INTERMEDIATE ONE, UNIT 5, GRAMMAR

USING BE + GOING TO + BASE VERB AND WILL + BASE VERB TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE PLANS

To ask about future plans, we ask the question using (QW) + be+going to + verb. For
Example: What are you going to do for our two weeks off?

To say our future plans, Be + going to + base verb is used for plans we have decided on, that
we are 100% sure about. Note: The verb to be is conjugated.

I am going to visit Cuenca. ( I have bought my plane ticket and have made a hotel reservation.
I am really excited. )

In the conversation on page 30, Julia is sure. She says: I am going to relax ...
We are going to go surfing...

Will + base verb is used for possible plans. Will is often accompanied by other words to show
possibility or probability (e.g. I guess, maybe, I think, probably, I suppose, I expect).
We also use will for spontaneous offers and sudden decisions (e.g., I`ll help you. I`ll get the
phone.)

In the conversation on page 30, Nancy is not sure of her plans. She says: I guess I`ll just stay
home. Maybe, I`ll hang out with ... Then she makes a spontaneous decision after Julia
invites her. She says: I`ll bring my surfboard!

In conversations, we usually use the contractions for be (I`m, We`re) and will and will not (I`ll, I
won`t).

USING MODAL VERBS TO EXPRESS NECESSITY AND SUGGESTION FOR TRAVEL ADVICE

Modals for necessity

There are many ways to express necessity. Must, need to, and have to have similar meanings
and are therefore interchangeable. Necessity means something is necessary, indispensable.

You must have a passport. You have to have a visa. You need to make reservations early for
the busy season.

Modals for suggestions

Had better, ought to and should have similar meanings but differ in strength. The strongest is
Had better, next is ought to, and finally, should(not).
You had better take care of your documents. You ought to learn something about the
country. You should buy a few souvenirs.

NOTE: ALL THESE MODALS ARE FOLLOWED BY THE BASE VERB.