Simple Future Tense
Let’s study The Simple Future Tense Now:
The simple future tense expesses the actions happen at one particular time in the future.
- Example:
- It will snow tomorrow.
- I shall watch TV tonight.
The Simple Future tense
The Form:
| Subject + WILL / SHALL +VERB (infinitive) |
- The use of “shall” with I or we to express futrure time is possible uncommon in American English. Shall is used more frequently in British English than in American English.
- Keth will have a look at this one tonight.
- I will come to your house.
Examples:
Simple Future tense: WILL and BE GOING TO
WILL or BE GOING TO is used to express future time. In spoken English, going to is often pronounced “gonna.”
- Lim will finish his work tomorrow.
- Lim is going to finish his work tomorrow.
- Mei will not be here tomorrow.
- Mei won’t be tomorrow.WILL NOT = WON’T
WILL vs. BE GOING TO
| To express a prediction: use either WILL or Be GOING TO | |
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when the speaker is making a prediction (a statement about something s/he thinks will be true or will occur in the future), either will or be going to is possible.
There is no difference in meaning between 1. and 2. , there is no difference in meaning between 3. and 4. |
| To express a PRIOR Plan: use only BE GOING TO | |
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When the speaker is expressing a prior plan ( something the speaker intends to do in the future because in the past s/he has made a plan or decision to do it ), only be going to is used.NOTE: In these case, Will is not appropreate. |
| To express WILLINGNESS: use only WILL | |
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In example 1. of this section, speaker B is saying “I’m willing. I am happy to get the phone.” He is not making a prediction. He has made no prior plan to answer the phone. He is , instead, voluntering to answer the phone and uses will to show his willingness.
Example 2.: Speaker B feels sure about the teacher’s willingness to help. Be going to is not appropriate in those two examples. |
