negatives and questions accurately.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I'll call you when I arrive. /aɪl kɔːl juː wen aɪ əˈraɪv/
The short answer
Use will plus a base verb: I will call, she will call, and they will call. Use it for a prediction, a decision made now, an offer, or a promise. Add not for a negative, and put will before the subject for a question.
I will send you the photo this evening.
Why it works: Will send is a promise about a future action.
5 more examples
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The doorbell is ringing. I will get the door.
The speaker decides at the moment of speaking.
Not this:I
am going to visitmy neighbour after dinner. What changes: This reports an intention that already existed before the conversation. -
I think our team will win the match.
The sentence gives the speaker's prediction.
Not this:Our team
is going to winbecause they are already three goals ahead. What changes: The score is present evidence for the prediction. -
I will carry your suitcase to the taxi.
Will makes an offer of help during the conversation.
Not this:I
carrymy suitcase to the taxi every time. What changes: The present simple describes a usual action, not an offer for the future. -
I will call you when I arrive.
The speaker makes a promise about a later action.
Not this:I
calledyou when I arrived yesterday. What changes: The past form describes an action that has already finished. -
Will they join us for lunch?
Will comes before the subject to make a future question.
Not this:They
will not joinus for lunch. What changes: Will not changes the statement into a negative.
Read the full guide
Start by looking at the reason for the sentence. If you are deciding now, offering help, making a promise, or saying what you expect, will is often the useful form. Then check the pattern: will plus the plain form of the verb.
Make the basic future pattern
The simple future pattern is subject plus will plus a base verb. The same will works with every subject, so you do not add s for he or she. The base verb is the dictionary form: go, eat, study, or be.
I will cook dinner tonight.
Cook is the base verb after will.
She will cook dinner tonight.
The verb stays cook even though the subject is she.
Complete the sentence: They will ____ home after the film.
Use go: They will go home after the film. Use the base verb after will.
Use will for predictions
Use will when you say what you think is likely to happen. Prediction words such as think, probably, and perhaps often appear with will. A prediction can be certain or uncertain; the sentence shows the speaker's view of the future.
I think the library will be busy after school.
The speaker gives an opinion about a later time.
It will probably rain this weekend.
Probably shows that the prediction is not completely certain.
Choose the future prediction: I think the shop ____ close early today.
Use will: I think the shop will close early today.
Use will for a decision made now
A speaker can use will after something happens in the conversation. The decision does not need a long plan. It can be a quick response to a problem, a request, or a new piece of information.
The room is dark. I will switch on the light.
The speaker chooses the action after noticing the dark room.
We have no milk. I will buy some on my way home.
The purchase is a response to the current need.
Your friend says, My phone battery is dead. Give a quick offer.
You can say, I will lend you my charger. The offer is made now.
Offer help and make a promise
Will is common when you offer to do something for another person. It also works for a promise. The listener can hear that the speaker accepts responsibility for the future action.
I will open the window for you.
This sentence offers a helpful action.
I will return your book on Monday.
This sentence promises a future action.
Complete the promise: Do not worry. I ____ keep your secret.
Use will: Do not worry. I will keep your secret.
Make negatives and questions
Put not after will to make a negative. Won't is the normal short form of will not. To ask a question, put will before the subject. Keep the main verb in its base form in both patterns.
We will not be late for the concert.
Will not can also be written as won't.
Will you help me with this box?
Will moves to the start of the question.
Correct this question: You will come tomorrow?
Write Will you come tomorrow? Put will before you for a standard future question.
Before you go
Remember this
Build the simple future with will plus a base verb. Use it for predictions, decisions made now, offers, and promises. For a negative, add not or use won't. For a question, move will before the subject.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Simple future tense: predictions, decisions, and promises"
How do I form the simple future tense with will?
Use a subject, will, and the base form of the verb. Say I will travel, she will travel, and they will travel. The verb does not change after will, so do not add s or to before the main verb.
The doorbell is ringing. I will get the door.
When do I use will in English?
Use will for a prediction, a decision made while you are speaking, an offer, or a promise. For example, I think our team will win is a prediction, while I will carry your suitcase is an offer made to help another person.
I am going to visit my neighbour after dinner.
What is the negative form of will?
Use will not plus the base verb. The usual short form is won't. For example, They will not join us for lunch and They won't join us for lunch have the same future negative meaning.
I think our team will win the match.
How do I make a question with will?
Put will before the subject, then use the base verb. Will they join us for lunch? asks about a future plan. Keep join in its base form after the subject.
Our team is going to win because they are already three goals ahead.
What is the difference between will and going to?
Will often fits a decision made now, an offer, a promise, or a general prediction. Be going to often reports an earlier intention or a prediction based on evidence. Compare I will get the door with I am going to visit my neighbour after dinner.
I will carry your suitcase to the taxi.