2/9/2020 Lesson | Smrt English

5-1 Future #1 
A: What are you doing after school?
B: We  might go shopping. Would you like to join us?
A: Sure. I' ll meet you outside after class.

Talking About the Future

When discussing the future, English speakers usually use the modal verb, "will" or the phrase, "be going to". Sometimes,
English speakers use present tenses to describe the future. It is also common to describe future events using the modal
verbs, "may" or "might":

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We' ll have a wonderful time.  It' s going to be a busy weekend.

Jane is leaving the country next week. I'm feeling a little sick. I might go to bed early tonight.

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Decisions Made at the Moment of Speaking: Will

When we make decisions at the moment of speaking, we usually use will :

I'm tired. I think I' ll  take a short nap.

I don't think I' ll  go to the party tonight.

Let's start making dinner. I' ll make the salad.

For this reason, English speakers often use  will  when making o ers, agreeing to do something, promising to do
something, or asking someone to do something:

Offering to do something:

Let's have dinner at my house tonight.  I' ll make spaghetti! I' ll  open the door for you.

Agreeing to do something:

 
Do you want to get together tonight?

Sure! I' ll  come over after dinner.

Promising:

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We should get together this weekend.  I' ll  give you a call. Could I borrow some money? I' ll pay you back tomorrow. I
promise.

Asking someone to do something:

Will you give me a hand this weekend? Will you please close the door? It's pretty cold in here.

Plans Made Before the Moment of Speaking: Be Going To / Present

Continuous

When we want to explain our plans that we made before the moment of speaking, we use be going to or the Present
Continuous . We do not use will .

Be Going To

I think I' m going to watch a movie when I go home tonight.

Are you going to visit your family this weekend?

We are going to get married next year.

Present Continuous

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We are having lunch together tomorrow.

Where are you meeting Joe this afternoon?

I' m seeing  a musical tonight with my friend.

Be going to  is normal for explaining our intentions and decisions about the future:

I' m going to see the movie Is she going to make a reservation? We aren't going to do that this week.
sometime next week.

The  Present Continuous  has a similar meaning but emphasizes that an arrangement has been made:

I' m seeing a movie tonight with my I' m ying to Thailand next week. I just We aren't eating at home this evening
friend. We are meeting at the theatre got my ticket! because we' re going out for dinner
at 6:50 PM. with the Petersons. 

Be careful of the di erences in form between Be going to and the  Present Continuous when go is the main verb of
the sentence:

Be Going to

We are going to go shopping after class.

I am not going to go to the party.

Are you going to go to the library today?

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Present Continuous

We are going shopping after class.

I' m not going to the party. I have other plans.

Are you going to the library today?

Uncertainty

When we are unsure about what we will do in the future, we can describe our uncertainty with the modal verbs, may
or might . There is no di erence between the two words when used in this meaning:

What are you doing tonight?

Hmmm. I may / might go to the gym but I haven't decided yet.

Are you going to Lucy's party on Friday night?

I may / might , but I have a lot of homework to do this weekend, so I'm not sure it's a good idea. 

Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.

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Exercise

 5-1 Future #1

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