The  Future Simple Tense is used to talk about things that have not yet happened. 

Sentence structure: subject + will + base form of verb

                               Subject + am/is/are + going to + base form of verb

Example

I/we/you/they will cook beans and rice this evening.

He/she/it will sell the new apartment.

He/she/I shall come for the party.

1. We use the simple future when talking about an action or situation that will begin and end in the future.

This relates to the willingness to do something.

Examples 

Will

I will learn Italian.

My sister will sleep at midnight. 

I will show you the book.

We’ll invite my classmates to the birthday party.

Going to

The train is going to arrive late.

The weather is going to be sunny today. 

We are going to miss the flight. The airport is 30 mins from the house, and we have not left yet. 

Note: “Going to” is used for casual discussions and writings, but “will” is used for formal speaking and writing.

2. We can use I or We to express a spontaneous decision in the simple future tense.

Example

I’ll pay for the tickets by credit card tomorrow by noon. 

We will be traveling early in the morning to visit Grandma. 

I will be calling him for the meeting soon.

3. We use the simple future to give orders or commands.

Example

You will do as I say. 

They will go where I send them.

Negative Future Simple

Sentence structure:  subject+ will +not + base form of verb 

                                 Subject  +  [am/is/are]+ going to +not + base form of verb.

 I/we/you/they will not travel next year.

He/she/it will not celebrate his wedding next month.

He/she/it shall not be present for the court hearing.

Examples.

Paul will not stop running until he is tired.

She will not resign until she is 50 years old. 

They are not going to come back to the house today. 

We are not going to get married this year.

Asking questions in the future simple tense

Sentence structure: will + subject + base form of the verb.

                           am/is/are + subject +going to + base form of the verb.

 Will I/we/you/they come back home in 2 years’ time?

Won’t he/she/it sing a new song?

shall ….we go to the park in the evening?

Examples 

What will you do with the money Grandma gave to you?

Is Paul going to come this weekend?

Am I going to clean the whole house?

Who will cook today?

Exception: Shall is typically used when making sentences with the I and we subjects. It is used either to make suggestions, make an offer or ask for advice. Exceptionally for poetic situations and literary reasons, the other subjects (you, he, she, they ) are used. For example, “With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes.

Exception: It’ll means It will. This contraction is mainly used for spoken English. 

Exercise

Use will or going to complete the sentences

• Are you ………..(watch) the news?
• I am ……….(borrow) Paul’s book.
• John ………(talk) with me tomorrow about the rents.
• I am closing the door because I………..(go) out soon.
• Is Paul……..(wash) his hands?
• What color ……… (you/ paint) the new house?
• The salad is not delicious. I ………(not/eat) it.
• Monica left today morning. She ……..(not/come) back until next two weeks. 
• Alice likes to eat fruits every day. She is very sick today, and she has lost her appetite. I am not sure she ………(eat) them tomorrow.
• The embassy ……….(grant) me a visa in 1 week’s time. 
• ………..(shall)…….(we/1) go to the park?
• Peter, you ……..(do) what I ask you to do. 
• My aunty was excited about my graduation results. She ………..(come) for the event next month. 
• Simon ………….(wed) at the big church beside the Post Office. 
• If you continue jumping on the sand, you ………..(fall).
• She ………(buy) a new car next year. 
• The department store …………(open) at 6 am this Christmas week. 
• Tina should be tired. She ……….. (go) to bed at 8 pm tonight. 

Practice making your own future simple tense sentences with the verbs below.

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