30906 talking about the future 2

We use will/going to or the Present Continuous to talk about the future but we choose the future form according
to what we mean. British people use I shall /will and we shall/will with no difference in meaning (I’ll – we’ll). Shall
is less common than will nowadays. However, shall (with I or we) is used in questions to ask for instructions or to
make suggestions.
When we talk about the future, we make predictions, promises, make decisions, plan the future, ask people to do
something, tell someone about arrangements and offer to do something and also suggest in ‘interpersonal’ language
use.

RULES
A - Revise briefly what you saw in
Talking about the future – 1. We use...

PRACTICE sentences:
Use the correct future form to complete each sentence:
‘_______________ 1 (I- keep) my old dresses?
‘No, Jill, give them away.’

1.Will for...

‘But Jack, we ____________2(have) dinner with

Prediction not based on evidence

the Browns next Wednesday. I’ve got nothing to

Decision made at the moment

wear... I__________3(keep) them. I think

A promise
An offer to help someone

I________4(do) something to improve one of them.

Requests

‘

2.Going to for...
Prediction based on evidence
Decision that has been made after
some consideration.
A plan
B – Learn a little more about talking
about the future:
1. WON’T (will not) is used to talk
about refusal.

I don’t know what’s wrong but my car
won’t start.

2. Use SHALL to ask for instructions or
make suggestions.

Shall I give away the old records?
Shall we go now?
*Use shall in questions with I and

‘When ________________5(you-leave), Sam?’
‘Next Friday, early in the morning.’
‘_____________________ 6 (stay) at a hotel?’

‘ I haven’t decided yet. My brother says his flat is
big enough for both of us but... I think I _______
7

(book) a hotel room. It_____________ 8(be) more

comfortable... On second thoughts, I ______ ____
_______9(stay) at a hotel.’

‘What ____________________ 10 (you-do) with
those shoes? You ___________

11

(not wear) them

in Paris!’
‘ I ______________12 ( probably- give) them to
Betty. She ____________

13

(throw) a Halloween

Party next month.’

we.
3. The Present Continuous is used to
tell someone about arrangements
you’ve made.

‘ She’s picking up the old clothes
tomorrow evening after work.’

‘____________

14

( I - fold) up these blouses for

you? ‘
‘ ______________

15

(you -help) me lock this bag? ‘

‘ What’s wrong with this mobile phone? It ________

_______________

16

(not turn) on!’


Shall I keep1 (I- keep) my old dresses?
‘No, Jill, give them away.’
‘But Jack, we’re having.2(have) dinner with the Browns next Wednesday. I’ve got
nothing to wear... I’ll keep3(keep) them. I think I’ll do.4(do) something to
improve one of them. ‘

‘When are you leaving 5(you-leave), Sam?’
‘Next Friday, early in the morning.’
‘Are you going to stay 6 (stay) at a hotel?’
‘ I haven’t decided yet. My brother says his flat is big enough for both of us but...
I think I’ll book

(book) a hotel room. It’ ll be 8(be) more comfortable... On

7

second thoughts, I’m going to stay 9(stay) at a hotel.’
‘What are you going to do

10

(you-do) with

those shoes? You won’t wear
‘ I’ll probably give

12

11

(not wear) them in Paris!’

( probably- give) them to Betty. She ’s going to throw

(throw) a Halloween Party next month.’

Shall I fold

14

( I - fold) up these blouses for you?

‘ Will you help me

(you -help) me lock this bag?

15

‘ What’s wrong with this mobile phone? It won’t turn

16

(not turn) on!’

13