In Chapter 3 of Understanding and Using English Grammar we will introduce [Pronunciation of will and be going to, and Summary of future tenses]
1- Pronunciation of will and be going to
Hi there. As you begin studying the future tense, let's work on the pronunciation of will and be going to.
You probably already know that going to is pronounced as gonna. Let's take a minute to review the pronunciation.
When be going to is reduced to gonna, we usually contract the subject and be verb. In other words, say I'm gonna, not I am gonna.
Let's practice. Repeat these sentences.
I'm gonna be there.
You're gonna be there.
She's gonna be there.
They're gonna be there.
We're gonna be there.
Be going to can almost always sound like gonna, but remember, this is only for speaking.
In questions, Are you going to be there? Sounds like Are you gonna be there?
We can also use the reduced form with nouns, not just pronouns. So John is going to be there. Sounds like John's gonna be there.
In both speaking and writing, will is often contracted with subject pronouns.
I will be there.
I'll be there.
You will be there.
You'll be there.
She will be there.
She'll be there.
Will is also contracted with nouns in speaking but usually not in writing.
Listen to the regular and contracted forms.
Mary will be there.
Mary'll be there.
Did you hear the difference? Let's practice some more. Listen to both forms.
Chris will be there too.
Chris'll be there too.
Listen to this example:
The train will be here soon.
The train'll be here soon.
We can also contract will with other kinds of pronouns. Here are some examples:
There will be a lot of people at the party.
There'll be a lot of people at the party.
Everybody will be there.
Everybody'll be there.
Did you notice how short will sounds in the contracted form? It's sometimes hard to hear. Let's practice listening for will.
The stores'll open at nine tomorrow morning.
Listen again.
The stores'll open at nine tomorrow morning.
Did you hear will?
The stores'll open at nine tomorrow morning.
Now listen to this sentence.
The stores close at five this evening.
Did you hear will? Listen again.
The stores close at five this evening.
I did not use will in that statement.
Let's try a couple more.
Jacob and John have class tomorrow.
Did you hear will?
Jacob and John have class tomorrow.
I did not say will.
Now listen:
Jacob and John'll have class tomorrow.
Did you hear it that time?
Jacob and John'll have class tomorrow.
That's it for now. We're gonna continue working on future time in the next lesson.
Video Presentation Pronunciation of will and be going to
Content of the Video in PDF
2- Summary of future tenses
Hi there. By now, you've learned that there are several different ways to express future time. How about a quick review?
Both will and be going to are used to express predictions. They have the same meaning in this context: Jane will be a famous singer someday.
Jane is going to be a famous singer someday.
For prior plans, it is better to use be going to.
I'm going to study tonight.
I made my plans before I said that sentence.
If you make a decision at the moment of speaking, use will.
You look thirsty. I'll get you some water.
I decided at this moment to get some water.
The present progressive is similar to be going to. It can be used for planned events in the future.
I'm going to work tomorrow.
I'm working tomorrow.
I'm going to take five classes next semester.
I'm taking five classes next semester.
We can understand it's in the future because of the context. We often use future time words.
The simple present can express future time when the future events are on a definite schedule or timetable. Only a few verbs can be used this way. Some examples are open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come and return. Take a look at these examples:
His flight arrives at 9:00 tomorrow.
Classes begin in two months.
The store opens in two hours.
The future progressive shows an activity will be in progress at a time in the future. We can use will or be going to in the future progressive. So you can say:
Don't call me this weekend! I'll be studying for my grammar test.
Or:
I'm going to be studying for my grammar test.
The future perfect shows a verb will be completed before another time or event in the future. By the time you finish this lesson, you will have reviewed all of the ways to express the future.
The future perfect progressive is similar to the future perfect, but it emphasizes the duration of the activity that was in progress. It usually shows that the verb continued up until the moment that something else happened in the future.
Imagine it's ten o'clock now, and you've been studying for an hour. I can say:
By eleven o'clock, you will have been studying for two hours.
This sentence shows that you will continue to study all the way up till eleven o'clock.
Nice job! I'll see you again soon.
Video Presentation Summary of future tenses
Content of the Video in PDF
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