The future simple (indefinite)

I. The Formation

The Future Simple is formed by means of the auxiliary verb ''shall'' for the first person singular and the plural or the auxiliary verb ''will'' for all the persons and the notional verb in the infinitive without the particle ''to''.

• You will speak to him.

• Will you speak to him?

• You will not (won't) speak to him.

II. The Use. The Future Simple is used to denote:

1) predictions, often with I believe, expect, think, doubt, am sure, know, wonder etc. or accompanied by adverbs such as perhaps, probably, surely, etc. Such predictions are based on guesswork, analysis or judgment:

• We will still be here in twenty years.

• I think it will be a difficult game.

• Maybe, we will visit them next year.

• I think we will go to Moscow in summer.

• Tomorrow’s weather will be cold and cloudy.

• Perhaps I’ll change my mind after I have spoken to my wife.

• In twenty years’ time, the average employee will work a twenty-five hour week. (=a prophetic statement)

Note: After I hope, we generally use the Present Simple.

• I hope he wins the game.

2) a succession of future actions.

• I’ll meet you and tell you the whole story.

3) statements of fact about the future, often future habitual actions:

• Next week I’ll be 25.

• The sun will rise at 5.30 tomorrow morning.

• Christmas day will fall on Tuesday this year.

• Spring will soon come.

4) on-the-spot decisions:

• I will buy the blue jumper and not the yellow one.

• You look tired. I will cook tonight.

Note 1: Note that if after the decision the speaker mentions the action again, he will not use will, but be going to or the present continuous.

BILL (to waiter): I will have a steak, please.

Imagine that a friend, Tom, joins Bill before his food has arrived.

TOM: What are you having/going to have?

BILL: I am having/going to have a steak.

5) in sentences containing clauses of condition and time:

• If I drop this glass, it will break.

• When it gets warmer, the snow will start to melt.

6) in newspapers and news broadcasts for formal announcements of future plans and for weather forecasts. In conversations such statements would normally be expressed by the Present Continuous or be going to form or, for plans only, by the Present Continuous:

• NEWSPAPER: The President will open the new heliport tomorrow.

But the average speaker will say:

• The President is going to open/is opening….

III. ''Will'' as a modal verb

There is a tendency to regard will and shall as modal verbs in English Grammar.

The modal will denotes:

a) predictions that refer to the present or past. This “prediction” meaning may sometimes be broadened still further to include general or habitual predictions. In many general statements “habitual predictions” come to have the force of “typical or characteristic behaviour”:

• That will be electrician - I’m expecting him to call about some rewiring. (on hearing the doorbell ring)

• If litmus paper is dipped in acid, it will turn red.

• A lion will attack a human being only when hungry.

• Truth will out.

• Boys will be boys.

• The auditorium will seat 500.

b) volitions, will or wish of the speaker, his/her promises, threats or warnings:

• Will you sign these papers? (request)

• Will you please open the door for me?

• Father won't let me go. (refusal)

• He will go swimming in dangerous waters.

• I will go to the dance! You can’t stop me!

c) in questions to denote request, offer, order, invitation:

• Will you come this way, please?

• Will you say it again?

d) in negations to denote impossibility as refusal (animate subject), rejection, failure to perform the immediate function (inanimate object):

• I will never speak to you again.

• The car won’t start.