English Language Arts

Simple Future

Concept sheet | English Language Arts

Grade

1-4

Top of page
Simple Future—Common Uses
For Advanced Users: Additional Simple Future Uses
Simple Future Forms Reminder
Simple Future Forms with Will
Simple Future Forms with Going To
See Also

Simple Future— Common Uses
For Advanced Users: Additional Simple Future Uses
Simple Future Forms Reminder

Simple Future—Common Uses

Rules

The simple future verb tense is used to express actions or states that begin and end in the future.

It is formed with will or going to.

The simple future is used for:

Promises → using will
Spontaneous actions or decisions → using will
Future facts → using will
Predictions → using will or going to
Plans → using going to

For more information on using will and going to, visit Verb Tense vs. Verb Tense.

Examples

Promises

Benita will give a present to her best friend Sarah next week.

Spontaneous actions or decisions

As soon as Sarah sees it, she will jump with joy.

Future facts

Italy will host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Predictions

They think Sarah will become a ski champion!

Plans

Benita and Sarah are going to try their new equipment in a few days.

Tips

Many keywords can help you recognize the future.

A word	A word combination
A word	next...	in...	this...	within...
tomorrow tonight later shortly soon when after by	next year next month next week next meeting	in 2 days in 10 years in 6 months in a week in 2099 in spring in a while	this coming Friday this afternoon this year	within a week within a month within a year

For Advanced Users: Additional Simple Future Uses

For More Advanced Users: More Simple Present Uses

Simple Future Forms Reminder

Simple Future Forms with Will

Affirmative form with will
subject	will	+	verb base form

Negative forms with will

subject

will not

won't

verb
base
form

Question Form with Will
will	subject	+	verb base form

Simple Future Forms with Going To

Affirmative forms with going to

am going to

'm going to

verb
base
form

he
she
it

is going to

's going to

we
you
they

are going to

're going to

Negative forms with going to

am not going to

'm not going to

verb
base
form

he
she
it

is not going to

's not going to

isn't going to

we
you
they

are not going to

're not going to

aren't going to

Question forms with going to
am	I	going to	+	verb base form
is	he she it	going to
are	we you they	going to

Simple Future—Common Uses

For Advanced Users: Additional Simple Future Uses

For More Advanced Users: More Simple Present Uses

Simple Future Forms Reminder

Simple Future Forms with Will

Simple Future Forms with Going To

See Also