What Is the Simple Future Tense?

The simple future tense is used for an action that will occur in the future. Examples of the Simple Future Tense Here are some examples of the simple future tense (bold):

• The Moscow State Circus will perform in Cheltenham next year.
• We will celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York.

Of course, you can also have the negative version, which is formed “will not” + “[verb in base form]”:

• The Moscow State Circus will not perform in Cheltenham next year.
• We won’t celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York.

(Note: “Will not” can be shortened to “won’t” in English.) And the question versions:

• Will the Moscow State Circus perform in Cheltenham next year?
• Will we celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York?

Forming the Simple Future Tense The simple future tense is formed: will + [base form of verb] For example:

• She will play.
• Martin will paint.

Contractions with the Simple Future Tense Be aware that in speech and writing (particularly informal writing), it is common for will to be shortened to ‘ll. This is especially common when will follows a a personal pronoun (e.g. I, he, she).

• I will > I’ll
• he will > he’ll
• she will > she’ll
• it will > it’ll
• (This is not as common as the others.)
• you will > you’ll
• we will > we’ll
• they will > they’ll
• who will > who’ll

(This is not as common as the others.) Expressing a Negative with the Simple Future Tense When expressing a negative, the simple future tense is formed “will not” + “[base form of the verb]”. For example:

• She will not play.
• Martin will not paint.

Be aware that will not is often shortened to won’t in speech and informal writing. Getting Some Emphasis in There Be aware that will can be stressed for emphasis. (When looking for emphasis, you can’t use the shortened versions.)

• When will the cake be ready?
• I can tell you now. She will be accepted.
• (NB: You can’t use She’ll if you want to stress the word will for emphasis.)

With the negative version, the not is stressed, but, again, you can’t use the shortened version.

• I will not tolerate sloppy drills.
• (NB: You can’t use I’ll if you want to stress the word not for emphasis. You have to use “I will not…”.)

Simple Future

I will forbid you will forbid he/she/it will forbid we will forbid you will forbid they will forbid