Will Be Used vs. Will Be Use – Which is Correct?
The correct phrase is “will be used.” It is the future passive form of the verb “use,” meaning that someone or something will use an object. “Will be use” is grammatically incorrect because “will” requires the base verb in active sentences, while passive sentences require “be” plus the past participle “used.”
Will Be Used or Will Be Use – Which Is Correct?
“Will be used” is correct. It is a future passive construction. The phrase indicates that an object, method, resource, or person will receive the action of being used.
For example, in “The equipment will be used tomorrow,” the equipment receives the action. The person using it is either unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
“Will be use” is incorrect because “use” is the base form of the verb, while “used” is the past participle required after the auxiliary verb “be” in a passive construction.
In an active sentence, use the base verb after “will”: “The team will use the equipment.” In a passive sentence, use “will be used”: “The equipment will be used by the team.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “be plus -ed” test. When the subject receives the action, remember this pattern: will + be + past participle. Because the past participle of “use” is “used,” the correct phrase is “will be used.”
Another useful comparison is:
- Active: The company will use the new software.
- Passive: The new software will be used by the company.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| will be used | Future passive verb phrase | Will receive the action of being used | The data will be used for research. |
| will be use | Incorrect construction | A grammatical error caused by omitting the past-participle ending | Incorrect: The data will be use for research. |
How to Use “Will Be Used”
Use “will be used” when you want to describe a future action in the passive voice. The subject of the sentence does not perform the action; instead, someone or something will use it.
This construction is common in formal, academic, technical, business, and everyday writing. It is especially useful when the person performing the action is unknown, obvious from context, or less important than the object being used.
Example 1: The new laboratory will be used by medical students.
Example 2: These funds will be used to improve public transportation.
Example 3: The results will be used in the final report.
What Are the Different Forms of “Will Be Used”?
“Will be used” is made up of three parts: the modal auxiliary will, the base form of “be,” and the past participle used. The pattern is:
Subject + will + be + past participle
The verb “use” has these principal forms:
- Base form: use
- Third-person singular present: uses
- Present participle: using
- Past tense: used
- Past participle: used
Examples of related forms include “will use” for the future active voice, “is used” for the present passive voice, “was used” for the past passive voice, and “has been used” for the present perfect passive voice.
Etymology of the Word “Used”
The verb “use” entered English through Old French and ultimately comes from the Latin uti, meaning “to use, employ, or enjoy.” The form “used” developed as both the simple past tense and past participle. The modern spelling with -ed signals the form needed in “will be used.”
The same attention to verb form clarifies distinctions such as Use to vs. Used to in everyday writing.
Related Concepts
Understanding active and passive voice makes the difference between “will be used” and “will be use” much easier to recognize.
- Passive voice: In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. “The tool will be used” focuses on the tool rather than the person using it.
- Active voice: In an active sentence, the subject performs the action. “The engineer will use the tool” places emphasis on the engineer.
- Past participle: A past participle is used with forms of “be” to create passive constructions. “Used” is the required past participle in “will be used.”
- Modal verbs: Words such as “will,” “can,” and “should” are followed by a base verb. In a passive construction, the pattern becomes “modal + be + past participle.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The correct phrase “will be used” appears frequently in news reporting, public notices, academic writing, fiction, and instructional material. Examples include:
- News reporting: “The emergency funds will be used to repair damaged roads.”
- Public announcements: “The new building will be used as a community center.”
- Science writing: “The collected samples will be used in laboratory testing.”
- Film and television dialogue: “This code will be used to access the system.”
- Literary narration: “The old map will be used to guide the travelers through the forest.”
“Will Be Used” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Will be employed | Will be put to practical use; formal in tone |
| Will be utilized | Will be used for a specific purpose; common in technical writing |
| Will be applied | Will be put into practice, especially a method, rule, or principle |
| Will serve as | Will perform a particular function or role |
| Will be put to use | Will begin to be used; natural and moderately informal |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “will be used” correct?
Yes. “Will be used” is the correct future passive form of “use.” For example: “The information will be used to create a report.”
Question 2: Why is “will be use” incorrect?
“Will be use” incorrectly uses the base form “use” after “be.” Passive constructions require a past participle, so the correct form is “will be used.”
Question 3: Should I write “will use” or “will be used”?
Use “will use” when the subject performs the action: “The manager will use the software.” Use “will be used” when the subject receives the action: “The software will be used by the manager.”
Question 4: Is “used” a past-tense verb in “will be used”?
No. In “will be used,” “used” is the past participle. The word “will” establishes the future time, while “be used” creates the passive construction.
Conclusion
“Will be used” is always the correct phrase when describing something that will receive the action of being used in the future. “Will be use” is a grammatical error. Remember the pattern will + be + past participle: “The resource will be used.” Pro Tip: Using accurate verb forms in professional writing strengthens your credibility and helps readers trust your message.
