LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

9 Verbs, verb tenses, imperatives

9.7 The simple future tense

9.7A Some uses of 'will' and 'shall' [> LEG 9.37,11.23,11.38-40,11.73]

Study:

ED

1 Will and shall are 'modal verbs', so they are like can, must, etc. [> Chapter 11].

2 We often use will and shall to make predictions (the simple future tense):

It will rain tomorrow. I don't know if I shall see you next week.

3 We use will and shall in many other ways, apart from predicting the future: e.g.

• intentions/promises [> 9.8A]:


• requests/invitations [> 11,6D]:
  -offers [> 11.6E]:


• suggestions [> 11.6F]:


• threats:
  -decisions [> 9.9A]:

I'll (= I will) buy you a bicycle for your birthday.

Will you hold the door open for me, please?

Shall I get your coat for you?

Shall we go for a swim tomorrow?

Just wait! You'll regret this!

I'll stop and ask the way.

Write: Match the sentences on the left with the functions on the right.

A

We'll have a thunderstorm tonight, I'm sure,

Will there be a general strike?

I'll send you a card from Florida.

Will you write to me?

Shall I go to the post office for you?

Shall we take a drive into the country later?

I'll report you to the police next time.

8 The wedding will take place next Friday.

9 I hope you'll come and see us again.

10 Tell them again. Perhaps they'll understand.

Will you have lunch with us on Sunday?

I'll be seeing John at the meeting tomorrow.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

11

12

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

0

9)

h)

i)

j)

k)

I)

В

making a formal announcement

making a request

stating a planned arrangement

making a prediction

making an invitation

asking for a prediction

promising/stating intention

expressing future hope

expressing future uncertainty

threatening

offering

making a suggestion

9.7B 'Will' and 'shall' to refer to the future [> LEG 9.35-37]

Study:

Forms of 'will' and 'shall'

When we are referring to the future, we use will with all persons {I, you, he, she, etc.), but in

British English, we often use shall with l/we. (Not *he/she/it/you/they shall*):

I/We will (I'll/We'll) see you tomorrow. Or: I shall/We shall see you tomorrow.

In speech, we weaken shall to /1э1/. We often use 'II in place of will in speech and sometimes

in writing, especially after vowels: I'll/He'll see you tomorrow.

We also use 'II after consonants: Tom'll be here soon. When'll I see you?

Negative short forms are: 'II not, won't (= will not) or shan't {= shall not):

I'll not be there/I won't be there/I shan't be there tomorrow.

In American English shall and shan't with a future reference are rare.

Uses of the 'will/shall' future

Prediction: We invite prediction or we say what we think will happen:

Who will win on Saturday? Tottenham will win on Saturday.

In formal style we say what will happen for events that have been arranged:

The wedding will take place at St Andrew's on June 27th.

We use shall and will to express hopes and expectations:

I hope she'll get the job she's applied for. She'll get a surprise. - 1 expect she will.