5.1.2: Future with "Will"
- Page ID
- 271168
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Future Tense Form-"Will"
This chart provides a quick reference for forming sentences in affirmative, negative, and question forms using "will".
| Form | Affirmative | Negative | Question | Short Answer | Wh-Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | will + base verb | will not / won't + base verb | Will + subject + base verb? | Subject +Will | Wh word+ Will + subject + base verb? |
| I | will play | will not play / won't play | Will I play? |
Yes you will. No you won't |
What will I play? |
| You | will play | will not play / won't play | Will you play? |
Yes I will. No I won't |
When will you play? |
| He/She/It | will play | will not play / won't play | Will he/she/it play? |
Yes, he/she/it will. No, he/she/it won't |
Where will he/she play? |
| We | will play | will not play / won't play | Will we play? |
Yes we will. No we won't |
Why will we play? |
| They | will play | will not play / won't play | Will they play? |
Yes they will. No they won't |
How will they play? |
Meaning: "Will" + Base Form
Example Conversations:
- Mother: You need to do your homework, Jack!
Jack: Yes, Mother. I will do my homework after class
- Lori: Can you help me with my homework?
Sheila: Sure! I will come to your house after school, and we can study together.
- Waiter: What can I get for you today?
Lori: I'll have the chicken teriyaki, please.
- Lori: Do you think our team will win the game?
Sheila: Yes, I think they will win.
Which sentence is used to volunteer for a task? Which sentence is used to make a decision at the moment? Which sentence is used to make a promise? Which sentence is used to make a prediction?
Answers
- The first sentence is used to make a promise
- The second sentence is used to volunteer for a task
- The third sentence is used to make a quick decision
- The fourth sentence used to make a prediction
Expressing Future Events with Will
We use will + the base form of the main verb in these situations.
| Use “Will” | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| To talk about things that we think will happen |
James will probably study history. | I know James is interested in history, so I guess or predict that he will study history in the future. |
| For official or formal announcements concerning future events | The graduation dinner will take place on June 3rd. | Any type of ceremony, including a graduation ceremony, is a formal or important event. Therefore, the use of will is appropriate here. |
| For promises or offers related to the future (In such cases, we are expressing willingness.) |
You forgot your wallet. Don't worry. I'll lend you some money. That box is heavy. I'll carry it for you. |
In each case, the speaker is expressing a willingness to help the listener. |
| For decisions concerning future events that are made while talking | Person A: The car is very dirty. Person B: You're right. I'll wash it after lunch. |
Before this conversation, Person B was not planning to wash the car after lunch. He decided to do so because of something Person A said. In other words, he made his decision to wash the car during the conversation. |
| When making serious promises | Don't worry. I won't forget to pay you back. I'll take care of your house while you're out of the country. Don't worry about a thing. I'll never forgive him! |
In each case, the speaker is expressing a promise to do something in the future. |
Exercise 2.1
Complete the sentences and questions using the future with will.
1. When ________________ (you / be) available to meet with me?
2. ________________ ( the class / be) online or in-person?
3. The class ________________ (begin) on January 7th.
4. I ________________ (eat not) any cupcakes until after dinner.
5. The number of flights ________________ (decrease) after the holidays.
6. People ________________(take) more time off if wages increase.
7. Will you be at school tomorrow? Yes, ________________.
8. Will she arrive tonight? Yes, ________________.
9. Where ________________( the wedding / take place) ?
Practice exercise adopted for context from High-Intermediate Academic Grammar for ESL Students-Simple Future licensed by Rebecca Al Haider under CC BY 4.0
Exercise 2.2
Fill in the blanks with 'will' (positive) or 'won't' (negative), and the appropriate verb:
- I think our team _______________ (win) the game tomorrow.
- She ________________ (do) her homework after school.
- __________ they ______________ (visit) us later?
- We ________________ (need) to borrow money for our project.
- He ____________________ (call) you back as soon as he can..
- I __________________ (tell / not) anyone your secret. I promise!
- _________________ you ________________ (help) me with the project?
- It _______________________ (take / not) long to fix the car.
- You dropped your pencil under my desk. I __________________ (get) it for you.
Using "Will+Base Form" with certainly, definitely, probably perhaps and maybe
The adverbs certainly, definitely, probably, perhaps, and maybe express varying degrees of certainty.
Highest certainty → certainly, definitely
Moderate certainty → probably
Lower certainty → maybe, perhaps
Placement of Adverbs of Degree of Certainty
If the main verb is 'to be', the adverbs "Certainly," "Definitely, and "Probably are placed after the verb:
- It is certainly difficult to learn a new language.
- He is probably in the living room right now.
- I am definitely not happy with his behavior.
The adverbs are placed before the base verb (after "will."). In a negative sentence, the adverbs are placed after "will" and before "not" or before the contraction "won't."
- She will certainly attend the meeting tomorrow.
- She certainly won't finish the project on time.
- I definitely will not forget to call you as soon as I arrive.
- We will probably go to the beach if the weather is nice.
- He probably won't arrive on time due to traffic.
Maybe" and "Perhaps," are placed at the beginning of a sentence:
- Maybe she will come to the party tonight.
- Perhaps they will travel abroad next year.
Exercise 2.3
Rewrite each sentence by adding the appropriate expression of certainty in parentheses. Make the sentence negative where "not" is added:
- She will finish the project on time (certainly).
- They will go to the beach if the weather is nice (definitely).
- It will rain later this evening (probably).
- I will be able to attend the meeting. (definitely, not).
- We will attend the conference next week (maybe).
- The package will arrive by tomorrow (perhaps).
- I will complete the assignment by the deadline (probably, not).
- She will be here on time for the meeting ( certainly, not).
Chart-Future Tense Forms-Will from Grammar Slides for English Learners (Ferguson) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Ferguson.