FUTURE SIMPLE

FUTURE SIMPLE

WILL + infinitive - GOING TO + infinitive

WILL + infinitive

• to make decisions that are made at the time of speaking

• to state a fact about the future

• to make a promise

• to make a prediction

• with words like "I think, I guess, I hope, probably, possibly..."

Examples:

* I think that you will all speak better English at the end of this course! 

* I'm sure I will have a vacation.

* I'll probably visit my parents in Seattle in the summer

* Anna won't have any problems!

* Will you marry me?

* She will have lots of pets.

* Children won’t go to school in the future.

* What will you do when you get home? 

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

• I WILL go ....

• She WILL play....

• He WILL make....

• It WILL rain...

• We WILL come ...

• You WILL see...

• They WILL work...

NEGATIVE FORM

• I WILL NOT / WON'T go....

• She WILL NOT / WON'T play.....

• It WILL NOT / WON'T rain.....

• We WILL NOT / WON'T come.....

• You WILL NOT/ WON'T see.....

• They WILL NOT / WON'T work.....

• Gina WILL NOT/ WON'T answer......

YES/NO and WH- QUESTIONS

• WILL SHE GO there again? Yes, she will. / No, she won't.

• WILL YOU MARRY me? Yes, I will. / No, I won't.

• WILL THEY GO to the party with me? Yes, they will/ No, they won't.

• What WILL YOU DO for your birthday? I'll have dinner in a fancy restaurant with my boyfriend.

• What WILL Lisa WEAR for the anniversary dinner? She will wear a long, brilliant gold dress.

• What WILL YOU COOK for lunch? I think I'll cook chicken

• Where WILL YOU TAKE the kids on your next vacation? I'll probably take them to the mountains

BE + GOING TO + infinitive

* To talk about a future event that has been planned before the time of speaking.

* You are certain that something is going to happen in the future (logical consequence)

* We use "be going to"  to predict something that we think is certain to happen or which we have evidence for now.

* To give commands or state that something is obligatory:

[parent to a child]

*Gonna (informal contexts)

Spoken English:

We use gonna /gənə/ instead of going to in informal contexts, especially in speaking and in song lyrics.

EXAMPLES:

• She’s going to be a professional dancer when she grows up.

• I’m going to look for a new place to live next month.

• It’s going to snow again soon. (The speaker can probably see dark snow clouds.)

• Look out! He’s going to break that glass.

• You’re going to pick up all of those toys right now. This room is a mess!

• Are you gonna try and get stuff sorted as soon as you can then? (Are you going to try and get things organized as soon as you can?)

• One day I’m gonna be a star.

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

• I am going to take up karate.

• She is going to have a competition next month.

• He is going to buy a new tennis racket, so I'm looking for some offers on eBay.

• Look at the sky! it's going to rain!

• We are going to watch a movie tonight.

• You are going to play handball

• They are going to sing at the party.

NEGATIVE FORM

• I AM NOT GOING TO take up karate. I'M NOT GOING TO take...

• She ISN'T GOING TO have a competition next month.

• It ISN'T GOING TO rain, the sky is clear.

• He ISN'T GOING TO buy a new tennis racket

• We AREN'T GOING TO watch a movie tonight.

• You AREN'T GOING TO play handball.

• They AREN'T GOING TO SING at the party.

YES/NO and WH- QUESTIONS

• Who is going to read the next paragraph?

• Are you going to speak at the conference?

• Is he going to cry again today?

• What is she going to cook for dinner?

• Are they going to sleep all day?

• When are we going to eat lunch?

• Where is your brother going to sleep when he visits you?

Are you wondering when to use the future simple tense? When do we use "will" and "be going to" to express the future?

Let's see....

Spontaneous (unplanned) future decisions (will)

• (The phone rings)  I’ll answer it.

• Is it midnight already? I think I'll go to bed now.

• Oh, and I'll also take a kilo of oranges, please.

• (After looking out the window) It's nice outside. I won't drive. I'll walk today.  or ride my bike.

For future facts (will)

• Tomorrow, the sun will rise at 8:30 and will set at 5 PM.

• The president will serve a four-year term.

• Who will host the next World Cup?

• Next year, we will offer evening classes.

• The police will not release additional information.

Predictions based on opinion (will / be going to)

We can use "will" or "be going to" make predictions:

• to express opinions about things that may happen in the future; or

• to make assumptions about the future based on something that's happening now.

• We often use "think" to express an opinion.

• Examples:

• I think it will rain tomorrow. / It'll rain tomorrow. (an opinion )

• The clouds are coming out... It's going to rain. (an assumption based on the clouds)

We use "be going to + infinitive" to describe an arrangement that we plan to do in the future.

We do not use "will" for things that we've already arranged or decided to do. As noted above, we use "will" for things that we decide to do right at that very moment.

• After the movie, we're going to have dinner at the pizzeria.

• My boyfriend and his best friend are going to join us for dinner.

To express willingness/unwillingness (will)

• We can use "will" to show that we are willing or voluntarily agreeing (or not willing or agreeing) to do something in the future.

• This includes making promises that we will do something and making requests or asking people if they are willing to do something.

• e.g: I will get the children after school.

• She'll bring the materials to your office.

• He won't do it for free.

• My parents won't buy me a new phone.

• I promise I will come home by midnight.