Learn the definition, rules, usage, example sentences, and practice exercises of the simple future tense in English. Learn the entire lesson and enhance your English grammar learning skills.
Simple Future Tense in English
When you are referring to a future action, state, or event, use the simple future.
- FUTURE ACTION: We will take our final exam on Friday.
- FUTURE STATE: They will be late.
- FUTURE EVENT: The weather will improve.
To form the simple future for both regular and irregular verbs, place the modal auxiliary verb will before the base form of the verb.
| Singular | Plural | |
| First Person | I will verb | we will verb |
| Second Person | you will verb | you will verb |
| Third Person | he, she, it will verb | they will verb |
Forming Contractions: Pronouns with the Auxiliary Verb Will
In English, verbs are often combined with other words to form contractions. These shortened forms include an apostrophe (’) to indicate missing letters. It is important to learn contractions because you will often hear them in conversation or see them in informal writing. Formal writing, though, rarely contains contractions.
The modal auxiliary verb will is often combined with a pronoun to form a contraction. Notice that an apostrophe indicates that the letters w and i are omitted:
- I + will = I’ll
- we + will = we’ll
- he + will = he’ll
- you + will = you’ll
- she + will = she’ll
- they + will = they’ll
Forming Negatives
To form a negative, place not between the modal auxiliary verb will and the main verb.
- will not go
Forming Contractions: Won’t
In conversation and informal writing, will and not are often contracted. The letter i in will changes to o in won’t. The apostrophe indicates that at least one letter is omitted:
- will + not = won’t
Forming yes-or-no Questions
To form questions that can be answered yes or no (yes-or-no questions), begin the question with the modal auxiliary verb will. After the modal verb, place the subject and the main verb.
- Statement: You will be away a long time.
- Yes/no question: Will you be away a long time?
Forming WH-Questions
WH-Questions are used to elicit specific pieces of information. They usually begin with what, who, why, where, when, how, or combinations such as how much, how many, and how often. When the question word is the subject of the sentence, the form of the question is similar to the form of a statement.
- Statement: McGraw-Hill will publish his new book.
- Wh-question: Who will publish his new book?
When the question word is any other part of the sentence, the auxiliary modal verb will comes after the question word, followed by the subject and the main verb.
- Statement: The play will begin at 8:00.
- Wh-question: When will the play begin?
- Statement: The package will contain two books and a DVD.
- Wh-question: What will the package contain?
Simple Future Tense Exercise
Exercise-1
Complete each sentence with the simple future form of the verb in parentheses.
1. We ———— (commute) to work with Megan next year.
2. The project ———— (require) a lot of hard work and patience.
3. I ———— (give) my report on Tuesday.
4. He ———— (visit) his parents this weekend.
5. Dr. Kobashi ———— (be) out of the office next week.
6. They ———— (announce) the winners on the radio.
7. Bob ———— (leave) next month.
8. Lilik and Rebecca ———— (complete) their training in February.
9. I ———— (call) you tomorrow.
10. They ———— (expand) the airport next year.
Exercise-2
Complete each sentence with a contraction using the pronoun and the verb provided.
EXAMPLE: I, see
I’ll see you in the morning.
1. They, believe
———— your story.
2. I, deliver
———— the package myself.
3. You, like
———— their new apartment.
4. It, end
———— soon.
5. He, help
———— us.
6. She, introduce
———— you.
7. We, sit
———— together
Exercise-3
Make each of the following sentences negative.
EXAMPLE: You will find your book over there.
You will not find your book over there.
1. He will finish by tomorrow.
2. You will have a lot of fun there.
3. She will know the answer.
4. We will ignore the problem.
5. They will keep your secret.
6. He will lie to you.
7. I will need help with my homework.
8. Marian will be alone.
9. I will mention your name.
10. They will be late.
Exercise-4
Rewrite the following statements as yes/no questions.
EXAMPLE: You will know more tomorrow.
Will you know more tomorrow?
- They will tell us on Friday.
- She will report the incident.
- You will laugh at my mistakes.
- Mitch will need some help.
- The noise will bother you.
- He will lend us some money.
- Dr. Silvis will be free at 4:00.
- We will meet later.
- They will use your plan.
- Federal Express will deliver the package to our house.
Exercise-5
Complete the following questions based on the statements provided.
EXAMPLE: My entire family will be there.
Who will be there?
1. His friends will repair his car.
Who ———— ———— ———
2. The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When ———— ———— ———— ————
3. Rhonda will finish the report by Monday.
When ———— ———— ————
4. It will cost $30.00.
How much ———— —
5. They will blame me for the mistake.
Whom ———— ————
(Who may be used instead of whom in conversation and informal writing.)
6. Professor Johnson and Professor Lee will choose the scholarship winners.
Who ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————
7. The supervisor will be on vacation for two weeks.
How long ———— ———— ————
8. They will complain about the mess.
What ———— ———— ————
9. Two students from our class will lead the discussion.
Who ———— ———— ———— ————
10. The dance group will perform on Thursday.
Simple Future Tense in English
Simple Future Tense in English
