The will future is also called the future simple. The contracted form of will is 'll and the negative contraction is won't (will not).
We use the will future when we decide to do something in the future at the time of speaking. You can call this a spontaneous decision:
· "I can't find my car keys anywhere. I'll have to take the bus!"
· "I'll take the kids to the park tomorrow afternoon."
We use the future simple when we make a spontaneous offer:
· "I'll help you look for your keys. Now, where did you have them last?"
· "It's freezing in here!" — "I'll shut the window."
We often use will after "I think":
· "I think I'll stay in tonight. I feel quite tired."
· "You know what? I think I'll call Margaret. I haven't spoken to her for ages."
· "I don't think I'll bother, actually."
We use will when we are making neutral predictions:
· "It'll be all right."
· "This won't take long."
· "I'll probably never see him again."
Will is also often used in formal written letters and documents:
· "Maintenance work to the building will begin on 1 June."
Now try the exercise on the next page.
Dagmar Taylor
The next Basics exercise will appear on 10 June.
