simple future tense

In English, the simple future tense is used when you want to make decisions to do something in the future.^[1]https://eslgrammar.org/simple-future-tense/))((https://eslgrammar.org/simple-future-tense/

Forms of the Simple Future Tense

Will

Positive

• I will have a hamburger please.
• You will have to stop.
• He/she/it will help us.
• We will help you.
• They will buy one too.

Negative

• I will not have a hamburger.
• You will not have to stop.
• He/she/it will not help us.
• We will not help you.
• They will not buy one too.

Question

• Will I have a hamburger?
• Will you have to stop?
• Will he/she/it help us?
• Will we help you?
• Will they buy one too?

Going to

The verb “to go” is also used to describe the future.

Positive

• I am going to visit the store after work.
• You are going to have to study.
• He/she/it is going to travel after college.
• We are going to eat dinner together on Sunday.
• They are going to help us with the project.

Negative

• I am not going to visit the store after work.
• You are not going to have to study.
• He/she/it is not going to travel after college.
• We are not going to eat dinner together on Sunday.
• They are not going to help us with the project.

Question

• Am I going to visit the store after work?
• Are you going to have to study?
• Is he/she/it going to travel after college?
• Are we going to eat dinner together on Sunday?
• Are they going to help us with the project?

What’s the difference between “will” and “going to”?

Both “will” and “going to” are used to talk about the future. In most cases, they can be both used and if you mix them up, native speakers will still understand you.

However, there are slight differences between the two.

Will

Quick Decisions

This is for quick decisions that you make right at the moment.

For example:

• No problem, I will buy one for the both of us.
• I guess I will try one.

Prediction

This is for thinking about believing something in the future.

For example:

• I think it will snow later so take a warm coat.
• Our team will win the game.

Threats, Promises & Offers

This is for threats, promises, and offers in the future.

For example:

• I will help you if you help me.
• I promise I will hurt you if you tell anyone.

When someone refuses to do something

For example:

• He won’t help us.
• They won’t take out the trash.

Going to

Prior Plans

You can use “going to” if you are making plans for the future.

For example:

• I am going to go to France for vacation this summer.
• They are going to study all week for the exam.

Evidence

You can use it for future events based on evidence and predictions.

For example:

• The weatherman said that it is going to rain this evening.

Something is about to happen

For example:

• Be careful! The bomb is going to explode!

Similarities between “will” and “going to”

You can use “will” and “going to” interchangeably in some cases.

Predicting the Future

Both of these examples are correct:

• It is going to rain tomorrow.
• I will rain tomorrow.

Practice Exercises