L A N G U A G E G U I D E

Tomorrow, I’ll go to Susan’s party.

One year from now, I’ll move to New York.
In 2019, I’ll get married to Susan.

Time expressions references for the future:

Tomorrow
Susan’s party is tomorrow. Susan’s party is tomorrow afternoon.
Susan’s party is tomorrow morning. Susan’s party is tomorrow evening.

In + year = In 2019/In 2030

(Number) days/months / years from now = Two days from now / Three years from now

Next = next week/month/year

:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Planning a Meeting

Mrs. Baker – Sandra, let’s plan the general meeting.

Sandra – Sure, ma’am. When will it be?
Mrs. Baker – It will be next Tuesday, September 4th at two p.m.
Sandra – Wonderful. Until what time?
Mrs. Baker – Until five p.m. Don’t forget to order some items
for the coffee break tomorrow morning
and, in the afternoon, send the emails to the
heads of the department.
Sandra – OK. Consider it done.

L E S S O N 2

CONNECTORS: WHEN AND WHILE

:: USE AND STRUCTURE
• Use

When means at the moment. While means during the time.

WHEN WHILE
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• Structure

When → Simple Past + Simple Past While → Past Continuous + Past Continuous
Simple Past + Past Continuous Simple Past + Past Continuous

Sam left when we finished the meeting. Mike was preparing breakfast while I was taking a
When Julia arrived, the baby was sleeping. shower.
While I was taking care of the baby, Mike did the laundry.

:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Household Chores

Valerie – Yesterday, while my son was vacuuming, my daughter was ironing the clothes. My husband was
cleaning the yard while I was shopping for groceries. We share the domestic chores in my house.
Michelle – That's great. My husband and I do everything together. Yesterday, we cleaned and cooked in the
morning. When we finished, we did the dishes together.

:: COMMON MISTAKES

INCORRECT CORRECT
While I woke up, my sister was cooking. When I woke up, my sister was cooking.
I didn't know when was she traveling. I didn't know when she was traveling.

GIVING OPINION: BEING SUBTLE AND EMPHATIC

:: USE AND STRUCTURE

Subtle → You give opinion almost as a suggestion.

Giving Opinion
Emphatic → You give opinion in a less flexible way.

There are expressions that may be used to infer these ways to give opinion:

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I kind of think that the

• Being Subtle other dress suits you best.

Subtlety infers something that isn’t obvious

and sometimes even hard to identify. So, to
give your opinion subtly you can distance
yourself by using some expressions.

I tend to believe that exercise alone isn’t enough to I guess that maybe living in the city is more exciting.
lose weight.

I probably agree with the idea of taking two vacation I would say that living on your own is liberating.
terms in a year.

I really don’t think you should

• Being Emphatic be texting in the classroom.

Being emphatic means that you want your opinion to

be noticed and to be seen as strong. In order to be
emphatic, you can use some expressions.

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I do believe that it is OK for a student to have a I strongly believe that the government must be
part-time job. more just.

I definitely believe that people have to take care of I really think that nature is important for human life.
the environment.

:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Family Feud

Leo – Mary, this is not a debate.

I do believe you need to
spend more time at home.
Mary – But dad...I have college stuff
to do, and spending time
with my friends. I guess that
maybe you’re overreacting.
Leo – Oh, really? Ask your mother.
She says she only sees you
on weekends.
Mary – OK, I’ll try to spend more
time at home.

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PAST CONTINUOUS
:: USE AND STRUCTURE
• Use

Actions in progress during a period of time in the past.

past present

Emphasis on duration: Lia was studying from seven to eleven a.m.

Interrupted action: I was taking a shower when you called.
Simultaneous actions in progress in the past: I was cooking dinner and my husband was taking care of the baby.

• Structure

Affirmative: Subject + Verb To Be in the Past + Main

Verb in –ING Form + Complement.
She was having breakfast when you
called.

Negative: Subject + Verb To Be in the Past + Not +

Main Verb in –ING Form + Complement.
I wasn't watching videos, I was studying.

Interrogative: Subject + Verb To Be in the Past +

Not + Main Verb in –ING Form +
Complement?
Were you working yesterday in the
evening?

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:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Broken Window

Mother – Hi, honey. How was your day?

Son – Not good, mom. I have to tell you
something...I broke the window.
Mother – What? How did it happen?
Son – The boys and I were playing soccer outside
and...
Mother – Wait a minute! You weren't studying, you
were playing with the boys and you broke
the window...Is that what you are saying?
Son – I'm sorry, mom. I really am. But in my defense,
I was studying from two to five.
Mother – We'll see about that when I get your grade in
tomorrow's exam. Now, go to your room.

:: COMMON MISTAKES

INCORRECT CORRECT
I was calling her at ten a.m. I called her at ten a.m.
My wife was working and I cooking dinner. My wife was working and I was cooking dinner.

TIME EXPRESSIONS IN A NARRATIVE

:: USE AND STRUCTURE

Yesterday, when I was going

So we can have dinner
to work, I met Elza.
together next week.

It was great to see her.

I’ll call her later today.

Past
Time Expressions Present
Future

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• Structure

Time expressions are used either at the end or at the beginning of sentences in a narrative.

Past
In the summer/the winter/1970
Last week/month/year
Yesterday
Two days/months/years ago
At that moment
Some time ago

Yesterday, I went to the movies with Paul.

Mary and I went to the movies yesterday.

Present
(Right) now
At the/this moment
Currently
Nowadays
Today

I’m working right now. Can we talk later?

Future
Next week/month/year/Monday/Tuesday/weekend
Later
Tomorrow
By the end of the day/week/month
Tomorrow morning/afternoon/evening
Two days/months/years from now

My husband and I are moving to New York next year.

Sequencing
We also use expressions to help us sequence our narration.
(Right) After that Before that
These expressions may be used in the beginning of sentences.
Then When While

When I arrive at home later today, I’ll help you with While they were having dinner, it started to snow.
the homework. After that, we can go to the mall.
When = at the time While = During the time

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:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Family Tale

Helen – How did you meet daddy, mom?

Anne – It was in the summer of 1997 and we were
both taking our undergraduate studies. He
came to talk to me about the class during
the break. I think it was just an excuse, but
it worked because just one week later we
were dating.
Helen – How long after that did you get married?
Anne – We got married in March 2000.
Helen – That’s right, it’s your anniversary next month.

:: COMMON MISTAKES

INCORRECT CORRECT
They arrived in last week. They arrived last week.
They will arrive in next week. They will arrive next week.

L E S S O N 3

EXPRESSING QUANTITY: REVIEW

:: USE AND STRUCTURE

When you know the exact quantity of something, you can use numbers. But when you don’t, you need to use
expressions that relate to countable and uncountable nouns.

COUNTABLE NOUNS UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Question: How many? Question: How much?

Quantifiers:
A lot of → Very large quantity
Many → Large quantity
A few → Small but sufficient quantity
Few → Small and not sufficient quantity
Quantifiers:
A lot of → Very large quantity
Much → Large quantity (commonly used in the negative)
A little → Small but sufficient quantity
Little → Small and not sufficient quantity

• Some and Any

Professions

Physician / Biologist / IT analyst / Journalist /

Human Resources Specialist / Singer / Surgeon /
Fashion Designer / Driver / Chef / Accountant

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