will, going to

As you can see, these two tenses can be interchangeable. But in general, going to is less emphatic and more neutral than will, especially for events in the near future. I'm going to buy a new car. (I've decided to buy a new car, and I'll do it soon.) / will buy a new car. (More emphatic and insisting. A stronger intention.) When you want to make a promise or describe an intention or willingness to dosomething, use will + verb. Don't worry. I promis I'll call you when I get home. I'll be there, no doubt about it. Also note that will is used for events or activities in the more-distant future. Jane will retire in twenty years. Someday the sun will burn out and explode. *Note that shall is also used with verbs to indicate the future, but it's rare in American English.

PRACTICE EXERCISE 1: Choose be going to or will + verb. Note that in some cases both answers are correct. 1. I promise I (come) ________________ to see you in the hospital. 2. Do you think it (rain) ___________________ ? 3. She's having a caesarian so the baby (be) ____________ on August 15th. 4. Teddy says he (study) ____________________ medicine next fall. 5. You (stand) ________________ to the right of the bride. 6. Rob said that he (pass) _______________ his test no matter what. 7. Jean (apply) __________________ to several universities. 8. I think Jerome and Cindy (get) ___________ married within a year. 9. August (be) ____________________ extremely hot this year. 10. I'm driving to town later so I (get) ________________ some oranges.

PRACTICE EXERCISE 2: Rewrite each of the following sentences using the tense indicated in parentheses. 1. The budget committee will be in session all next week. (simple present) 2. I am going to take Spanish next semester. (present continuous) 3. Linda is going to start her new job next week. (simple present) 4. Tomorrow we will begin a new lesson. (simple present) 5. The shuttle bus will arrive at 8:45. (simple present) 6. We are going to have a party Friday night. (present continuous) 7. Jay is going to have band practice this afternoon. (simple present) 8. The bookstore will open at 10:00 tomorrow. (simple present) 9. Your favorite TV show will begin in a few minutes. (present continuous) 10. Anita will take the bus to work all next week. (present continuous)

TOPIC 3: The Simple Present Tense with Prepositions of Time The simple present tense is used to express future events in clauses that begin with conjunctions such as when, as soon as, before, after, unless, or until. Note that even though these conjunctions introduce future events or action, the verbs after them are in the simple present tense. The verbs in the main clause, though, can be in a future tense. As soon as I get home, I'm going to make dinner. I'll answer the phone when it rings.

PRACTICE EXERCISE 3: Use the simple future and the simple present in each sentence. 1. I (call) __________ when I (get) __________ there. 2. I (finish) __________ this report before I (fix) __________ dinner. 3. The meeting (begin) __________ after the boss (arrive) __________ . 4. She (be able) _________ not _________ to get to work unless she (take) ___________ the bus. 5. The fireworks (begin) _________ after the sun (go) __________ down. 6. Barry (do) __________ not __________ anything about it unless you (ask) __________him to. 7. The flowers (open) _________ after the clouds (clear) __________ away. 8. The VCR (record) _________ only __________ a TV show after you (program) 9. The trees are so dry that they (catch) __________ on fire when lightning (strike)_________ them. 10. Your attitude (change) __________ after you (learn) __________ the truth.

REVIEW 2: Simple Future vs. Immediate Future Fill in the blanks with the simple future or immediate future form of the verb in parentheses. 1. Jim promises he (take) _________ you home. 2. Alex (have) _________ a dinner party this Friday. 3. You definitely (need) __________ a textbook for this class. 4. We (charge) _________ a $3.50 late fee each day. 5. Someone (get) _________ hurt if you're not careful. 6. The play (begin) _________ on time, even if you're late. 38 FLUENT ENGLISH 7. The bank (not cash) _________ your check if it isn't signed and endorsed. 8. Who (go) __________ to the store for me?

REVIEW 3: The Present Continuous and Simple Present to Express the Future Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with both the present continuous and the simple present tenses to express the future. 1. The plane (leave) _________ in ten minutes. 2. The meeting (start) __________ at 10:30. 3. The new bank branch (have) _________ its grand opening next month. 4. The movie (begin) __________ very soon. 5. Vincent's vacation (end) __________ on Friday. 6. We (go) _________ to Mexico next month. 7. The Logans (arrive) __________ on March 13. 8. Jennifer and Tom (return) __________ from their honeymoon on Sunday.

REVIEW 4: The Simple Present Tense with Prepositions of Time Fill in the blanks with either the simple present or future tense. 1. When you (understand) __________ it, it (be) __________ easy. 2. Katy (try on) _________ the dress tomorrow, before she (decide) __________ to buy it. 3. You (not be able) _________ to go to the movies unless you (clean) __________ your room. 4. There (be) _________ a new business here when you (come) __________ back. 5. As soon as David (arrive) _________ , we (leave) _________ . 6. It (be) __________ 5:00 before anything (get) ___________ done. 7. Unless you (tell) _________ me, I (not know) __________ how you feel. 8. The birds (move) __________ as soon as you (get) _________ close.