An in-depth guide to the English will-future tense, covering its structure, usage, rules, and examples for expressing future actions, decisions, and predictions.
The will-future is a verb tense used in English to describe actions, events, or decisions that will happen in the future. It is formed using the modal verb will followed by the base form of the main verb. The will-future is one of the most common ways to talk about the future in English.
- Form: will + base verb (e.g., will eat, will go, will be)
- Used for spontaneous decisions, predictions, promises, and offers
- Can be used with time expressions like tomorrow, next week, in an hour, etc.
Structure
The will-future is formed using the following formula:
will + base form of verb
Here’s how it looks in different types of sentences:
- I eat → ✅ I will eat
- She goes → ✅ She will go
- They are → ✅ They will be
Examples:
- I will call you later.
- She will finish her homework tonight.
- We will travel to Japan next month.
Usage
The will-future is used for several purposes related to the future. Here are the main uses:
. Spontaneous Decisions
Use will when you decide to do something at the moment of speaking (not planned before).
- I’m hungry. I’ll make a sandwich.
- Don’t worry! I’ll help you with that.
. Predictions
Use will to predict what you think will happen in the future, based on opinions or beliefs (not definite facts).
- I think it will rain tomorrow.
- She will probably arrive late.
. Promises
Use will when making promises or assuring someone that you’ll do something.
- I will always love you.
- Don’t worry, I will take care of it.
. Offers and Requests
Use will when offering to do something or asking politely for help.
- I’ll open the window.
- Will you pass me the salt?
Choose the sentence where will-future is used to make a polite request.
Will you close the door, please?
"Will you..." is a common way to ask someone to do something politely.
. Facts About the Future
Use will for things that are certain to happen because of a schedule, rule, or natural conclusion.
- The sun will rise at 6:00 a.m.
- You will feel better after some rest.
Which sentence states a fact about the future using will-future?
The mail will arrive at 3 p.m.
"Will arrive" refers to a scheduled or certain future event.
Forming Questions and Negatives
Questions
Invert will and the subject:
Will + subject + base verb?
- Will you come to the party?
- Will she finish on time?
How do you form a question in will-future tense?
Invert "will" and the subject, then add the base verb.
Forming questions with will-future requires "Will" + subject + base verb order.
Negatives
Add not after will:
Subject + will + not + base verb
- I will not (won’t) be late.
- They will not (won’t) join us.
Common Mistakes
- I will to go → ✅ I will go (no “to” after will)
- Will you goes? → ✅ Will you go? (use base verb, no -s)
- She will not goes → ✅ She will not go (base verb only)
Summary
The will-future is used to talk about future events, especially when making decisions, predictions, promises, or offers. Use will + base verb to form affirmative sentences, will + subject + base verb? for questions, and will not + base verb for negatives.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
