Lesson 16 - The Future
Navigation: Home → Beginning Level → Lesson 16 → Grammar
Pages in this lesson: Vocabulary - Grammar - Listening - Dialogue - Reading - Pronunciation - Dictation - Game
This page: Learn how to use the verb "will" to talk about the future.

The Future Tense with "will" in English
Grammar

In Lesson 14 we learned to use "to be + going to" to talk about the future.

• I'm going to swim.

Another way to express the future in English is by using the auxiliary verb "will."

Affirmative form

To form the future tense with "will," we follow this order:

    subject + will + verb in its base form

    I will swim.

The contraction of "will" consists of an apostrophe followed by ll.

    I'll swim.   (contraction)

Negative Form

To form the negative, we use "will not" or its contraction "won't."

• I will not swim.
• I won't swim.

Interrogative Form

To ask a question, we place "will" at the beginning, followed by the subject and then the verb in its base form.

• Will you swim?

 

Exercise - will

Write sentences describing what these people will do using the given information. Write the sentences without contractions, like the example.

• exercise
• Bob/exercise → Bob will exercise.

1. They/go to the party
 
 

2. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson/watch TV
 
 

3. The children/study English
 
 

4. She/cook dinner
 
 

5. The dog/run
 
 

 

Exercise - What will Susan do?

Susan is studying to be a teacher. Write sentences about what she will and will not do in her future career. Write affirmative sentences without contractions and negative sentences with contractions, as in the examples below.

• examples
• correct tests → She will correct tests.
• build houses → She won't build houses.

1. teach classes
 
 

2. work at a school
 
 

3. drive a truck
 
 

4. work with students
 
 

5. work in a hospital
 
 

 

Exercise - contractions

Write the following sentences using contractions.

• examples
• I will ski. → I'll ski.
• She will not sleep. → She won't sleep.

1. They will study.
 
 

2. It will finish at 3:00.
 
 

3. Fred will not work.
 
 

4. You will learn English.
 
 

5. The children will not go to bed early.
 
 

 

Exercise - What will you do?

Select the correct answer based on what you will or will not do in the future. There are no right or wrong answers.

1. Will you work tomorrow?   Yes, I will. No, I won't.

2. Will you study English tomorrow?   Yes, I will. No, I won't.

3. Will you go to the movie theater this weekend?   Yes, I will. No, I won't.

4. Will you wash the dishes tonight?   Yes, I will. No, I won't.

5. Will you go on vacation next year?   Yes, I will. No, I won't.

 

Instructions Identify the error in the following sentences and write the corrected version.     example     He are a student. → He is a student.  1. I will to study tomorrow.   2. She no will work.   3. They will cleaning the house.   4.  Do you will cook tonight?   5. She'ill finish the class.

 

Writing

Write sentences about what you will and will not do tomorrow.

Write in the comments section below. Passport to English is a community of people who want to learn English for free. Please be supportive of each other. If you see a mistake in someone's writing, please respond with the correction. Remember that comments other than those written by Janet Castrejon (the author of this website) do not represent Passport to English. If someone posts inappropriate comments on this page, please send a message to [email protected] and include the page where you saw the comment.

 

 

 

Listening Exercise

 

Beginning English - Lesson 16 - The Future
Vocabulary - Grammar - Listening - Dialogue - Reading - Pronunciation - Dictation - Game

 

Important Links

Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced - Teachers

Pronouns - Pronunciation Rules - Verbs - Irregular Verbs

Vocabulary - Grammar - Pronunciation - Spelling

Common Words - Study Abroad

Dialogues - Reading