Future Simple – Foundation (A2)

What is the Future Simple?

The Future Simple is used to talk about things that will happen in the future. In English, we have two main ways to talk about the future: will and going to. They are similar but have different uses.

How to Form It

Future with "Will"

Formula: Subject + will + base verb

• I will go to Berlin tomorrow.
• You will see him later.
• He will arrive at 8 PM.
• She will call you tonight.
• It will rain tomorrow.
• We will help you.
• They will finish soon.

Contractions:

• I**'ll** go, You**'ll** see, He**'ll** arrive, She**'ll** call, We**'ll** help, They**'ll** finish

Important: "Will" is the same for all persons (I/you/he/she/it/we/they)

Negative with "Will":

Formula: Subject + will not (won't) + base verb

• I will not go (I won't go)
• You will not see (You won't see)
• He will not arrive (He won't arrive)
• She will not call (She won't call)
• We will not help (We won't help)

Questions with "Will":

Formula: Will + subject + base verb?

• Will you go to Berlin?
• Will he arrive on time?
• Will she call tonight?
• Will they help us?

Short Answers:

• Yes, I will. / No, I won't.
• Yes, he will. / No, he won't.
• Yes, we will. / No, we won't.

Future with "Going to"

Formula: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

• I am going to study English.
• You are going to travel to Spain.
• He is going to buy a car.
• She is going to start a new job.
• It is going to rain.
• We are going to move house.
• They are going to visit us.

Contractions:

• I**'m going to** study, You**'re going to** travel, He**'s going to** buy, She**'s going to** start, We**'re going to** move

Note: In spoken English, "going to" often sounds like "gonna" (informal)

• I'm gonna study. (very informal - don't write this!)

Negative with "Going to":

Formula: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb

• I**'m not going to** study.
• You aren't going to travel (You**'re not going to** travel)
• He isn't going to buy (He**'s not going to** buy)
• She isn't going to start (She**'s not going to** start)
• We aren't going to move (We**'re not going to** move)

Questions with "Going to":

Formula: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?

• Are you going to study?
• Is he going to buy a car?
• Is she going to start the job?
• Are they going to visit?

Short Answers:

• Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
• Yes, he is. / No, he isn't. (or No, he's not.)
• Yes, we are. / No, we aren't. (or No, we're not.)

When to Use "Will"

1. Spontaneous Decisions (Deciding at the Moment of Speaking)

Making a decision right now, while you're speaking:

• The phone is ringing. "I**'ll** answer it!" (decided just now)
• "I'm thirsty." "I**'ll** get you some water." (offer made now)
• "We don't have milk." "I**'ll** buy some on my way home." (decided now)

Key: You didn't plan this before - you're deciding NOW.

2. Predictions Based on Opinion or Belief

What you think will happen in the future:

• I think it will rain tomorrow.
• She will probably be late.
• The movie will be great!
• He won't pass the exam. (I don't think he will)
• You**'ll love** this restaurant!

Common words: think, probably, maybe, perhaps, I'm sure, I hope

3. Promises

Making a promise to someone:

• I**'ll** help you with your homework. (I promise)
• I**'ll** call you tomorrow. (promise)
• We**'ll** be there on time. (promise)
• Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. (promise not to)

4. Offers and Requests

Offers (volunteering to do something):

• I**'ll** carry that for you.
• I**'ll** drive you to the airport.
• We**'ll** help you move.

Requests (asking someone to do something):

• Will you help me?
• Will you close the window, please?
• Will you pass me the salt?

5. Threats and Warnings

• If you don't stop, I**'ll** call the police!
• Be careful, or you**'ll** fall!
• If you study hard, you**'ll** pass the exam.

When to Use "Going to"

1. Plans and Intentions (Decided Before Speaking)

Something you already decided or planned before this moment:

• I**'m going to study** medicine at university. (already decided)
• We**'re going to visit** my parents this weekend. (already planned)
• She**'s going to start** a new job next month. (plan made before)
• They**'re going to move** to Berlin. (intention already formed)

Key: You made this decision BEFORE now - you're just telling someone about it.

2. Predictions Based on Present Evidence

What you can see will happen because you have evidence NOW:

• Look at those clouds! It**'s going to rain**. (I can see dark clouds)
• Be careful! You**'re going to fall**! (I can see you're losing balance)
• She**'s going to have** a baby. (she's pregnant - visible evidence)
• The train**'s going to be** late. (I can see it's delayed on the board)

Key: There's something happening NOW that tells you about the future.

Will vs. Going to - The Key Difference

This is very important to understand!

Spontaneous (Will) vs. Planned (Going to)

Spontaneous decision (Will):

• Someone: "The phone is ringing."
• You: "I**'ll** answer it!" (deciding now)

Planned decision (Going to):

• Someone: "What are you doing tomorrow?"
• You: "I**'m going to** visit my parents." (already planned)

Opinion (Will) vs. Evidence (Going to)

Based on opinion (Will):

• I think it will rain tomorrow. (just my opinion)

Based on evidence (Going to):

• Look at those dark clouds! It**'s going to rain**. (I can see the clouds)

Quick Decision (Will) vs. Prior Intention (Going to)

Quick decision (Will):

• "I'm cold." "I**'ll** close the window." (deciding now to help)

Prior intention (Going to):

• "Why are you holding that ladder?" "I**'m going to** clean the windows." (that was my plan)

Time Expressions with Future Simple

These words help us talk about when something will happen:

Tomorrow:

• I**'ll** see you tomorrow.
• We**'re going to** travel tomorrow.

Next (week/month/year/Monday):

• She**'ll** start next week.
• They**'re going to** visit next month.

Tonight / This evening:

• I**'ll** call you tonight.
• We**'re going to** watch a movie this evening.

In (+ time period):

• He**'ll** be here in 10 minutes.
• The train will arrive in an hour.

Soon / Later:

• I**'ll** finish soon.
• See you later!

Future time phrases:

• in the future
• one day
• someday
• this weekend

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using "will" after "to"

• ❌ I'm going to will study.
• ✅ I'm going to study.
• ✅ I will study.

Mistake 2: Using "to" after "will"

• ❌ I will to go.
• ✅ I will go.

Mistake 3: Forgetting "be" with "going to"

• ❌ I going to study.
• ✅ I am going to study. (I'm going to study)

Mistake 4: Using wrong form of "be" with "going to"

• ❌ He are going to study.
• ✅ He is going to study. (He's going to study)

Mistake 5: Using "will" for planned actions

• ❌ "What are your plans?" "I will visit my parents." (sounds like you just decided)
• ✅ "What are your plans?" "I'm going to visit my parents." (shows it's planned)

Mistake 6: Confusing Present Continuous for future with "going to"

• Present Continuous (for arrangements): I**'m meeting** John tomorrow at 3.
• Going to (for intentions): I**'m going to meet** John soon.

Both can describe future, but arrangements with Present Continuous are more specific (time, place arranged).

Present Continuous for Future (Brief Introduction)

We also use Present Continuous for future arrangements (we'll explore this more at B1):

• I**'m meeting** Sarah tomorrow at 3 PM. (specific arrangement made)
• We**'re flying** to London next week. (tickets booked)

Difference from "going to":

• Present Continuous: Specific arrangement (time/place confirmed)
• Going to: General intention (less specific)

Practice Examples

Fill in with "will" or "going to" (answers at bottom):

1. A: "We don't have any milk." B: "Don't worry. I _______ (buy) some."
2. A: "What are your plans for the weekend?" B: "We _______ (visit) my grandparents."
3. I think it _______ (rain) tomorrow.
4. Look at those dark clouds! It _______ (rain)!
5. A: "Can you help me?" B: "Of course! I _______ (help) you."
6. She _______ (start) university next year. [already decided]

Choose the correct form:

7. I (will / am going to) answer the phone! [it's ringing now]
8. Be careful! You (will / are going to) fall! [I can see you losing balance]
9. I think she (will / is going to) like the present.
10. We (will / are going to) move to Berlin next month. [already planned]

Correct the mistakes:

11. I'm going to will study English.
12. I will to go home.
13. He going to buy a car.
14. They are going visit us.

Make questions:

15. (you / help / me) → Will _______?
16. (she / going to / study / medicine) → Is _______?

Answers: 1. will buy (or I'll buy) - spontaneous decision, 2. are going to visit (or we're going to visit) - plan, 3. will rain - opinion, 4. is going to rain (or it's going to rain) - evidence, 5. will help (or I'll help) - offer, 6. is going to start (or she's going to start) - plan, 7. will (spontaneous), 8. are going to (evidence), 9. will (opinion), 10. are going to (plan), 11. I'm going to study English., 12. I will go home., 13. He is going to buy a car. (or He's going to buy a car.), 14. They are going to visit us. (or They're going to visit us.), 15. Will you help me?, 16. Is she going to study medicine?

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Continue Learning: Future Simple

🟢 Foundation (A2) ← You are here
🟡 Development (B1) - Learn about future time clauses, other future forms, and predictions
🟠 Advanced (B2) - Master formal future forms and subtle distinctions

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