Future Tense
BasicUse the base verb after will; going to goes with be.
- Two futures: will + base verb; am/is/are going to + base verb.
- be going to for plans: We are going to sell cookies.
- will for predictions and promises: I will help you.
文體小知識：Will and going to.
§Text Passage
1Next week is our school fair, and our class has big plans. We are going to sell cookies and lemonade at a stall. I have already made a poster, and Ken is going to design the price list. Our goal is to raise money for the animal shelter, and we hope to collect three thousand dollars. Ken has already bought a big box of flour for the cookies.
2The fair is going to be busy. Our teacher says many parents will come and visit. I predict we will sell out in one hour! Tomorrow, we are going to practise how to serve customers, and some of us will make cookies at home on Thursday. Amy will be the cashier because she is good at maths, and I will show people to our stall.
3Soon, the whole class will be ready for the big day. We will wear our class T-shirts and smile at everyone. I hope we can raise a lot of money for the animal shelter. It will be a day to remember. What are you going to do at your school fair? Will you help your class too? Nothing is impossible if we plan well and work as a team.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Next week is our school fair, and our class has big plans.
下星期就是學校嘉年華，我們班有一項大計。
We are going to sell cookies and lemonade at a stall.
我們打算在攤位賣曲奇同檸檬水。
I have already made a poster, and Ken is going to design the price list.
我已經整好海報，Ken 會負責設計價目表。
Our goal is to raise money for the animal shelter, and we hope to collect three thousand dollars.
我們的目標是為動物收容所籌錢，希望籌到三千元。
Ken has already bought a big box of flour for the cookies.
Ken 已經買了一大盒麵粉，準備整曲奇。
The fair is going to be busy.
嘉年華一定會很熱鬧。
Our teacher says many parents will come and visit.
老師說很多家長都會來參觀。
I predict we will sell out in one hour!
我預計我們一小時就會賣光！
Tomorrow, we are going to practise how to serve customers, and some of us will make cookies at home on Thursday.
明天我們會練習怎樣招呼客人，星期四還會有同學在家整曲奇。
Amy will be the cashier because she is good at maths, and I will show people to our stall.
Amy 會做收銀員，因為她數學很好；我就負責帶客人去我們的攤位。
Soon, the whole class will be ready for the big day.
很快，全班都會準備好迎接大日子。
We will wear our class T-shirts and smile at everyone.
我們會穿上班 T-shirt，笑容滿面地招呼大家。
I hope we can raise a lot of money for the animal shelter.
我希望可以為動物收容所籌到很多錢。
It will be a day to remember.
這一日一定會令人難忘。
What are you going to do at your school fair?
你在學校嘉年華會做些什麼？
Will you help your class too?
你又會不會幫自己班？
Nothing is impossible if we plan well and work as a team.
只要我們計劃得好、團結合作，就沒有什麼是不可能的。
1Summary 重點摘要
Use the base verb after will; going to goes with be.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Next day.
Coming week.
Future.
Plan.
Arrangement.
Say what will happen.
Wish.
Shortly.
3Step by step Steps
- willWill is used for predictions, spontaneous decisions and promises. Example: I think it will rain tomorrow. I will help you with your homework. The verb after will stays in its base form for every subject.
- be going toBe going to is used for plans made earlier and for events with signs. Example: We are going to visit the museum on Sunday. Look at those clouds. It is going to rain. The be verb changes with the subject: am, is or are.
- StructureThe future has two patterns: will plus the base verb, and am, is or are plus going to plus the base verb. Example: She will come soon. They are going to play badminton. In both patterns the verb stays bare, with no s or ing.
- TimeCommon future time words: tomorrow, next week, next month, soon, later. Example: I will see you tomorrow. Next joins a time unit, as in next Friday, and tomorrow takes no preposition, so on tomorrow is wrong.
- Planned or spontaneousUse be going to for plans made earlier and will for decisions made at the moment of speaking. Example: We are going to sell cookies at the fair. Someone knocks. I will answer the door. Decided before speaking: be going to. Decided while speaking: will.
- Time words as signalsWhen you see tomorrow, next week or soon, think of will or be going to. Example: It will be sunny soon. We are going to have a picnic next week. First decide whether the sentence is a plan or a prediction, then choose the pattern.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Question: The school fair is next week. How do we present the class plans? Tell planned arrangements and on-the-spot promises apart.
- Step 1: Class plans take be going to — We are going to sell cookies and lemonade. The plan was made earlier, so are going to fits.
- Step 2: Personal predictions take will — I think it will be a great day. I think often goes with will for opinions about the future.
- Step 3: Job divisions take be going to — Ken is going to design the price list. The subject is Ken, so the be verb is is.
- Step 4: On-the-spot promises take will — I will make the poster tonight. Will is the natural choice for something agreed while speaking.
- Step 5: End with a hope — I hope we will raise a lot of money. Hope plus will expresses a wish for the future.
- Answer: Sample answer: Next week is our school fair. We are going to sell cookies and lemonade, and Ken is going to design the price list. I will make the poster tonight. I hope we will raise a lot of money. Be going to carries the plans, and will carries the promise and the hope: the two futures divide the work clearly.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Use of will?
Q2Use of going to?
Q3Correct?
Q4Correct?
Q5After will?
Q6Negative?
8Recap Recap
- Two futures: will + base verb; am/is/are going to + base verb.
- be going to for plans: We are going to sell cookies.
- will for predictions and promises: I will help you.
- Signal words: tomorrow, next week, soon.
- After will, always use the base verb — no s, no to.