Will/shall (1)

A. We use I'll (= I will) when we decide to do something at the time of speaking:
 

     * Oh, I've left the door open. I'll go and shut it.

     * 'What would you like to drink?' 'I'll have an orange juice, please.'

  

     * 'Did you phone Ruth?' 'Oh no, I forgot. I'll phone her now.'

        You cannot use the present simple (I do/I go etc.) in these sentences:

    * I'll go and shut the door. (not 'I go and shut')

       We often use I think I'll ... and I don't think I'll ...:

    * I feel a bit hungry. I think I'll have something to cat.

    * I don't think I'll go out tonight. I'm too tired.

       In spoken English the negative of will is usually won't (= will not):

 

    * I can see you're busy, so I won't stay long.

B. Do not use will to talk about what you have already decided or arranged to do:

    * I'm going on holiday next Saturday. (not 'I'll go')

    * Are you working tomorrow? (not 'will you work')

C. We often use will in these situations:

     Offering to do something

     * That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it. (not 'I help')

       Agreeing to do something

    * A: You know that book I lent you. Can I have it back if you've finished with it?

      B: Of course. I'll give it to you this afternoon. (not 'I give')

          Promising to do something

    * Thanks for lending me the money. I'll pay you back on Friday. (not 'I pay')

    * I won't tell anyone what happened. I promise.

      Asking somebody to do something (Will you ...?)

    * Will you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.

    * Will you shut the door, please?

      You can use won't to say that somebody refuses to do something:

    * I've tried to advise her but she won't listen. (= she refuses to listen)

    * The car won't start. I wonder what's wrong with it. (= the car 'refuses' to start)

D. Shall I ...? Shall we ...?

    Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I ...?/shall we ...?

    We use shall I ...?/shall we ...? to ask somebody's opinion (especially in offers or

    suggestions):

    * Shall I open the window? (= do you want me to open the window?)

    * I've got no money. What shall I do? (= what do you suggest?)

 

    * 'Shall we go?' 'Just a minute. I'm not ready yet.'

 

    * Where shall we go this evening?

      Compare shall I ...? and will you ...?:

    * Shall I shut the door? (= do you want me to shut it?)

    * Will you shut the door? (= I want you to shut it)

EXERCISES

21.1 Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb.

      1. I'm too tired to walk home. I think I'll get a taxi.

      2. 'It's a bit cold in this room.' 'Is It? --- on the heating then.'

      3. 'We haven't got any milk.' 'Oh, haven't we? --- and get some.'

      4. 'Do you want me to do the washing-up?' 'No, it's all right. --- it.'

 

      5. 'I don't know how to use this computer.' 'OK, --- you.'

      6. 'Would you like tea or coffee? '--- coffee, please.'

     7. 'Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.' 'Thanks. --- you a postcard.'

     8. Thank you for lending me your camera. --- it back to you on Monday, OK?

    9. 'Are you coming with us?' 'No, I think --- here.'

21.2 Read the situations and write sentences with I think I'll ... or I don't think I'll ...

     1. It's a bit cold. You decide to close the window. You say: I think I'll close the window.

     2. You are feeling tired and it's quite late. You decide to go to bed. You say: I think ---

     3. A friend of yours offers you a lift in his car but you decide to walk. You say: Thank you but

     4. You arranged to play tennis today. Now you decide that you don't want to play. You say:

          I don't think ---

     5. You were going to go swimming. Now you decide that you don't want to go. ---

 

21.3 Which is correct?

      1. 'Did you phone Ruth?' 'Oh no, I forgot. _I phone (X)/I'll phone (O)_ her now.' (I'll phone is

           correct)

      2. I can't meet you tomorrow afternoon. _I'm playing (O)/I'll play (X)_ tennis. (I'm playing is

          correct)

      3. _'I meet/I'll meet_ you outside the hotel in half an hour, OK?' 'Yes, that's fine.'

     

      4. 'I need some money.' 'OK, _I'm lending/I'll lend_ you some. How much do you need?'

      5. _I'm having/I'll have_ a party next Saturday. I hope you can come.

     6. 'Remember to buy a newspaper when you go out.' 'OK. _I don't forget/I won't forget.'_

     7. What time _does your train leave/will your train leave_ tomorrow?

     8. I asked Sue what happened but she _doesn't tell/won't tell_ me.

     9. _'Are you doing/Will you do_ anything tomorrow evening?' 'No, I'm free. Why?'

  10. I don't want to go out alone. _Do you come/Will you come_ with me?

  11. It's a secret between us. I promise _I don't tell/I won't tell_ anybody.

21.4 What do you say in these situations? Write sentences with shall I ...? or shall we ...?

       1. You and a friend want to do something this evening but you don't know what. You ask

           your friend. What shall we do this evening?

      2. You try on a jacket in a shop. You are not sure whether to buy it or not. You ask a friend

           for advice. --- it?

      3. It's Ann's birthday next week. You want to give her a present but you don't know what.

          You ask a friend for advice. What ---

      4. You and a friend are going on holiday together but you haven't decided where. You ask

           him/her. ---

      5. You and a friend are going out. You haven't decided whether to go by car or to walk. You

           ask him/her ---

      6. Your friend wants you to phone later. You don't know what time to phone. You ask

           him/her ---

Present tenses (I am doing/I do) for the future

A. Present continuous J am doing) with a future meaning
 

    Study this example situation:

    This is Tom's diary for next week.

    He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon.

    He is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning.

    He is having dinner with Ann on Friday.

    In all these examples, Tom has already decided and arranged to do these things.

    Use the present continuous to say what you have already arranged to do. Do not use the present simple J do):

     * A: What are you doing on Saturday evening? (not 'what do you do')

       B: I'm going to the theater. (not 'I go')

 

    * A: What time is Cathy arriving tomorrow?

       B: At 10.30. I'm meeting her at the station.

   

   * I'm not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere.

   * Ian isn't playing football on Saturday. He's hurt his leg.

     '(I'm) going to (do)' is also possible in these sentences:

   * What are you going to do on Saturday evening?

     But the present continuous is more natural for arrangements. See also Unit 20B.

     Do not use will to talk about what you have arranged to do:

  * What are you doing this evening? (not 'what will you do')

  * Alex is getting married next month. (not 'will get')

B. Present simple (I do) with a future meaning

    We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for example, for public transport, cinemas etc.):

    * The train leaves Plymouth at 11.30 and arrives in London at 14.45.

   * What time does the film begin?

   * It's Wednesday tomorrow.

     You can use the present simple for people if their plans are fixed like a timetable:

   * I start my new job on Monday.

   * What time do you finish work tomorrow?

     But the continuous is more usual for personal arrangements:

  

   * What time are you meeting Ann tomorrow? (not 'do you meet')

  Compare:

  

   * What time are you leaving tomorrow?

   

     but * What time does the train leave tomorrow?

   * I'm going to the cinema this evening.

     but * The film starts at 8.15 (this evening).

EXERCISES

19.1 A friend of yours is planning to go on holiday soon. You ask her about her plans. Use the words in brackets to make your questions.

      1. (where/go?) Where are you going? Scotland.

      2. (how long/stay?) Ten days.

      3. (when/go?) Next Friday.

      4. (go/alone?) No, with a friend of mine.

      5. (travel/by car?) No, by train.

      6. (where/stay?) In a hotel.

   

19.2 Tom wants you to visit him but you are very busy. Look at your diary for the next few days and explain to him why you can't come.

        TOM: Can you come on Monday evening?

          You: Sorry but I'm playing volleyball. (1)

        TOM: What about Tuesday evening then?

          You: No, not Tuesday I --- (2)

   

        TOM: And Wednesday evening?

   

        YOU: --- (3)

       TOM: Well, are you free on Thursday?

        YOU: I'm afraid not. --- (4)

19.3 Have you arranged to do anything at these times? Write (true) sentences about yourself.

       1. (this evening) I'm going out this evening. or I'm not doing anything this evening. or I don't know what I'm doing this evening.

      2. (tomorrow morning) I ---

      3. (tomorrow evening)

      4. (next Sunday)

      5. (choose another day or time)

19.4 Put the verb into the more suitable form, present continuous or present simple.

     1. I'm going (go) to the theater this evening.

     2. Does the film begin (the film/begin) at 3.30 or 4.30?

  

     3. We --- (have) a party next Saturday. Would you like to come?

   

    4. The art exhibition --- (open) on 3 May and --- (finish) on 15 July.

    5. I --- (not/go) out this evening. I --- (stay) at home.

    6. '--- (you/do) anything tomorrow morning?' 'No, I'm free. Why?'

    7. We --- (go) to a concert tonight. It --- (begin) at 7.30.

   

    8. You are on the train to London and you ask another passenger:

        Excuse me. What time --- (this train/get) to London?

   

   9. You are talking to Ann:

       Ann, I --- (go) to town. --- (you/come) with me?

 10. Sue --- (come) to see us tomorrow. She --- (travel) by train and her train --- (arrive) at 10.15. I --- (meet) her at the station.

 11. I --- (not/use) the car this evening, so you can have it.

12. You and a friend are watching television. You say:

       I'm bored with this programmer. When --- (it/finish)?

Used to (do)

A. Study this example situation:

     Dennis stopped smoking two years ago. He doesn't smoke any more.

     But he used to smoke.

     He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.

    'He used to smoke' = he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now. He was a smoker, but now he isn't

B. 'Something used to happen' = something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens:

      * I used to play tennis a lot but I don't play very often now.

      * Diane used to travel a lot. These days she doesn't go away so often.

      * 'Do you go to the cinema very often?' 'Not now, but I used to.' (= I used to go ...)

         We also use used to... for something that was true but is not true any more:

      * This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.

      * I used to think he was unfriendly but now I realise he's a very nice person.

   

      * I've started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before.

      * Janet used to have very long hair when she was a child.

    

C. 'I used to do something' is past. There is no present form. You cannot say 'I use to do'. To talk about the present, use the present simple (I do).

     Compare:

     past: he used to smoke  we used to live  there used to be

     present: he smokes  we live  there is

     * We used to live in a small village but now we live in London.

     * There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.

     

D. The normal question form is did (you) use to ...?:

   * Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?

  

     The negative form is didn't use to ... (used not to ... is also possible)

   * I didn't use to like him. (or I used not to like him.)

E. Compare I used to do and I was doing :

    * I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV regularly in the past, but I no longer do this)

    * I was watching TV when the phone rang. (= I was in the middle of watching TV)

  

F. Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 60). The structures and meanings are different:

   * I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past but I no longer live alone)

  

   * I am used to living alone. (= I live alone and I don't find it strange or new because I've been living alone for some time)

EXERCISES

  

18.1 Complete these sentences with use(d) to ... + a suitable verb.

       1. Dennis gave up smoking two years ago. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.

   

       2. Liz --- a motorbike, but last year she sold it and bought a car.

   

       3. We came to live in Manchester a few years ago. We --- in Nottingham.

       4. I rarely cat ice cream now but I --- it when I was a child.

       5. Jim --- my best friend but we aren't friends any longer.

       6. It only takes me about 40 minutes to get to work since the new road was opened. It --- more than an hour.

       7. There --- a hotel opposite the station but it closed a long time ago

       8. When you lived in London, --- to the theatre very often?

  

18.2 Brian changed his lifestyle. He stopped doing some things and started doing other things:

       He stopped studying hard/going to bed early/running three miles e3very morning

   

       He started smoking/going out in the evening/spending a lot of money

      Write sentences about Brian with used to and didn't use to.

        1. He used to smoke.

        2. He didn't use to smoke.

        3. ---

        4. ---

        5. ---

   

        6. ---

   

18.3 Compare what Carol said five years ago and what she says today:

       FIVE YEARS A GO

      I travel a lot,

      I play the piano.

      I'm very lazy.

      I don't like cheese.

      I've got a dog.

     I'm a hotel receptionist.

     I've got lots of friends.

  

     I never read newspapers.

     I don't drink tea.

    I go to a lot of parties.

    TODAY

    I eat lots of cheese now.

    I work very hard these days.

 

    I don't know in people these days.

    I work in a bookshop now.

    I don't go away much these days.

    My dog died two years ago.

    I read a newspaper every day now.

    I haven't been to a party for ages.

    I haven't played piano for years.

    Tea's great! I like it now.

    Now write sentences about bow Carol has changed. Use used to/didn't use to/never used to in the first part of your sentence.

    1. She used to travel a lot but she doesn't go away much these days.

    2. She used --- but ---

    3. --- but ---

    4. --- but ---

    5. --- but ---

    6. --- but ---

    7. --- but ---

    8. --- but ---

    9. --- but ---

  10. --- but ---