Future Simple

Form

Affirmative: I shall/will
You will
He/she/it will + verb
We shall/will
They will

Negative: I will not/shall not/ you will not
Question: Shall/will I? Will you? Etc!
Negative
Question: Will/shall I not? Will you not? or Won't/shan't I Etc.
Contractions: I'll, you'll, shan't won't etc.

Note: shall/shan't (UK only)

Usages

*Future facts and certainties

-He'll be 28 in July.
-Spring will start in March as usual
-When will you know?

*Promises

- I'll put the check in the post.

*Predictions (Based on no present evidence, as opposed to "be going to")

-It'll rain before morning.

*Assumptions/speculations

-That'll be the bailiffs at the door.
-What will happen in next week's episode?
-They'll have to see the house, I expect.

*Spontaneous decisions contrast with "be going to" for planned decisions)

-I'll get my coat.

*Threats

-You'd better go or I'll hit you.

Shall/Will

Shall is frequently used in making suggestions, invitations, etc. In affirmative sentences its use has become more formal.

Will generally expresses a stronger intention, coercion, or determination, than shall.

What shall we do with the evidence?
You shall go to the ball.
Shall we dance?
Where shall I send your mail?
Shall I do that for you?

Typical mistakes/errors

Here are some typical mistakes and errors.

Make a note of the nature of the mistake or error for each example.

* Sunday I will to go on a picnic.
* We'll going to win tomorrow.

Confusion between "be going to" and the future simple is common.

Teaching ideas

* Fortune telling/palm reading.
* With present simple in time clauses.
- She'll be happy when we arrived.
* Going on a holiday/lost in the desert- what will you take?
* Winning the lottery: what will you do?
* Predicting future changes in the next ten years using various topics.
* Predicting what others will be like in ten years.
* Songs:" When I'm 64" by the Beatles
" You'll take the High Road" (traditional)
" That'll be the Day" by Buddy Holly