In English grammar, the future indefinite tense, also known as the simple future tense, is used to describe an action or event that will happen in the future. It is formed using the auxiliary verbs shall and will followed by the base form of the verb. For example:
I will finish my homework tonight. (The speaker will complete their homework at some point in the future.)
We will have a meeting tomorrow. (The speaker and a group of people will have a meeting at some point in the future.)
Here are some more examples of sentences in the future indefinite tense:
She will visit her grandparents next weekend.
They will arrive at the airport at 6:00 PM.
He will finish his degree next year.
I will go to the store after work.
Formation of the Future Indefinite
#1. The Future Indefinite is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs shall and will and the infinitive without to of the notional verb.
- Shall is used for the first person singular and plural.
- Will is used for the second and the third person singular and plural.
#2. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. And In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I shall work
He will work She will work We shall work You will work They will work |
Shall I work?
Will he work? Will she work? Shall we work? Will you work? Will they work? |
I shall not work
He will not work She will not work We shall not work You will not work They will not work |
#3. The contracted affirmative forms are:
I’ll work
You’ll work
The contracted negative forms are:
I shan’t work
He won’t work
#4. The negative-interrogative forms are:
Shall we not work? = Shan’t we work?
Will he not work? = Won’t he work?
Use of the Future Indefinite
The Future Indefinite is used to describe a specific event or action that will happen at a specific time in the future. If the action or event is not specific, or if it is ongoing or continuous, a different tense, such as the present continuous or the future continuous, may be more appropriate.
I am tired. I shall go and have a nap before dinner. (Galsworthy)
It will be much cooler up at Fiesole. (Voynich)
Use of “To be Going to”
To denote a future action the word combinations to be going + Infinitive, to be about + Infinitive, and to be on the point of + Gerund are often used.
To be going to, to be about to, to be on the point of denote an action that is expected to take place in the nearest future. To be going to is colloquial, to be on the point of is literary.
This is going to be a cheerful evening. (Shaw)
The runners are about to start.