'Be going to' vs.

Future simple

Compare the differences between the forms “be going to + infinitive” and “will
+ infinitive”:

Plans vs. decisions / arrangements

I'm going to go shopping this afternoon. (=  I have already decided. It is a

plan.)

I'll go shopping this afternoon. (= I have just decided, or I am offering to go)

Predictions based on current facts vs. feelings

She’s going to have a baby. (I can see her stomach is larger than usual.)

Her baby will be a boy. (I am guessing. I have little or no visible evidence to

support my prediction.)

Expressing future

There are various structures we can use to talk about the future. Below is a
short summary of the main structures we use:

PRESENT SIMPLE

- for scheduled events:

The train to Albany leaves at ten thirty. (The train leaves at the same time
every day.)

My birthday is on a Thursday this year.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

- for future plans and arrangements:

Jane is getting married in May.

What time is Peter arriving tomorrow?

BE GOING TO + INFINITIVE

- for plans and intentions:

I’m going to buy a new car. (I have the intention, but I still don’t know
exactly which one, how or where.)

- for predictions based on external / visible evidence:

Be careful! You’re going to fall. (I can see that the surface you are walking on
is dangerous.)

WILL / WON’T + INFINITIVE

- for predictions based on feelings:

Don’t worry! I'm sure you will pass the test easily.

- for instant decisions:

I’ll have a glass of mineral water, please.

- for offers and suggestions:

I'll help you carry your bags. (offer)

We'll go for an ice cream after the movie. (suggestion)

- for promises or threats:

I will never hurt you.

I'll take away your computer if you don't do your homework

Present continuous vs. 'Be going to'

Compare the present continuous and the structure “ be going to + infinitive”:

Going to: refers to intentions or plans that aren't arranged yet:

As soon as I get my driver's license, I'm going to buy a car. (It is my

intention, but I don't know what car, or when, etc.)

Present Continuous: refers to arrangements.

I can't meet with you this afternoon. I’m buying a car. (I have an appointment
with the car dealership. I already paid a deposit.)

Uses of 'to be going to'

aWe can use the structure "to be going to + infinitive" to refer to intentions,
plans, and predictions based on evidence:

I am going to see a movie tonight. (plan or intention)

They aren't going to win the match. (prediction)

Are you going (to go*) on holiday this year? (plan or intention)

* when the verb in infinitive is "to go", we often omit it to avoid repetition.

For short answers, we use the same short answers as those for "to be":

Yes, I am.

No, she's not

Will vs. shall / should

A) WILL

“Will” is a modal auxiliary verb which is usually used to indicate the future
tense, but, being a modal verb, it is not totally neutral. It gives certain
meanings to the sentence in which it appears:

PROMISE

I’ll never forget you!

PREDICTION

I’m certain she will find a good job.

OFFER

I’ll help you wash the car.

DECISION

I don’t know which shirt to buy. OK, I’ll take both.

B) SHOULD

In the past, the modal auxiliary verb “shall” was also used to indicate the
future with “I” and “we”. Nowadays, it is less used in that way. Instead we use
“shall” or also “should” as a modal verb to express:

OFFERS

Shall / Should I get you an aspirin?

SUGGESTIONS

Shall / Should we go to the movie theater?

Definite and indefinite articles

Definite and indefinite articles

Articles are often used before a noun or noun phrase. There are two:

Definite article: The

The article "The" is used to refer to specific or particular things or places, i.e.

when we know what we are talking about or referring to.

Is that the pencil? (We are referring to a specific pencil: The one you gave me,
the one I was looking for, etc.)

That is the key.  (The key for this door)

He is the mayor. (There is only one mayor in this town)

Indefinite article: A/An

The article "A/An" is used to refer to something which is not specific, or not

known to the listener.

I have a letter for you.

I have a pencil.

"A" is placed in front of a singular noun that does not begin with a vowel
sound:

It is a book.

That is a house.

He is a doctor.

"An" is used before a singular noun which begins with a vowel sound:

It is an aeroplane.

This is an e-mail.

Indefinite articles that are used with plural nouns are  "Some" and  "Any":

Some (affirmative and interrogative sentences)

Any (negative and interrogative sentences)

I have some pens.

Do you have any pens?
Zero article

Zero article is when we don't use an article. For example, when we refer to
things in general, we omit the article “the”:

I like dogs. (All dogs in general)

Books are interesting. (All books in general)

Life is beautiful. (Life in general)

The following table summarizes articles:

Article Indefinite Definite Zero

Singular countable
A pencil The pencil -
nouns
Some /
Plural countable nouns The pencils Pencils
any pencils
Uncountable nouns Some / any milk The milk Milk

Introducing people

The table below shows some common expressions we can use when introducing
ourselves:

Person A Person B
Hi, how are you? I'm fine, thanks.
What's your name? I'm Kate.

Who are you? My name is Kate.

Pleased / Nice to meet you. Pleased / Nice to meet you too.*
How do you do? How do you do?
What do you do? I'm a civil servant.
I'm German.
Where are you from?
I'm from Germany.
How old are you? I'm thirty.

*Formal greeting. We answer the question with the same question.

Expressions for introducing others:

This is my wife.

Her name is Sarah.

She's not German. She's Australian. She's a doctor.

Prepositions of place

The cat is behind the chair.

The cat is in front of the chair.

The cat is next to the chair.

The cat is on the chair.

The cat is under the chair.