Will/shall' for prediction briefly compared with other uses

Will and shall can be used to predict events, for example, to say what

The simple future tense

we think will happen, or to invite prediction:

Tottenham will win on Saturday It will rain tomorrow Will house prices rise again next year⁷ I don't know if I shall see you next week This is sometimes called 'the pure future', and it should be distinguished from many other uses of will and shall: e.g. /'// buy you a bicycle for your birthday [promise, > 11.73] (Note that will is not used to mean 'want to') Will you hold the door open for me please? [request, > 11.38] Shall I get your coat for you? [offer, > 11.39] Shall we go for a swim tomorrow? [suggestion, > 11.40] Just wait - you'll regret this' [threat, > 11.23, 11.73] Though all the above examples point to future time, they are not 'predicting'; they are 'coloured' by notions of willingness, etc. Will/shall have so many uses as modal verbs [> Chapter 11] that some grammar­ians insist that English does not have a pure future tense [also > 9.2].

Will' in formal style for scheduled events

Will is used in preference to be going to [> 9.44] when a formal style
,, is required, particularly in the written language:

The wedding will take place at St Andrew's on June 27th The reception will be at the Anchor Hotel

Will/shall' to express hopes, expectations, etc.

The future is often used after verbs and verb phrases like assume, be afraid, be sure, believe, doubt, expect, hope, suppose, think

I hope she'll get the job she's applied tor The present with a future reference is possible after hope:

I hope she gets the job she's applied for [compare > 11.42.1] Lack of certainty, etc. can be conveyed by using will with adverbs like perhaps, possibly, probably, surely

Ask him again Perhaps he'll change his mind

9.38 Time adverbials with the 'will/shall¹ future tense

Some adverbials like tomorrow [> App 48] are used exclusively with future reference; others like at 4 o'clock, before Friday, etc. are used with other tenses as well as the future:

/'// meet you at 4 o'clock Now and just can also have a future reference [> 7.29]:

This shop will now be open on June 23rd (a change of date)

I'm nearly ready I'll just put my coat on For in + period of time [> 8.14] and by, not until [> 7. 34],

Other ways of expressing the future

We can express the future in other ways, apart from will/shall:
be going to: I'm going to see him tomorrow [> 9.44]

be to: I'm to see him tomorow [> 9.47]

present progressive: I'm seeing him tomorrow [> 9.11.3]
simple present: / see him tomorrow [> 9.8.4]

These ways of expressing the future are concerned less with simple prediction and more with intentions, plans, arrangements, etc.

Verbs, verb tenses, imperatives