Future with will
የወደፊት ጊዜ በ will (future simple)
I will work. For decisions made at the moment of speaking, offers, promises, requests and predictions based on opinion.
The form
will + base verb, the same for every person: I will go, she will go, they will go. No -s and no to: she will call (not she will calls, not will to call). The short form is 'll; the negative is won't (= will not). Amharic uses the same form for present and future (እሄዳለሁ = I go / I'll go), so English speakers need a word like will or going to to show the future clearly.
In Amharic
will + መሠረታዊ ግሥ፣ ለሁሉም ሰው አንድ ነው፦ I will go, she will go, they will go። -s የለም፣ to የለም፦ she will call (she will calls አይደለም፣ will to call አይደለም)። አጭሩ ቅርጽ 'll ነው፤ አሉታዊው won't (= will not) ነው። አማርኛ ለአሁንና ለወደፊት አንድ ቅርጽ ይጠቀማል (እሄዳለሁ = I go / I'll go)፤ ስለዚህ እንግሊዝኛ የወደፊቱን በግልጽ ለማሳየት እንደ will ወይም going to ያለ ቃል ይፈልጋል።
| All persons | |
|---|---|
| + | I / she / they will (’ll) help. |
| − | I / she / they won't (will not) help. |
| ? | Will you / she / they help? |
| short answers | Yes, I will. / No, I won't. |
- won't is pronounced /woʊnt/, different from want /wɑːnt/.
- Shall I…? / Shall we…? is used for offers and suggestions: Shall I open the window?
- I'll call you when I get home.
- It won't take long.
- Will you be at church on Sunday?
- Don't worry, I won't forget.
When to use it
Use will for: (1) a decision you make now, while speaking: The phone's ringing. I'll get it. (2) offers: I'll help you carry that. (3) promises: I'll pay you back on Friday. (4) requests: Will you watch the kids for an hour? (5) predictions from your opinion, often with I think, probably, I'm sure: I think it'll be hot tomorrow. (6) refusals with won't: The car won't start.
In Amharic
will ይጠቀሙ፦ (1) አሁን እየተናገሩ ለሚወስኑት ውሳኔ፦ The phone's ringing። I'll get it። (2) ለአገልግሎት ጥያቄ፦ I'll help you carry that። (3) ለቃል ኪዳን፦ I'll pay you back on Friday። (4) ለልመና፦ Will you watch the kids for an hour? (5) ከአስተያየትዎ ለሚመጣ ትንበያ፣ ብዙ ጊዜ ከ I think, probably, I'm sure ጋር፦ I think it'll be hot tomorrow። (6) በ won't ለእምቢታ፦ The car won't start።
- Signal words: I think, I hope, probably, maybe, I'm sure, tomorrow, next week, soon, in ten years.
- After when, if, before, as soon as, use the present for the future: I'll call you when I arrive (not when I will arrive).
- We're out of milk. — Oh, I'll buy some on the way home.
- I'll text you the address.
- I'm sure you'll pass the test.
- Prices will probably go up next year.
- As soon as I get my paycheck, I'll pay the rent.
will or going to?
will = deciding now; going to = decided before. A: We need bread. B: I'll go (deciding now). / B: I know, I'm going to go after work (already planned). For predictions: will = opinion (I think it'll rain), going to = evidence you can see now (Look at those clouds. It's going to rain).
In Amharic
will = አሁን መወሰን፤ going to = ቀደም ብሎ የተወሰነ። A: We need bread። B: I'll go (አሁን እየወሰነ)። / B: I know, I'm going to go after work (ቀድሞ የታቀደ)። ለትንበያ፦ will = አስተያየት (I think it'll rain)፣ going to = አሁን የሚታይ ማስረጃ (Look at those clouds። It's going to rain)።
| will | going to |
|---|---|
| Decision now: I'll have the lamb tibs, please. | Plan: I'm going to cook tibs tonight. |
| Opinion: I think the Raiders will win. | Evidence: They're winning 28–3. They're going to win. |
| Offer / promise: I'll drive you. | Intention: I'm going to buy a car this year. |
- In formal writing (letters, notices) will is common for facts about the future: The office will be closed on Monday.
- The office will be closed on July 4th.
- I'm going to apply for that job. I've already written my résumé.
- Wait, I'll help you with that box.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She will call you tomorrow. | After will, the base verb: no -s. | |
| I will help you. | No to after will. | |
| I'll call you when I arrive. | After when, use the present; the main clause takes will. | |
| I won't forget. | The negative of will is won't. | |
| The phone is ringing. I'll answer it. | A decision made at that moment: will. |
Practice
Each answer is checked as you go, with the reason. Nothing here is saved.
A: I don't have a pen. B: No problem, I ___ you one.
I promise I ___ (not / tell) anyone. (short form)
She will ___ you back.
I'll text you when I ___ home.
Look at the sky! It ___ rain.
___ you help me with this form, please? (one word: a request)
I think the price ___ go up next year.
My car ___ start. I need a ride.
Will you be at the meeting? — Yes, I ___. (one word)
A: The kids are hungry. B: OK, I ___ some pasta.