Simple Future Tense

The simple future tense describes actions or events that have not yet happened. At the P6 level, you need to master the precise distinction between "will" and "going to" -- two forms that express future meaning in different ways depending on the speaker's intention and the available evidence.

What You'll Learn

• How to distinguish between "will" and "going to" based on context and meaning
• When each form is the correct or better choice in exam-style questions
• How to identify subtle clues in a sentence that signal which future form to use
• How to handle tricky cases where both forms seem acceptable but one is more appropriate

When to Use

1. Spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking: "The phone is ringing. I will get it." (You did not plan this beforehand -- you decided right now.)
2. Predictions based on personal opinion or belief: "I think the Singapore football team will do well this year." (No concrete evidence -- just your opinion.)
3. Plans and intentions decided before the moment of speaking: "We are going to visit the National Museum this Saturday." (You already made this plan.)
4. Predictions based on present evidence: "Look at those dark clouds. It is going to rain." (You can see the evidence right now.)
5. Promises and offers: "I will carry your bag for you." (Offering help on the spot.)

How to Form

"Will" -- Structure

"Going to" -- Structure

Contractions

Key Rules

1. Spontaneous decisions use "will": If the decision is made at the moment of speaking, "will" is correct. "Oh no, I forgot my wallet. I will borrow some money from Wei Ling."

2. Pre-planned actions use "going to": If the decision was made before the moment of speaking, "going to" is correct. "I am going to study Medicine after my A-levels. I have already researched the universities."

3. Opinion-based predictions use "will": When the prediction comes from personal belief or general knowledge with no visible evidence, use "will". "I believe Singapore will continue to be a global hub for technology."

4. Evidence-based predictions use "going to": When there is present, observable evidence pointing to a future outcome, use "going to". "The boy is running too fast near the wet floor. He is going to slip."

5. Promises, offers, and threats use "will": These are commitments made in the moment. "I will return the library book by Monday, I promise."

6. Formal or scheduled events can use either, but "will" is more formal: "The ceremony will commence at 9 a.m." sounds more formal than "The ceremony is going to commence at 9 a.m."

7. Never use "will" and "going to" together: The verb after both "will" and "going to" must be in the base form. "She will going to help" is always wrong.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Clues that point to "will"

I think, I believe, probably, perhaps, maybe, I promise, I offer, let me, I'm sure, shall

These words suggest opinion, spontaneity, or commitment -- all situations for "will".

Clues that point to "going to"

I've decided, I plan to, look!, watch out!, clearly, obviously, the evidence shows, already arranged, already planned

These words suggest prior decisions or observable evidence -- situations for "going to".

General future time markers (used with both)

tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, soon, later, in the future, tonight, this weekend, after the exams

Tip: When you see a future time marker, do not automatically pick "will" or "going to". Instead, ask yourself two questions: (1) Was this decided before now, or right now? (2) Is there visible evidence, or is it just an opinion? Your answers will tell you which form to use.

Practice Tips

1. The Decision Test: Ask yourself, "When was this decided?" If the answer is "just now, in this moment," use "will". If the answer is "earlier, before this conversation," use "going to".

2. The Evidence Test: Ask yourself, "Can I see, hear, or sense something right now that points to this future event?" If yes, use "going to". If you are simply guessing or giving your opinion, use "will".

3. The Substitution Check: Try replacing "will" with "going to" (or vice versa) in the sentence. Does the meaning change? If "going to" sounds more natural because a plan was already made, it is likely the better choice. If "will" sounds more natural because the speaker is reacting in the moment, go with "will".

4. Watch for trap answers: In PSLE-style questions, both "will" and "going to" may appear as options. The surrounding context -- not the time marker alone -- determines the correct answer. Read the full sentence and any preceding sentences for clues about planning or evidence.

Quick Reference