FUTURE

The film is French, we won’t understand anything.I don’t think he’ll pass the exam.

predictions
to say things we think, guess or know about the future.
 (you have no evidence)
                                 I think
                                 I dont’ think

WILL

I’ll ask her to marry me.
I won’t stay for dinner. I’ll go home early.

Wait! I’ll help you carry those heavy bags.
Don’t worry, I’ll help you with your homework.

I’ll always love you.
If you tell me your secret, I won’t tell anybody.

DECISIONS, OFFERS AND PROMISES

WILL

What film are you going to see tonight?When are you going to travel to Europe?

FUTURE Plans, intentions and general plans

GOING TO

England hasn’t been playing well, I’m sure they are going to lose tomorrow.

Look at hose black clouds, it’s going to rain!

PREDICTIONS WITH EVIDENCE

                              GOING TO

I’m meeting joe at two o’clock.
My cousins aren’t coming to the party.
Is Martha meeting us at the restaurant?

future plans or Future arrangements which have already been made.

plans we have made at a fixed time or place in the future, difficult to cancel and often involving other people.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

we use it with the expressions
tonight                                         next week
tomorrow                                     on Friday
this weekend

with verbs describing travel arrangements
go
come
leave
arrive

I might go to the party, but i’m not sure.We might not finish the project for tomorrow.Do you think you might call me if you’re not too busy?

Other phrases for intentions and plans

Planning to + infinitive

Sue is planning to go to Norway

Hopping to + infinitive

Joe is hopping to get a scholarship

Thinking of + ing

I’m thinking of travelling to europe

When we are unsure what the plan is. Might

Some of the workers may lose their jobs because of the restructuring.

We might not go away this year because we don’t have any money.

PREDICTIONS WHICH ARE LESS CERTAIN

MAY / MIGHT

Might is more common than may in spoken English. May is a little bit more formal.

Global warming could destroy large parts of asia in the next thirty years.

Predictions which are less certain.  COULD

Regina is likely to be late because she works until seven.

We’re unlikely to reach Paris before lunch because of all the traffic.

Are you likely to be hungry later?

to make predictions when something is problable

BE LIKELY TO

Next course starts in August
What time does your plane arrive?
What time does the film finish?
My mum arrives at 8:30

•Facts

•Schedules

•Timetables

•itineraries

present simple

•Definitely

•Certainly

•Possibly

•Probably

•Jodie and Alice will probably get divorced son

•You definitely won’t get a ticket now. They’ve been sold out.

will +...

GOING TO VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS AS FUTURE

Going to future expresses a conclusion regarding the immediate future or an action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared.

Form of going to Future

	positive	negative	question
I	I am going to speak.	I am not going to speak.	Am I going to speak?
you / we / they	You are going to speak.	You are not going to speak.	Are you going to speak?
he / she / it	He is going to speak.	He is not going to speak.	Is he going to speak?

Use of going to Future

• an action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared
  example: I am going to study harder next year.
• a conclusion regarding the immediate future
  example: The sky is absolutely dark. It is going to rain.

Signal Words

• in one year, next week, tomorrow

Exercises on going to Future

• form of going tofuture
• positive sentences in going to future
• negative sentences in going to future
• question in going to future
• mixed exercise in going to future

Tests

• Future I Simple going to: Level 1 • Level 2 • Level 3

Comparison of future tenses: going to, will, Simple Present, Present Progressive

→ Explanation and exercises on future I simple (going to)

→ Explanation and exercises on future I simple (will)

→ Explanation and exercises on simple present

→ Explanation and exercises on present progressive

Use

Future I going to	Future I will	Simple Present	Present Progressive
decision made for the future	action in the future that cannot be influenced	action set by a time table or schedule	action already arranged for the near future
conclusion with regard to the future	assumption with regard to the future
	spontaneous decision

Exercise on going to, will, simple present and present progressive

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 2

USED TO / WOULD / BE USED TO / GET USED TO

Used to

Used to shows that:

• a particular thing always happened or was true in the past.
• But it no longer happens or is no longer true now:

Examples:

• David used to live in Madrid.
• She used to exercise every morning, but since she had that terrible accident she doesn't exercise anymore.
• Why don't you come and see me like you used to?

Forms of used to

Here are the interrogative, affirmative and negative forms of used to

• Did you use to exercise regularly?
• Yes, I used to go jogging nearly everyday.
• No, I didn't use to exercise on a regular basis.

Used to, be used to, get used to

1.Used to shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past (see examples above)
2.Be used to is used to say that something is normal, not unusual.
Examples:

• I'm used to living alone.
• Don't worry, John is used to driving for long hours. He has worked as a professional driver for 20 years.

3.Get used shows that something is in the process of becoming normal.
Examples:

• He doesn't like that small town, but he'll get used to it.
• She found the heels too high, but she got used to them.
• Since the divorce, she has become very sad. But I think she'll get used to her new life.
• I got used to living in Canada in spite of the cold weather.

4. Get used to and be used to are followed by either a noun or a gerund.

Get used to + noun	Get used to + gerund (verb+ing)
I got used to the noiseI'm used to the cold weather	I got used to waking up early I'm used to working late at night

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 3

EXERCISE 4

THIRD CONDITIONAL

Third Conditional

We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

• If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.
• If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
• If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
• If we had caught the earlier train, we would have got there on time but we were late.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.

• If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I didn't.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. ( But he wasn't there so it wasn't possible.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps if the opportunity had arisen.)
• If I had paid more attention in class, I would have understood the lesson.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• I'd have done it. ("if you had asked me but you didn't.")
• I wouldn't have said that. ("if I'd been there.")
• He wouldn't have let him get away with that. ("if he had tried that with me.")
• exercise 1
  exercise 2
  exercise 3
  exercise 4
  exercise 5
• taken from http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/menu.php

SECOND CONDITIONAL

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

• If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
• If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
• If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
• If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.

Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

• If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
• If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
• If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

• If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
• If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

• If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
• If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
• If you were in my position, you'd understand.

Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn't.

• Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
• Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
• Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
• Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
• Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
• Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

• If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
• If she were coming, she would be here by now.
• If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

• If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
• If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
• If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
• Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
• He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")

Return to List of Grammar Lessons

exercise 1

exercise 2

exercise 3

exercise 4

exercise 5

exercise 6

taken from http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/menu.php

FIRST CONDITIONAL

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/first-conditional-exercise-1.html

First Conditional Form
Make the first conditional
1) If I  (go) out tonight, I  (go) to the cinema... 2) If you  (get) back late, I  (be) angry... 3) If we  (not/see) each other tomorrow, we  (see)each other next week... 4) If he  (come) , I  (be) surprised... 5) If we  (wait) here, we  (be) late... 6) If we  (go) on holiday this summer, we  (go) to Spain... 7) If the weather  (not/improve) , we  (not/have) a picnic... 8) They  (go) to the party if they  (be) invited... 9) If I  (not/go) to bed early, I  (be) tired tomorrow... 10) If we  (eat) all this cake, we  (feel) sick .

ZERO CONDITIONAL

Zero Conditional

When we talk about things that are generally or always true, we can use:

If/When/Unless plus a present form PLUS present simple or imperative

• If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
• When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
• Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.

Note that we are not talking about a specific event but something which is generally true.

In the condition clause, we can use a variety of present forms. In the result clause, there can only be the present simple or imperative.

• If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
• If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
• If you've done that, go and have a coffee.
• When you go on holiday, take plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
• When I'm concentrating, please don't make so much noise.
• When I've finished an article, I always ask Kate to read it through.

Notice that 'unless' means the same as 'if not'.

• Unless he asks you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project.
• Unless prices are rising, it's not a good investment.
• Unless you've been there yourself, you don't really understand how fantastic it is.
• exercise 1

  exercise 2

  exercise 3

  exercise 4