How to Use "Will" and "Will Be" with Examples and Easy Rules
Understanding the difference between "will" and "will be" in English grammar is important for students preparing for exams, improving writing, or speaking English well in daily life. Using them correctly helps you speak about the future clearly. This guide makes the rules and usage easy to follow, with clear examples and explanations.
| Form | Structure | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will | Will + base verb | Simple future action, decision, or promise | I will call you tomorrow. |
| Will Be | Will be + noun/adjective OR will be + verb-ing | Future state, event, or ongoing action | She will be busy. / They will be leaving soon. |
Difference Between Will and Will Be
"Will" is used to talk about actions or decisions in the future, while "will be" describes future states, conditions, or events that will happen or continue happening. This difference is important for exams and daily English use.
What is "Will" in English Grammar?
"Will" is a modal verb used to express actions, promises, predictions, or decisions for the future. It is followed by the base form of a verb. You use "will" when you decide to do something at the moment, or to make offers and promises.
- I will study for my test tonight.
- He will help you with your work.
- We will buy a new phone next week.
What is "Will Be" in English Grammar?
"Will be" is formed by using "will" with the verb "be." It describes future states, jobs, or roles, and is often followed by a noun or adjective. If "will be" is followed by a verb ending in "-ing," it is future continuous tense, which talks about ongoing actions in the future.
- She will be a doctor one day.
- They will be ready by 5 PM.
- I will be traveling to Delhi at this time tomorrow.
Key Differences: Will vs Will Be
- "Will" + verb: Use for simple future actions or quick decisions.
- "Will be" + noun/adjective: Use for future states, jobs, conditions.
- "Will be" + verb-ing: Use for actions that will be ongoing in the future (future continuous).
- Common mistakes include mixing up the forms or using both for the same meaning.
Examples of Will and Will Be in Sentences
| Will (Simple Future) | Will Be (Future State/Continuous) |
|---|---|
| I will eat dinner at 8 PM. | I will be eating dinner at 8 PM. |
| She will call you later. | She will be busy in the meeting. |
| We will join the class tomorrow. | We will be joining the class tomorrow morning. |
| They will visit us this weekend. | They will be staying at our house. |
| He will repair the car soon. | He will be working on the car later. |
Common Errors with "Will" and "Will Be"
- Incorrect: I will be go to school.
Correct: I will go to school. - Incorrect: She will attend the party at 9 PM. (If describing an ongoing action)
Correct: She will be attending the party at 9 PM. - Incorrect: They will busy tomorrow.
Correct: They will be busy tomorrow. - Incorrect: We will be finish the work.
Correct: We will finish the work.
Practice Exercises: Will vs Will Be
Fill in the blanks using "will" or "will be" correctly. Answers are at the end.
- He ______ (join) us for lunch.
- By 10 AM, the teacher ______ (teach) the new lesson.
- I ______ (visit) my grandmother next month.
- We ______ (watch) the movie at 7 PM.
- My friends ______ (help) me with homework.
- It ______ (rain) tomorrow according to the news.
- The students ______ (prepare) for the test in the evening.
Related Grammar Topics
- Future Tense
- Future Continuous Tense
- Modal Verbs
- Difference Between Will and Would
- Shall vs Will
- Simple Future Tense
- Auxiliary Verbs
- Common Errors with Modals
- Tenses
Page Summary
Knowing the difference between "will" and "will be" helps you speak and write about the future correctly. Use "will" for simple actions or decisions and "will be" for states or ongoing actions. With practice and these guidelines by Vedantu, you can master future tense usage easily.
FAQs on Difference Between "Will" and "Will Be" in English Grammar
1. What is the main difference between "will" and "will be" in English?
The core difference between "will" and "will be" lies in their grammatical function in expressing future actions. "Will" indicates a simple future action or intention, while "will be" signifies a future state of being or an ongoing action in the future (future continuous tense).
2. Can you give examples of sentences using "will" and "will be"?
Here are some examples illustrating the difference:
"Will": I will go to the market tomorrow. (Simple future action)
"Will be": I will be working late tonight. (Future continuous action)
3. When do we use "will" versus "will be" in future tense?
Use "will" for simple future actions or predictions. Use "will be" for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future (future continuous), or to describe a future state of being. Remember to consider whether you are describing a single, instantaneous action or an ongoing state.
4. What is the rule for using "will be" with verbs?
"Will be" is used with the present participle (verb + -ing) to form the future continuous tense. This tense emphasizes the duration or continuity of an action in the future. For example: They will be playing cricket all afternoon.
5. How do you teach the difference between "will" and "will be" to beginners?
Start with clear definitions and simple examples. Use visual aids like timelines to demonstrate the difference between a single action ("will") and an ongoing action ("will be"). Practice with sentence completion exercises to reinforce understanding.
6. How can you use "will be" in a sentence?
"Will be" is used to describe a future state of being or an ongoing action. For example: The meeting will be held in the conference room. I will be traveling to Europe next month.
7. Where does "will be" used?
"Will be" is used to form the future continuous tense (will be + verb-ing), indicating actions happening at a specific point in the future. It's also used to describe future states or conditions.
8. What is the difference between "will do" and "will be doing"?
"Will do" expresses a simple future action, while "will be doing" describes an ongoing action in the future. For example: I will do my homework later. I will be doing my homework when you call.
9. Will use or will be using?
Use "will use" for a simple future action; use "will be using" to describe an ongoing action in the future. The choice depends on whether you're describing a single event or a continuous process. For example: I will use this software to complete my project. I will be using this software for the next three months.
10. Difference between will and will be in future tense?
"Will" expresses simple future actions, while "will be" (with -ing) forms the future continuous, depicting ongoing actions at a specific future time. "Will" focuses on completion; "will be" emphasizes duration.
11. Difference between will and will be with examples?
"Will" shows simple future: I will go. "Will be" shows future continuous: I will be going. The first is a single action; the second is an ongoing action.
12. Will and will be sentences?
Here are example sentences: Will: She will arrive soon. Will be: They will be celebrating their anniversary. The difference lies in the duration and state of the action.
13. Difference between will and will be exercises?
To practice, try sentence completion exercises where you choose between "will" and "will be" based on the context. This will reinforce your understanding of the different usages.
