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Future review with will. Forms: affirmative, negative and interrogative

Presentation / Objective

 


In this unit, you are practising the modal “will”. This modal verb is used to express promises, intentions, predictions and make offers.

We suggest you follow the order of the activities to better understand the use of this modal verb. You will not only practise grammar, but also develop your speaking, reading, listening and writing skills.

At the end of the learning tasks, you will take a test to verify how well you have learned this new structure. Keep in mind that the more you practice, the more you learn, and the better you will communicate.

Objective

By the end of this topic, you will:
• Understand and use the grammatical structure “will” in its affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. For the purpose of expressing plans and intentions, make offers, promises, and predictions.

Content

 

Can you imagine having the opportunity to travel all over the world? What would you need to plan to start the adventure?

In this unit we will review the use of the modal verb “will” to formulate offers, promises, predictions and intentions.

 

First, Look at the following grammar information to understand the topic. Then it's recommended that you make your notes to internalise the information provided.

General concept:

We usually use “Will” to speak about the future. It is always combined with another verb.
Since “Will” is classified as a modal verb (like can, would, could, should) it has the same characteristics:

  1. It does not change in the third person (i.e. he, she, it)
  2. It is always combined with another verb in the base form (i.e. without 'to')
  3. We don't use it with 'Do' in questions or negatives.

Examples of Will:

park

Minesweeper. (2003). People's Park in Berkeley [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 13 from https://goo.gl/8tqI1w

soccer

Schawars, S. (2014). Football Ball Sport Soccer Play Green Field Kick [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-452569/

birthday

cbaquiran. (2014). Birthday Cake Cake Birthday Cupcakes Candles Party [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-380178/

airplane

skeeze. (2014). Hawker Jet Takeoff Aircraft Airplane Sky Flight [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-539490/

 

people talking

Alvesgaspar.(2007). Talking in the evening. Porto Covo, Portugal [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 13 from https://goo.gl/jeNr5W

We use “will” to make:

Promises: when you commit to doing or not doing something in the future:

  • I'll take you to Disneyland next month.
  • We won’t go to Six Flags if you don’t get good grades.
  • Will you take me to Cancun at the weekend?

 

Offers: when you propose to help or not help others in the future:

  • I’ll take you to the party if you are having trouble.
  • She won´t accompany him to Europe next Monday since they don’t get along well.
  • Will he be able to take us to the park in the evening?

 

 

 

a person thinking

Kratochvil, P. (2013) Young Woman Thinking [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 13 from https://goo.gl/PNejQb

We use “will” to make:

Predictions: when you believe something is possible in the future but you are not sure:

  • We will go to hike mountains if we continue practicing.
  • They won’t go to the cinema if they don’t hurry.
  • He is working hard against time, will he be able to get to the meeting?

 

Intentions: when you pretend to visit a place in the future but it is kind of difficult to accomplish and uncertain:

  • I’ll take you to the party if my dad lends me the car.
  • She won´t travel to Europe next Monday since she’s got a lot of work.
  • Will he still want to join us in the park at the weekend?

 

Now that you know the bases and rules of the modal verb “will” let’s make some easy diagnostic exercises to prove them!

 

 

Now that you know the rules for the modal verb “will” let’s test them by doing some easy diagnostic exercises!

Exercise 1. Places


Do you have a favourite place? What is it? Do you like visiting many places? What place will you visit next in your country?

You are going to unscramble the following sentences about future visits to common places in a city.

Based on the previous grammar explanation, answer the following diagnostic exercises. This activity which will let you to identify the correct use of "will". You have unlimited attempts but try to answer the best you can!

Exercise 2. Countries


Do you have any intention of going abroad? Will you go to another country soon?

Now, you are going to complete the following sentences about future visits to different countries using the modal verb “will”.

Exercise 3. Famous cities


What is the most beautiful city in your opinion? How many cities will you visit this year?

Finally, you are going to complete the following sentences about future visits to famous cities using the "will" structure.

 

Great job! You have mastered the “will” structure. Now, let’s work on other skills.

 

Reading

Long distance love

You are going to read a message from a man to his lover about his current and next job trip, and how he has been doing.

What about you? What is the next place you will visit? When reading notice the importance of “will” when talking about daily life activities.

First, scan the text. Write down all the words you don’t understand and look them up in an English-English dictionary. Here are some options:

  1. Cambridge Dictionary
  2. Longman Dictionary
  3. Macmillan Dictionary

 

 

 

Ordering

Steve’s team will visit some cities if things go well. Help him remember the order they will visit those places. Based upon the text, number the cities (1-6) as they will be visited by Steve’s team.

Easy, right? Have you taken notes?, the use of “will” is fundamental to talk about our future plans. Now, let´s to practice your listening abilities.

 

Listening

Activity 3

Trip plan

Do you prefer planned or spontaneous trips? Why?

In this section, you are going to listen to two brothers and their mother talking about the boys’ next trip. They are mentioning offers, predictions, promises and intentions. While listening to the audio, complete the conversation. Notice the different uses of “will”. You have three attempts to answer this exercise.

You can listen to the conversation before doing the exercise by clicking here:

teens

zaenuddinahmad67.(2014). Havefun holiday friendship jump sunset teens [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 28 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1754193/

 

 

Always remember to pay attention to the structure and pronunciation in a listening activity to increase your vocabulary and understanding of the English language.

Let’s continue practising! Keep it up!

 

Writing

Activity 4

The dream trip

Imagine that you are planning, with your best friend who lives in another city, a trip to visit a country you have been to.

Write an e-mail to him/her discussing the places you intend to visit. Include among other promises and predictions of this trip, what you offer to pay for some attractions.

Write an 80-100 word e-mail that includes the different uses of the modal verb: “will”.

 

Listening and speaking

Activity 5

Unique Experiences

Have you ever given someone a lift? Have you ever made a promise to someone to visit a place? Have you ever intended to visit some places? Have you ever predicted to go someplace?

Let’s test out your skills in an integrated way. Read the following situations. Select one and click on it. Listen to it and record your opinion using the modal verb “will” to either make an offer, predict, promise or express intentions. To access the recording software, select the situation and click on the image.

Before you send your description, make sure it contains the characteristics contained in the rubrics.

 

 

1. You are going to visit your favourite country. Talk about the places you intend and don’t intend to visit. Give a reason for each one. Do not forget to say why you want to visit that country.

Globe ballon planet

Belemmi, G. (2016). Globe Balloon Planet Old Geography Continents [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from <https://pixabay.com/photo-1224839/

 

2. Your best friend is going back to his/her country in a week. Promise to take him to the most beautiful places in your country this week and explain your choices. Do not forget to mention the places you won’t visit according to his/her likes.

maps Vincular

Sankowski, D. (2016). Old Retro Antique Vintage Classic Photo Map [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1130733/

 

 

3. You’ll probably be promoted, and vacations are coming up. Make predictions about the places/countries you will and won’t visit. Give a reason for each place you choose to go to if you get the promotion.

a person thinking

Bryant-Mode, M. (2016). Ocean Thinking Sea Person Sunset Man Outdoor [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1919639/

 

4.You are taking a walk in the park, and you see a person who looks like a lost tourist. You offer to take him to different places in your city, giving reasons for your choices.

Do not forget to mention the places you won’t take them to and give a reason for not taking them there.

Rome

Fisher, K. (2016). Rome Arch Colosseum Forum Italy Italian Landmark [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, March 22 from https://pixabay.com/photo-2104752/

 

Even if you select one of the situations to make the activity, use the other ones to keep practising and getting better the structure of the modal verb “will”.

 

Self-assessment

Uses of “Will”

Now that you are an expert on the modal verb "will", the last step is to master the differentiation between the uses based on context.

Indicate if the following sentences are: either a promise, an offer, an intention or a prediction by selecting the correct option. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.

References

Complementary

* English Grammar Online. (2017). English Grammar Online … the fun way to learn English online. Retrieved on 2017, March 28 from www.ego4u.com
* English Grammar. (2017). English Grammar. Retrieved on 2017, March 28 from www.englishgrammar.org
* British Council. (2017). Learn English. Retrieved on 2017, March 28 from http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/