How do we make the future simple tense in English?
Note:This is also called the simple future tense or the future with will.
Positive form
subject + will + base form
| Full form | Short form |
| I will play | I’ll play |
| you will play | you’ll play |
| he will play | he’ll play |
| she will play | she’ll play |
| it will play | it’ll play |
| we will play | we’ll play |
| they will play | they’ll play |
For example:
- I will send you the report today.
- He’ll be happy when he hears the news.
- We’ll never forget her kindness.
Some notes on short forms:
1. We usually contract will with personal pronouns in speaking and informal writing: I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, etc.
2. We usually contract will with the words there, that, this, those and these in speaking, and sometimes in informal writing: there’ll, that’ll, etc.
3. We often contract will with nouns and other words in speaking, but not in writing, so, for example, we do not usually write: John’ll, the dog’ll, nobody’ll, etc.
Negative form
Put not after will.
| Full form | Short forms | |
| I will not play | I won’t play | *I’ll not play |
| you will not play | you won’t play | you’ll not play |
| he will not play | he won’t play | he’ll not play |
| she will not play | she won’t play | she’ll not play |
| it will not play | it won’t play | it’ll not play |
| we will not play | we won’t play | we’ll not play |
| they will not play | they won’t play | they’ll not play |
*The structure in the third column is sometimes used in British English, but it is rarely used in other varieties of English. When used in other varieties, it sounds quite formal.
For example:
- I won’t finish my homework tonight.
- He will not apologise* to his brother.
- Amy won’t like that hat. (she won’t like)
- The computer won’t start. (it won’t start)
- We won’t tell them your secret.
*US: apologize
Question forms
Invert the subject and will, and then put a question word (what, who, etc.) at the beginning for wh- questions.
| Yes/No questions | |
| Will I play? | |
| Will you play? | |
| Will he play? | |
| Will she play? | |
| Will it play? | |
| Will we play? | |
| Will they play? | |
| Wh- questions | |
| What Who Where When Why How etc. | will I play? |
| will you play? | |
| will he play? | |
| will she play? | |
| will it play? | |
| will we play? | |
| will they play? | |
For example:
- Will I see you tomorrow?
- Will you clean the bathroom?
- Will Maria be there? (will she be)
- What will you do if you miss the train?
- How long will we need the car?
- Where will they live?