Grammar
Future with will: decisions, predictions, and offers
The phone is ringing. I'll answer it. It is very cloudy. I think it will rain. In both sentences, will helps the speaker talk about the future.
Use will to make a decision at the moment of speaking, give a prediction, make an offer, or make a promise.
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 help you with that. /aɪl help juː wɪð ðæt/
The short answer
Use will plus the base verb for a decision made now, a prediction, an offer, or a promise. Say I'll carry that bag or I think the train will be late. Use won't for a negative future idea, and put will before the subject to make a question.
I'll call you when I arrive.
Why it works: I'll is short for I will. The speaker makes a promise about a later action.
5 more examples
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I'll open the window.
The speaker decides to act after noticing the room is warm.
Not this:I
openedthe window this morning. What changes: Opened talks about a finished action in the past, not a new future decision. -
I think Maya will enjoy the concert.
The speaker gives a prediction about Maya's future experience.
Not this:Maya
enjoyslive music. What changes: Enjoys states a general fact about Maya, while will enjoy is a prediction about this concert. -
I'll help you carry those boxes.
The speaker offers help in response to a current situation.
Not this:
Can you helpme carry these boxes? What changes: Can you help asks another person for help. I'll help offers help from the speaker. -
We won't be late for the meeting.
Won't is the usual short form of will not in a negative future sentence.
Not this:We
aren'tlate for the meeting. What changes: Aren't late describes the present. Won't be late gives information about the future. -
Will you send me the link later?
Will comes before you to make a question about a future action.
Not this:
You will sendme the link later. What changes: This word order makes a statement. Put will first when you ask the question.
Read the full guide
Will often appears when a speaker reacts to a situation. If someone says, 'The door is open,' you can decide at that moment: 'I'll close it.' You can also use will when you give your view of the future: 'I think the shop will be busy today.' The context tells the listener which meaning you intend.
Decide while you are speaking
Use will when you make a decision during the conversation. Something happens, and you choose what to do next.
The lights are off. I'll turn them on.
I'll turn them on is a decision made after the speaker notices the dark room.
That sounds like the doorbell. I'll see who it is.
The speaker decides to check the door at that moment.
A guest needs a chair. Choose the natural response: 'I'll get one' or 'I got one yesterday'?
Use I'll get one. It is a decision you make now.
Use will for predictions
Use will when you say what you think may happen later. Words such as think, probably, and perhaps often introduce a prediction.
I think the bus will arrive soon.
Will arrive shows the speaker's prediction about the bus.
Perhaps the price will go down next month.
Perhaps shows that the speaker is not certain about the prediction.
Complete the prediction: 'It is very windy. I think the flight ____ be delayed.'
Use will. After will, use the base verb be.
Offer help with I'll
I'll is common when you offer to do something for another person. The offer often answers a need you can see or hear.
Your hands are full. I'll hold the door.
I'll hold the door is an offer from the speaker.
I'll make you a cup of tea.
The speaker volunteers to make the drink.
Which sentence offers help: 'I'll print the form' or 'Will you print the form'?
I'll print the form offers help. Will you print the form asks another person to do it.
Make a promise about later
Use will when you promise that you will do something or when you reassure someone. The promise can be simple and direct.
I'll send the receipt this evening.
The speaker promises to send the receipt later.
Don't worry. We'll wait for you.
We'll is short for we will and gives reassurance about a future action.
Choose the promise: 'I will remember your birthday' or 'I remembered your birthday'?
Use I will remember your birthday when you promise something for the future.
Make negative sentences and questions
Use will not or won't before the base verb for a negative future sentence. To make a question, move will before the subject.
I won't forget your address.
Won't means will not, and forget stays in the base form.
Will they arrive before noon?
Will comes before they because this is a question.
Put the words in question order: 'you / will / come / tomorrow'?
Use Will you come tomorrow? Start the question with will.
Do not use will for every future plan
Will can talk about the future, but it is not the best form for every future situation. Use the present continuous for a personal arrangement that is already made. Use going to when you have an earlier intention or clear present evidence.
I'm meeting my tutor on Thursday.
The meeting is already arranged, so the present continuous is natural.
Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain.
The speaker can see evidence now, so going to is a natural choice.
You see a message about a new meeting. Which reply shows a new decision: 'I'll add it to my calendar' or 'I'm adding it every Tuesday'?
Use I'll add it to my calendar. The reply is a decision made after seeing the message.
Before you go
Remember this
Use will plus a base verb when you decide now, predict the future, offer help, or make a promise. Use won't for a negative sentence. Put will before the subject in a question. Check whether you are talking about a new response or an arrangement you made earlier.
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 "Future with will: decisions, predictions, and offers"
When do I use will in English?
Use will for a decision you make while speaking, a prediction, an offer, or a promise. For example, I'll open the window is a response to the room being warm. The speaker decides at that moment, so will fits the situation.
I'll open the window.
Can I use will for a prediction?
Yes. Use will when you say what you think may happen later. I think Maya will enjoy the concert is a prediction about one future event. Words such as think, perhaps, and probably can show that the speaker is giving an opinion rather than a certain fact.
I opened the window this morning.
How do I make an offer with will?
Use I'll plus a base verb when you volunteer to help. I'll help you carry those boxes offers help from the speaker. This form often follows a current need, such as seeing that another person has too much to carry.
I think Maya will enjoy the concert.
What is the negative form of will?
The negative form is will not, usually shortened to won't. We won't be late for the meeting talks about the future and says that being late will not happen. Put won't before the base verb, so say won't be, won't arrive, or won't forget.
Maya enjoys live music.
How do I make a question with will?
Put will before the subject. Will you send me the link later? asks about a future action. In a statement, the subject comes first: You will send me the link later. Moving will to the front changes the word order into a question.
I'll help you carry those boxes.