Present Continuous
Present Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Simple
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous
Future Simple
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Among all future tenses, the Future Simple is the most common. It is used in many situations such as when making promises or predictions.
Here goes a list to make it more readable.
Use
- Promises (Use 1)
- Unplanned actions (spontaneous decisions) (Use 2)
- Predictions based on experience or intuition * (Use 3)
- Habits (obstinate insitence, usually habitual) (Use 4)
* Use going to form to express predictions based on observing the present situation.
** You probably have encountered the word "gonna". That is the contraction of "going to".
Keep in mind: "Gonna" is rather informal so be careful when using it!
- My mother's gonna be mad!
Form
Positive sentences:
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Verb |
| I/a dog etc. | will | go/take etc. |
CAUTION
Remember, you should never use will to say what somebody has already arrange or decided to do in the future:
– Mike is moving to New Jersey next month (not "Mike will move")
- I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
- I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
- If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
- John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)
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- I will visit my grandma at hospital. (Use 1 or Use 2)
- Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket – they will be cheaper. (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
| Auxiliary verb | + | Subject | + | Verb |
| will | I/a dog etc. | go/take etc. |
Remember
We often use will with:
| probably, most likely | I'll probably drop in on uncle. |
| I think | This gift is great. I think we'll love it. |
| I'm sure | It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will be a lot of boys at your age |
| I wonder (if, what, when, etc.) | It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come. |
| I expect | I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call today. |
- Will he be surprised when he sees me? (Use 3)
- Will Mark be able to do the shopping before 10 a.m.? (Use 3)
- Will there be plenty of people in church? (Use 3)
- Will you study harder? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb + not | + | Verb |
| I/a dog etc. | will not/won't | go/take etc. |
- I won't take any heavy equipment with me. (Use 2)
- I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with your English today. (Use 2)
- I expect that Sally will not clean up her room, unless you help her. (Use 3)
Test your understanding
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This was really helpful to me, but I doubt about some sentences whether they are really correct to use which is given here...
Hi Ravi. Could you specify which sentences are in your opinion incorrect to use?
Hi,
I just need to know when to use "WILL" and when to use "SHALL".
Thanks
The simplest answer is to use American English, where we only use "shall" in the phrase "Shall we dance?" Ok, not ONLY then, but that is the general idea. It is hardly ever used.
Hi Toni,
Thank you for your reply.
I have heard that "will" should be used only when you are sure that the action would definitely take place in case of a singular form, however "shall" is used when we are not sure of the action. And it is vice-versa in case of a plural form.
Could you please help me with that.
Thanks & Regards
Priya
Priya, I suppose you MUST use British English, although I find "shall" to be a cumbersome word.
You may use "shall" in the context of a voluntary offer of help ("shall I do the washing up?") as well as for an unavoidable and undesired course of action (Oh dear, the car won't start. I suppose I shall have to take the bus."), asking opinions ("Shall I wear this dress?"), a formal commitment ("we shall cut taxes to stimulate the economy"), as a threat or warning ("If you don't stop pinching Mary I shall tell your mother"), or even in a prediction ("I wonder what I shall be when I grow up?). Never in a deduction, though ("That will be my mother calling to see if I have left yet.").
American English would eliminate the "shall" in the above examples and use "Can I do the dishes for you?," "I'll have to take the bus," and "will" in the other examples, as well.
I am unfamiliar with your suggestion that the form changes based on the certainty of the action. Could you please give examples?
Peace,
Toni
Hi friends
Can you explain me when to use will be and when to use will.
thanks
Anil
Hi Anil,
I would like to give you an example and I am sure you would understand the usage of "will" and "will be".
I will be going to the market tomorrow.( Future Continuous Tense )
I will go to the market tomorrow. ( Future Simple Tense )
Please correct me if someone feels that this information is incorrect.
Thanks & Regards
Priya
Oh, tomorrow I have an examination on grammar, and I need more information about modal verbs...But thanks a lot, it is really very helpful site!
Thank you for helping me improve on my English Language. Please help me know when SHALL and WILL work. Thank you.
Thank-you for this info.
I understand the first three uses but not the third (habits) and I also do not understand the examples provided for those usages.
The use of "will" for habits goes something like this: "John WILL keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath." It is used for unfortunate habits, though, not the good ones. Ever.
Also, click on the word "habits" on the list for a more complete explanation. My apologies if my insistence that "will" as I mentioned is never used for good habits confuses you. The irritated, stressed "will" of the example is used for negative habits only, though.
>I understand the first three uses but not the third (habits) and
>I also do not understand the examples provided for those usages.
That's probably because "habits" is USE 4, not USE 3 :-)
@Toni, would you mind if I added your example to this article?
Feel free!