The future in English can be expressed in various ways. The future simple is formed by will + base form:
- I’ll go back home right now
- Next year they’ll be in Australia
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Negative Interrogative | Examples |
| I’ll write | I won’t write | Will I write? | Won’t you write? | Won’t you write a letter to her? |
| You’ll drive | You won’t drive | Will you drive? | Won’t you drive? | You’ll drive a car soon |
| He’ll play | He won’t play | Will he play | Won’t he play? | Will he play cards with his friends? |
| We/You/They’ll read | We/You/They’ll read | Will we/you/they read? | Won’t we/you/they read? | They’ll read the book |
The contracted forms are ‘ll in the affirmative and won’t in the negative.
The form be going to + base form is used to express future intentions, things that the subject has decided to do.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Negative Interrogative | Examples |
| I’m going to buy | I’m not going to buy | Am I goign to buy? | Am I not going to buy? | I’m not going to buy that shirt. It’s too expensive. |
| We’re going to sell our car | We aren’t going to sell our car | Are you going to sell your car? | Aren’t you going to sell your car? | We’re going to sell our car before the end of the month |
| They’re going to help | They aren’t going to help | Are they going to help? | Aren’t you going to help? | They aren’t going to help the other students |
Future time (will and going to)