FORM

person + will + verb + the rest of the sentence

• She will go there.

• They will try to search for it.

USE

1. "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

• I will help him.

• We will finish it.

2. "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

• I will send you a message.

• She won't come tomorrow.

3. "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

• I am going to finish this book before Christmas.

• Are we going to look for him?

4. "Will" or "Be going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

• Laura will be a doctor.

• Laura is going to be a doctor.

5. Active/Passive

• I will write a message tomorrow. ACTIVE

• message will be written by me tomorrow. PASSIVE

More exercises on the Future Simple can be found in our forum and on the www.aling.pl!