SIMPLE FUTURE
Simple future, form
The 'simple' future is composed of two parts:
will / shall + the infinitive without
'to'
Subject | will | infinitive without to |
He | will | leave... |
Affirmative |
I | will | go |
I | shall | go |
Negative |
They | will not | see |
They | won't | see |
Interrogative |
Will | she | ask? |
Interrogative negative |
Won't | she | take? |
Contractions |
I will I'll | We will we'll |
You will you'll | You will you'll |
He,she, will he'll, she'll | They will they'll |
NOTE
: The form
'it will' is not normally shortened.
Example: to see, simple future
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
I'll see | I won't see | Will I see? |
*I will / shall see | I shan't see | Shall I see? |
You'll see | You won't see | Will you see? |
He, she, it will see | He won't see | Will she see? |
We'll see | We won't see | Will we see? |
*We will / shall see | We shan't see | Shall we see? |
You will see | You won't see | Will you see? |
They'll see | They won't see | Will they see? |
*NOTE
: shall is slightly dated but can be used instead of
will with
I or we. Simple future, function
The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case there is no 'attitude'.
The simple future is used:
- to predict a future event:
It will rain tomorrow.
- (with I/we) to express a spontaneous decision:
I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.
- to express willingness:
I'll do the washing-up. He'll carry your bag for you.
- (in the negative form) to express unwillingness:
The baby won't eat his soup.
I won't leave until I've seen the manager!
- (with I in the interrogative form) to make an offer:
Shall I open the window?
- (with we in the interrogative form) to make a suggestion:
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
- (with I in the interrogative form) to ask for advice or instructions:
What shall I tell the boss about this money?
- (with you) to give orders:
You will do exactly as I say.
- (with you) to give an invitation:
Will you come to the dance with me? Will you marry me?
NOTE: In modern English
will is preferred to
shall.
Shall is mainly used with
I and
we to make an offer or suggestion (see examples (e) and (f) above, or to ask for advice (example (g) above).
With the other persons (
you, he, she, they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g.
- "With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."
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