Future!

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

• You will help him later.
• Will you help him later?
• You will not help him later.

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

• I will send you the information when I get it.
• I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
• Will you help me move this heavy table?
• Will you make dinner?
• I will not do your homework for you.
• I won't do all the housework myself!
• A: I'm really hungry.
  B: I'll make some sandwiches.
• A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
  B: I'll get you some coffee.
• A: The phone is ringing.
  B: I'll get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

• I will call you when I arrive.
• If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
• I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
• Don't worry, I'll be careful.
• I won't tell anyone your secret.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

• When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
• When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

There are some more here and here.

What´s the Past Simple?

FORM

[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

• You called Debbie.
• Did you call Debbie?
• You did not call Debbie.

Complete List of Simple Past Forms

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

• I saw a movie yesterday.
• I didn't see a play yesterday.
• Last year, I traveled to Japan.
• Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
• Did you have dinner last night?
• She washed her car.
• He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

• I lived in Brazil for two years.
• Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
• They sat at the beach all day.
• They did not stay at the party the entire time.
• We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
• A: How long did you wait for them?
  B: We waited for one hour.

USE 3 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

• I studied French when I was a child.
• He played the violin.
• He didn't play the piano.
• Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
• She worked at the movie theater after school.
• They never went to school, they always skipped class.

Exercises here, here and here. Some are with music, you will have some fun!

Grammar: Modals

Hello, sixth year. There we go...

Modals are auxiliaries that can be used to modify the meaning of the following verb. Different modals can express the same notion, while one specific modal can have different meanings. For example, CAN.

You use CAN to express possibility, permission or ability. What shall tell you is the context. Check!

You CAN drive, because you are eighteen. - that means you are authorized to drive.

You CAN drive on the right - that means you have the permission to drive.

You CAN drive well! - that means you have the ability to drive.


We shall work only with the 3 below:

You should study. = advice
You must study. = obligation
You can study. = permission

Structure:

Affirmative:
S M V
I can drive


Negative:
S M + not V
I can not drive

Interrogative:
M S V
Can I drive?

Verbs + Prepositions

First things first: You have to know the prepositions. Not all of them of course - although it might be a good idea - but the most important ones. This one is to be printed. This one is click and go.

A list of prepositions with the verb is here (this one is quite broad and complete) and here. Remember prepositions are very important for text understanding and communication as a whole.

Wiil x Going to

As we all remember - if you don´t that means trouble - the present continous may be used as a future form. And what´s going to?

A continous form, of course! And, as a continuous form, it may be used as future!

He is going to travel to Canada.
He is traveling to Canada.

Although they´re written in different forms, they mean the same: a scheduled action in the future. He probably has already bought tickets.

Check some exercises here.

Past Simple Passive

Never forget: what rules the passive is the verb to be.

Example: She is sent home. (present)
She was sent home. (past)
She will be sent home. (future)

Try your understanding here and you can print some here.

A post is done by the teacher!

The passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by an action.

The Passive is formed:
Passive Subject To Be Past Particple

Example:
We have produced over 20 different models in the past two years. ( active voice)
Over 20 different models have been produced in the past two years. (passive voice)

Exercises here and here .

Hello, people! Should We study?

Click here and find out more.

Past Simple

Uses:

A completed action in the past...

Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.
I didn't see a play yesterday.
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.

Finished actions.

Examples:

I lived in Brazil for two years. - but he probably moved.
Shauna studied Japanese for five years - she probably finished.



Structure:


I played violin. - Affirmative
S V

I did not play violin. - Negative
S A NOT V

Did you play the violin? - Interrogative
A S V

Notice that DID is the auxiliar for the past simple, and it already shows the sentence is in the past. In the affirmative, verbs can be regular or irregular. When they´re irregular, they´re from the list. When they´re not, all you have to do is put ED at the end of the verb. REMEMBER! When the verb has Y after a CONSONANT, the Y falls and we put I !!!

Irregular verb tenses list here

Exercises here and here. Enjoy!

Ooops!

Almost forgot! Future exercises!

Here, here,here,here and here!

Enjoy!

More about the Future!

When you´re sure about what you´re doing, when everything is set and clear, you use the PRESENT CONTINUOUS to talk about your so sure plans. Let´s go for the examples:

• I am meeting some friends after work.
• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Is he going to visit his parents next weekend? ( be going to is also present continous!)
  
• Isn't he coming with us tonight.

See? It´s not that difficult!

Hello, hello!

Guys, there´s something on FUTURE today. Here´s the thing!

When you use WILL, three things may be happening: distant future, something you´re not sure or something you have just decided. Let´s make it clearer!

When you decide at the time of speaking, a voluntary action:

• I will send you the information when I get it.
• I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
• Will you help me move this heavy table?
• Will you make dinner?

When you make a plan, something you´re not sure or it´s too distant:

• I will call you when I arrive.
• If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
• I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

I would...if I could...

Hello, sixth year. So now we have conditional. Big deal. The use of would has to do with many things, but in our specific case, we deal with conditions.

For example:
I would go to the beach - but I probably can´t.

Sometimes, what we are trying to do when communicating is merely being polite.

For instance:
Would you like some tea?

It´s not we´re conditioning anything, but just giving our speaker the chance to refuse our offer...or request, as in I would like some water, please.


Sometimes, it´s just the past of will.
I knew that she would be very successful in her career. - that means time passed and your guess was right!


To practice the use of would, just get the sheet I will hand in to you next week. There shall be a key for you to check your answers, so there´s no excuse for not doing it whatsoever.

More about Verbs!

Past Simple x Past Perfect .

Simple Past X Present Perfect X Past Perfect.

For next week:

Nineth year:
Present Perfect
Explanation: here. Exercises: here.








Eight year:

Past Simple
Explanation: here. Exercises: here. Click on next exercise at the bottom of the page to do more exercises.








Seventh year:

Present Simple x Continuous.
Explanation: here and here. Exercises: here and here.









Sixth year: Present Simple.
Explanation: here. Exercises: here and here.