Future with will
Decisions made now, promises, offers and what we think will happen: I'll call you, it won't take long.
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Will is one way to talk about the future. We use it for a decision made at the moment of speaking, for promises and offers, and to say what we think or believe about the future.
Form: will + verb
Will is the same for every person. After it comes the verb with no ending and without to. The short form is 'll, and the negative is won't (will not).
Subject | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will help | will not help |
short form | I'll help | I won't help |
- I'll see you at the station at six.
- The meeting won't take long.
- Incorrect: I will to call you tomorrow.
- Correct: I will call you tomorrow.After will, use the verb without to.
- Incorrect: She will helps you.
- Correct: She will help you.There is no -s after will.
- Incorrect: I don't will be late.
- Correct: I won't be late.
Questions and short answers
Put will before the subject. In short yes answers, use the full form.
Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
Will you be at home? | Yes, I will. | No, I won't. |
Will it rain? | Yes, it will. | No, it won't. |
- Will the shops be open on Monday?
- What time will you be back?
- Incorrect: Yes, I'll.
- Correct: Yes, I will.Don't end a short answer with 'll.
Decisions at the moment of speaking
Use will when you decide something now, while you are speaking. Nothing was planned before.
- "There's no paper in the printer." "I'll bring some."
- "What would you like to drink?" "I'll have an orange juice, please."
- It's getting late. I think I'll take a taxi.
If you decided before, use be going to.
- "We haven't got any bread." "Really? I'll buy some on my way home."
(I decide now.)
- "We haven't got any bread." "I know. I'm going to buy some after work."
(I decided earlier.)
Promises
Use will and won't to promise something.
- I'll send you the photos tonight.
- Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
- We'll pay you back next week.
Offers
Use I'll when you offer to do something for someone. In a question, British English uses Shall I ...? for an offer.
- You've got a lot of boxes there. I'll take two of them.
- You look tired. I'll make dinner tonight.
- Shall I open the window?
(Do you want me to open it?)
What we think will happen
Use will for a prediction that comes from your opinion or experience. It is common after I think, I'm sure, I expect, I hope and with probably and maybe.
- I think you'll like the new teacher.
- I'm sure they won't be late.
- It will be cold tomorrow, so take a coat.
- In ten years most people will work from home.
Probably goes after will but before won't.
- She will probably phone this evening.
- She probably won't phone this evening.
For a negative opinion, we usually say I don't think + will.
- I don't think it will rain.
(This is more natural than "I think it won't rain".)
Facts about the future
Use will for future facts that nobody decides.
- My daughter will be eighteen in June.
- The sun will rise at 5.40 tomorrow.