GRAMMAR TIP # 2: SIMPLE FUTURE

Simple Future

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

 

 

FORM Will [will + verb]                                      

Examples:

·        You will help him later.

·        Will you help him later?

·        You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To [am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

·        You are going to meet Jane tonight.

·        Are you going to meet Jane tonight?

·        You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Complete List of Simple Future Forms

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.
Examples:

·        I will send you the information when I get it.

·        I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

·        Will you help me move this heavy table?

·        Will you make dinner?

·        I will not do your homework for you.

·        I won't do all the housework myself!

·        A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.

·        A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.

·        A: The phone is ringing.B: I'll get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.
Examples:

·        I will call you when I arrive.

·        If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

·        I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

·        Don't worry, I'll be careful.

·        I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.
Examples:

·        He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

·        She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

·        A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

·        I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.

·        Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.

·        They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.

·        Who are you going to invite to the party?

·        A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.
Examples:

·        The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

·        The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.

·        John Smith will be the next President.

·        John Smith is going to be the next President.

·        The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.

·        The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.
Examples:

·        When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct

·        When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:

·        You will never help him.

·        Will you ever help him?

·        You are never going to meet Jane.

·        Are you ever going to meet Jane?

EXERCISES

Exercise 1 Will/Going to

Exercise 2 Will/Going to

Great commercial + Sesame Street parody

Soooooooooooooo funny! :))

What would you rather smell like?


Good week ;)

Grammar Tip # 1: ADJECTIVE ORDER

In English, it is common to use more than one adjective before a noun -- for example, "He's a silly young fool," or "she's a smart, energetic woman." When you use more than one adjective, you have to put them in the right order, according to type.

THE BASIC TYPE OF ADJECTIVES

OPINION
An opinion adjective explains what you think about something (other people may not agree with you). Examples: silly, beautiful, horrible, difficult

SIZE
A size adjective, of course, tells you how big or small something is. Examples: large, tiny, enormous, little

AGE
An age adjective tells you how young or old something or someone is. Examples: ancient, new, young, old

SHAPE
A shape adjective describes the shape of something. Examples: square, round, flat, rectangular

COLOR
A color adjective, of course, describes the colour of something. Examples: blue, pink, reddish, grey

ORIGIN
An origin adjective describes where something comes from. Examples: French, lunar, American, eastern, Greek.

MATERIAL
A material adjective describes what something is made from. Examples: wooden, metal, cotton, paper

PURPOSE
A purpose adjective describes what something is used for. These adjectives often end with "-ing". Examples:sleeping (as in "sleeping bag"), roasting (as in "roasting tin").

THE ORDER: OPINION, SIZE, AGE, SHAPE, COLOR, ORIGIN, MATERIAL, PURPOSE

FOR EXAMPLE:

"a SILLY SMALL OLD ROUND RED ENGLISH LEATHER SLEEPING pillow "

KEEP THIS CHART IN YOUR MIND...






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And remember, apart from these posts on Grammar Tips, you can always check the GRAMMAR PAGE (up above section, underneath the heading of the Blog).

Enjoy.

It's a New Year! What are your Resolutions?

A New Year resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a personal goal, project, or the reforming of a habit. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Years Resolution is genarally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible.

Popular Goals
Popular goals include resolutions to:

• Improve health: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking.
• Improve finances: get out of debt, save money.
• Improve career: get a better job.
• Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music).
• Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent.
• Take a trip.
• Volunteer to help others.

What are your Resolutions for this New Year?

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

Hillarious! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ABBA (with lyrics)

ALL THE BEST for the New Year, wherever you are!
Warm wishes,  
                     
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Inma : *

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