The simple future tense is widely used verb tense. Let’s take a scenario to explain.

When you get home, you probably watch TV or go on social media. And in the night, after a long day, you head towards your bed. 

Maybe you won’t do any of these activities right now, but you will do them in the future. We frequently use the simple future tense when referring to events that will occur in the future. The future tense refers to the period of time that follows the act of speaking or writing.

Simple Future

The simple future tense is being used to describe a future activity or event. It’s an English verb that refers to an activity or program that hasn’t started yet. The simple future can be used to convey capability, intention, or determination, as well as to compute the probability. Future indefinite is another name for the tense. The simple future tense is represented by adding the supporting verbs will or shall (or just a contracted version of will or shall) to the main verb (for example, “I will write the report” or “I won’t depart on Wednesday”).

Use of Simple Future with ‘will’ and ‘be going to’

WILL

  • To anticipate activity in the future we use the simple future tense ‘will’
  • We frequently use it when no other categories of future tense are appropriate
  • We could use this to predict future events as well as less certain events

E.g. At 7 a.m., the sun will rise.

  • ‘Volitional’ will to refer to Promises, requests, refusals, and offers are other kinds of pledges
  • It all comes down to whether or not you would like to do something in the future
  • This does not follow the rule of adding will or shall to the main verb.

E.g. I’ll assist you in completing your schoolwork.

I’m not going!

  • In a similar manner, we frequently use the word ‘will’ when referring to a decision made at the time of speaking
  • We are frequently making an offer, making a pledge, or discussing something we wish to do.

For E.g. I’m freezing.

 I’ll shut the door.

  • In the first conditional, as well as other conditional phrases, we apply the simple future with ‘will’ 

E.g. We’ll go to a picnic if it doesn’t rain.

Let’s get there early. This will allow us to rest.

SHALL

  • In British English, the words’ shall I?’ and ‘shall we?’ are commonly used
  • When you want to acquire somebody’s perspective, specifically for offers and suggestions, you use these forms

E.g. Shall I draw the curtains? (= Would you like me to draw the curtains for you?)

What shall we do tonight? (= What is your point of view?)

BE GOING TO

  • We frequently use the phrase “be going to” to describe our future intentions and ambitions
  • We normally plan ahead of time before speaking
  • Here again, the simple rule of adding will or shall to the main verb is not applied

E.g: We’ve used up all of our milk.  

I’m going to go out and get some.

“Going to” can also be used to make a future prediction. It’s usual to use these ‘be going to’ or ‘will’ alternatively, but if there is firsthand proof of the prediction available in the present, it’s more suitable to be using ‘be going to. 

E.g: The sky is becoming very gloomy.

It’s going to be a rainy day.

Simple Future Tense Examples

The simple future tense describes the activity or scenario that will take place in the future. For example:

  • I will go to a picnic this weekend. (this is the simple form of future tense)
  • I am going to finish my novel. (usage of ‘going to’ form in simple future tense)

When we wish to make the basic future tense negative, it doesn’t get complicated. We just need to add ‘not’ after the word will in order to make your sentence negative.

E.g. I will not stop playing the music.

The regular form should be used to interrogate

E.g. Will you go to the party?

Shall I make you some pancakes? ( here shall is preferred because the first person is used while speaking)

Conclusion

The future tense expresses an event that has not yet occurred or a circumstance that hasn’t quite occurred. Other future tenses, such as future perfect, are more concerned with the details of upcoming events. The terminology is more precise and literal. In English, there are several different ways to allude to the future. It’s vital to keep in mind that we’re expressing more than just the action or event’s time. Evidently, any ‘future’ tense refers to a time that is ‘later than now,’ but it can also communicate our feelings about a future event.