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 PRACTICE sentences:
Use the correct future form to complete each sentence:
A - Revise briefly what you saw in
Talking about the future – 1. We use...
‘_______________ 1 (I- keep) my old dresses?
1.Will for... ‘No, Jill, give them away.’
Prediction not based on evidence ‘But Jack, we ____________2(have) dinner with
Decision made at the moment the Browns next Wednesday. I’ve got nothing to
A promise wear... I__________3(keep) them. I think
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 ‘When ________________5(you-leave), Sam?’
some consideration.
‘Next Friday, early in the morning.’
A plan
‘_____________________ 6 (stay) at a hotel?’
‘ I haven’t decided yet. My brother says his flat is
B – Learn a little more about talking
about the future: big enough for both of us but... I think I _______
7
(book) a hotel room. It_____________ 8(be) more
1. WON’T (will not) is used to talk comfortable... On second thoughts, I ______ ____
about refusal. _______9(stay) at a hotel.’
I don’t know what’s wrong but my car
won’t start.
2. Use SHALL to ask for instructions or ‘What ____________________ 10 (you-do) with
make suggestions. those shoes? You ___________ 11
(not wear) them
in Paris!’
Shall I give away the old records?
‘ I ______________12 ( probably- give) them to
Shall we go now?
Betty. She ____________ 13
(throw) a Halloween
*Use shall in questions with I and Party next month.’
we.
3. The Present Continuous is used to
‘____________ 14
( I - fold) up these blouses for
tell someone about arrangements you? ‘
you’ve made. ‘ ______________ 15
(you -help) me lock this bag? ‘
‘ She’s picking up the old clothes
tomorrow evening after work.’
‘ 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 7
(book) a hotel room. It’ ll be 8(be) more comfortable... On
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 (not wear) them in Paris!’
11
‘ I’ll probably give 12
( probably- give) them to Betty. She ’s going to throw 13
(throw) a Halloween Party next month.’
Shall I fold ( I - fold) up these blouses for you?
14
‘ 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!’
