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Modal verb will and the idiomatic future going to

Presentation / Objective

Do you know how to use the future tense?

 

Do you know the differences between the modal verb will and the idiomatic future going to?

 

On this module you will explore the use of the modal verb “will” and the idiomatic future “going to” in the English Language. It is crucial that you read the presentations carefully and do the suggested activities. You will also practice the four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. It is essential that you do them in the order they appear since they will help you develop strategies to learn and use the tenses correctly, as well as improving your English level to communicate more naturally.

In the end, you will also find self-assessment exercises that will help you review this topic, or provide you with more practice.

 

 

Objective

By the end of this topic you will:
Use the modal will and the going to, to express plans, offers, promises, predictions and intentions.

Content

In English like in Spanish, we have different ways to express decisions, intentions, or plans. In English, there are two manners to express those ideas.

Got any plans? Have you made a decision about your future life? Any new resolutions?

Let’s have a look at the following interactive resources so that you know when and how to express plans, decisions, predictions in English correctly.

The future (plans)

Form

 

Positive

I’m going to start university studies next year.

Negative

He isn’t going to get a job this year.

Interrogative

Where are you going to stay?

 

When using be going to use the word order:

subject +  am/are/is + going to + infinitive

Use be going to talk about future plans or intentions. When the verb is go or come, we often use the present continuous.

Examples:

We’re going to (go to) Spain.
We’re going to Spain.
I’m going to come and see you later.
I’m coming to see you later.

Form

 

Positive

We’ll meet you at the station.

Negative

I won’t see you tomorrow.

Interrogative

Will you want a taxi?

When there is no plan or arrangement (when we make a decision at the time of speaking), we often use will.

When using will use the word order:

subject+ will+ infinitive

Examples:

I’m tired, I think I’ll go to bed.

 

Easy right?

 

Fortune telling

InfoWire.dk (2010). Fortune telling [photo]. Taken from https://flic.kr/p/yMWvFU

Are you good at predicting the future?

Let’s see how good you are.

 

The future (predictions)

Use will to make predictions.

Examples:
Smartphones will organise our lives.
She’s so talented that I’m sure she’ll become famous.

We often use I think and I hope with will.

Examples:
I think John will become a doctor.
She hopes she will work in the theatre.

Use be going to to make predictions when there is present evidence.

Example:
We only have two cars. It’s going to be difficult to take eleven people tomorrow.

We use probably to make the prediction less certain. Probably usually comes after will.

Example:
The dollar will probably get stronger this year.

Probably comes after to be when we use it with be going to.

Example:
E-readers are probably going to become cheaper.

 

Reading

Activity 1

Technology in the future

Do you like technology? Have you got any gadgets and devices? What do you think technology will be like in the future?

Let’s have a look!

You are going to read a text about Technology in the Future. Read it carefully and then answer the questions about it.

reading Technology in the Future

Once you have read the text about Technology in the Future, read the following questions and choose the right answer.

Listening

Activity 2

When I’m sixty-four

How good are you at predicting?
Would you like to predict the future?
Do you know who Nostradamus was?

Do you like songs? Do you enjoy singing? Let’s sing a bit.

Now look for the song “When I’m Sixty-four” by The Beatles in your favourite music player. Listen to it and then answer the questions about it.

When I´m Sixty-four
The Beatles

 

Writing

Activity 3

Fortune telling

 

Fortune telling

(n. d.) (2017). Fortune [illustration]. Taken from https://pixabay.com/es/adivinación-futuro-magia-astrolog%C3%ADa-1989579/

Let’s suppose Nostradamus is coming to Mexico City. Predict the activities he is going to do, and the places he is going to visit. Also what kind of food he will eat. Remember to use accurate information about the city using correct tenses when writing about predictions: will and going to. Write a minimum of 200 to 250 words. Good luck!!

You can help yourself by using the following expressions to talk about the future using will:

I think I’ll, I’ll probably, I don’t think I’ll, I doubt I’ll, Maybe I’ll, I’m sure I won’t, I hope to, I’m sure.
e.g., I think I’ll get married
I doubt I’ll be famous

Speaking

Activity 4

My life

Can you imagine where you will be in ten years? What will you be doing? Are you going to be married? Have children?

 

Time to talk. You are going to talk about your future. Think about the following aspects: get married, have children, doing a masters, get a good job, learn to drive, become famous and live abroad.

Predict your future life. Your audio should last 2 minutes.
Good luck!

Once you have finished, grade your audio using the rubrics. Be honest, and you will have an accurate assessment of your progress.

 

 

Self-assessment

A bit of grammar?? Training exercises

Dumbbell exercise

Cereseto, P. (2014). Sesión gimnasio [photo]. Taken from https://flic.kr/p/kWdxHy

Complete the sentences using will (‘ll) or going to.

 

References

Basic references

Study English for Free (n. d.). Retrieved on 2017, May 30 from http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/
Murphy, R. (2012). English Grammar in Use (2ª Ed.). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

 

Complementary

Celce-Murcia, M. and Larsen-Freeman, D. (1998). The Grammar Book (2ª edition). Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
Putcha, H. & Stanks, J. (2014). English in Mind Student’s Book 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Sharma, P. and Barrett, B. (2007). Blended Learning. Using technology in and beyond the language classroom. Oxford: Macmillan Books for Teachers.
Study English for Free (n. d.). Retrieved on 2017, May 9 from http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/
Thompson, A. and Martinet, A. (1986) A Practical English Grammar. (4ª edition). New York: Oxford University Press.
Wilson, J., Clare, A., Eales, F. & Oakes, S. (2011). Speakout Intermediate. Pearson. England. 2011.