TENSES
SIMPLE
FUTURE
Simple
future, form
The 'simple' future is composed of two parts: will / shall
+ the infinitive without 'to'
| Subject
|
will
|
infinitive
without to |
| He
|
will
|
leave... |
|
Affirmative
|
|
|
|
I
|
will
|
go
|
|
I
|
shall
|
go
|
|
Negative
|
|
|
| They
|
will
not |
see |
|
They
|
won't
|
see
|
|
Interrogative
|
|
|
|
Will
|
she
|
ask?
|
|
Interrogative
negative
|
|
|
|
Won't
|
she
|
take?
|
|
Contractions:
|
|
|
I will
I'll
|
We will
we'll
|
|
You will
you'll
|
You will
you'll
|
|
He,she, will
he'll,
she'll
|
They will
they'll
|
NOTE: The
form 'it will' is not normally shortened.
Example:
to see, simple future
|
Affirmative
|
Negative
|
Interrogative
|
|
I'll
see
|
I won't see/
|
Will I see?/
|
|
*I
will/shall see
|
I shan't
see
|
Shall I see?
|
|
You'll
see
|
You won't
see
|
Will you
see?
|
|
He, she,
it will see
|
He won't
see
|
Will she
see?
|
|
We'll
see
|
We won't
see/
|
Will we see?/
|
|
*We
will/shall see
|
We shan't
see
|
Shall we
see?
|
|
You
will see
|
You won't
see
|
Will you
see?
|
|
They'll
see
|
They won't
see
|
Will they
see?
|
*NOTE: shall
is slightly dated but can be used instead of will with
I / we.
Simple
future, function
The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses
facts or certainty. In this case there is no 'attitude'.
The simple future
is used:
a. to predict a
future event: It will rain
tomorrow.
b. (with I/we)
to express a spontaneous decision: I'll
pay for the tickets by credit card.
c. to express willingness:
I'll do the washing-up. He'll
carry your bag for you.
d. (in the negative
form) to express unwillingness: The baby won't
eat his soup. I won't leave
until I've seen the manager!
e. (with I
in the interrogative form) to make an offer: Shall
I open the window?
f. (with we
in the interrogative form) to make a suggestion: Shall
we go to the cinema tonight?
g. (with I
in the interrogative form) to ask for advice or instructions: What shall
I tell the boss about this money?
h. (with you)
to give orders: You will do
exactly as I say.
i. (with you)
to give an invitation: Will you come
to the dance with me?
Will you marry me?
NOTE: In modern
English will is preferred to shall.
Shall
is mainly used with I and we to make an
offer or suggestion (see examples (e) and (f) above, or to ask for advice
(example (g) above).
With the other persons (you, he, she, they) shall
is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g.
"With rings
on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall
have music wherever she goes."