form of the simple future tense

8/13/2019 Form of the Simple Future Tense

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Form of the Simple Future Tense

The Simple Future is formed with will + the base form of the verb .

affirmative short form

I will > I'll >You will > You'll >He will > He'll >She will > She'll > stay.It will > It'll >We will > We'll >You will > You'll >They will > They'll >

negative short forms

I will not > I'll not > I won't >You will not > You'll not > You won't >He will not > He'll not > He won't >She will not > She'll not > She won't > stay.It will not > It'll not > It won't >We will not > We'll not > We won't >You will not > You'll not > You won't >They will not > They'll not > They won't >

Notes on the form of the Simple Future Tense

1. Shall and will

Will is used with all persons !ut shall "an !e used as an alternative with I and we in pure futurereferen"e.

Shall is usually avoided with you and I #

• You and I will wor$ in the same offi"e.

%. &ontra"tions



Shall wea$ens to S(l in spee"h !ut does not "ontra"t to 'll in writing. Will "ontra"ts to 'll in writingand in fluent rapid spee"h after vowels )I'll we'll you'll et".* !ut 'll "an o""ur after "onsonants. So wemight find 'll used# e.g.

+ after names# Tom'll !e here soon.

+ after "ommon nouns# The "on"ert'll start in a minute.

+ after ,uestion+words# When'll they arrive-

. /egatives

Will not "ontra"ts to 'll not or won't 0shall not "ontra"ts to shan't #

• We won't or shan't go. )I We will not or shall not go*.

In meri"an 2nglish shan't is rare and shall with a future referen"e is unusual.

3. Future Tense

When we use will shall for simple predi"tion they "om!ine with ver!s to form tenses in the ordinaryway#

• Simple Future# I will see • Future 4rogressive# I will !e seeing

• Future 4erfe"t# I will have seen

•

Future 4erfe"t 4rogressive# I will have !een seeing

Uses of the 'will/shall' future

1. 'Will shall' for predi"tion !riefly "ompared with other uses

Will and shall "an !e used to predi"t events for e5ample to say what we thin$ will happen or to invitepredi"tion#

• Tottenham will win on Saturday. • It will rain tomorrow. Will house pri"es rise again ne5t year-

• I don't $now if I shall see you ne5t wee$.

This is sometimes "alled 'the pure future' and it should !e distinguished from many other uses of will and shall # e.g.

• I'll !uy you a !i"y"le for your !irthday. 6promise7 • Will you hold the door open for me please- 6re,uest7



• Shall I get your "oat for you- 6offer7

• Shall we go for a swim tomorrow- 6suggestion7

• 8ust wait + you'll regret this9 6threat7

Though all the a!ove e5amples point to future time they are not 'predi"ting'0 they are '"oloured' !ynotions of willingness et". Will/shall have so many uses as modal ver!s that some grammarians insistthat 2nglish does not have a pure future tense.

%. 'Will' in formal style for s"heduled events

Will is used in preferen"e to be going to when a formal style is re,uired parti"ularly in the writtenlanguage#

• The wedding will ta$e pla"e at St ndrew's on 8une %:th. The re"eption will !e at the n"horHotel.

. 'Will shall' to e5press hopes e5pe"tations et".

The future is often used after ver!s and ver! phrases li$e assume, be afraid, be sure, believe, doubt,expect, hope, suppose, think:

• I hope she'll get the ;o! she's applied for.

The 4resent with a future referen"e is possi!le after hope #

• I hope she gets the ;o! she's applied for.

<a"$ of "ertainty et". "an !e "onveyed !y using will with adver!s li$e perhaps, possibly, probably,surely:

• s$ him again. erhaps he'll "hange his mind.

Time adverbials with the 'will/shall' future tense

Some adver!ials li$e to morrow are used e5"lusively with future referen"e0 others li$e at ! o'clock,before "riday, etc# are used with other tenses as well as the Future#

• I'll meet you at 3 o'"lo"$.



$ow and %ust "an also have a future referen"e#

• This shop will now !e open on 8une % rd. )a "hange of date*

• I'm nearly ready. I'll %ust put my "oat on.

form of the simple future tense

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