English tenses › Future Simple
Future Simple
Future Simple (will + verb) is for decisions made at the moment of speaking, predictions, promises and offers.
Form
When to use it
Instant decision
Decided right now.
It’s cold. I’ll close the window.
Prediction
What you think or believe will happen.
I think you’ll love that video.
Promise or offer
I’ll…, Shall I…?
I’ll call you tonight, I promise.
Time words
tomorrow, next week, soon, I think, probably, I’m sure, maybe
Examples
- I’ll see you soon.
- Will you be at home tonight?
- She won’t like it.
- Don’t worry, I’ll help you.
- It will rain later, I think.
- They’ll probably be late.
Common mistake
When I will finish, I will call you.
When I finish, I’ll call you.
After when, if, as soon as and before, use Present Simple for the future.
Future Simple or be going to?
Will is for a decision made now; be going to is for a plan made before: I’ll have the soup (deciding now). I’m going to cook tonight (planned). More about be going to.
Hear it in videos
See it in real speech. Paste any YouTube link into Tense Lens and every tense in the video is highlighted as it is spoken, with a map of where each one appears.