by R. S. Karunaratne

Look, it's going to rain

We often use 'going to' form when we can see the future in the present, when a future situation is starting or when it is clearly on the way.
I am going to swim cross the Mahaweli.
You are going to drive my brand new car.
We are going to clean the blackboard.
She is going to play the piano.
They are going to run a marathon.

We can also use contractions.

I'm going to swim across the Mahaweli.
You're going to drive my brand new car.
We're going to clean the blackboard.
She's going to play the violin.
They're going to run a marathon.

Question forms

Am I going to wait for him?
Are you going to drive my car?
Are we going to sing the National Anthem now?
Is he going to clean the blackboard?
Is she going to play the piano?
Are they going to run the marathon?

We use 'going to' form to talk about intentions. This is very common in conversation.
I am going to take a day's leave.
What are they going to do now?
What are we going to wear for the wedding?
What is he going to say?
What is she going to sew?
What are they going to make?

[Activity]

Make questions with 'going to' and check your answers with the key.

1. mother / cook / dinner / ?
.......................................

2. when / your / friends / be / here / ?
.......................................

3. when / Sam / change / his / residence / ?
.......................................

4. where / he / stay / tonight / ?
.......................................

5. what / you / buy / for / your / sister's / birthday ?
.......................................

6. Noel / play / violin / tomorrow / ?
.......................................

7. when / you / stop / stealing / ?
.......................................

8. When / Nancy / go / to / Kelaniya / university / ?
.......................................

9. what / you / wear / for / the / wedding / ?
.......................................

10. Lasantha / go / Germany / next / week / ?
.......................................

Key:

1. Is mother going to cook dinner?
2. When are your friends going to be here?
3. When is Sam going to change his residence?
4. Where is he going to stay tonight?
5. What are you going to buy for your sister's birthday?
6. Is Noel going to play the violin tomorrow?
7. When are you going to stop stealing?
8. When is Nancy going to Kelaniya University?
9. What are you going to wear for the wedding?
10. Is Lasantha going to Germany next week?

Match words and meanings

Here's an interesting quiz to enrich your vocabulary. Match the words in column 'A' with the meanings in column 'B' and check your answers with the key. The first one has been done for you.

[Column A] [Column B]

1. Asleep A. accept something to be true without proof
.... 2. Aspirant B. away from the correct path
.... 3. Assail C. connected
.... 4. Assailant D. one who attacks another person
.... 5. Assassin E. decide the value of something
.... 6. Assault F. relating to the stars
.... 7. Assemblage G. somebody who wants to achieve something
.... 8. Assess H. behind a ship

.... 9. Asset I. a useful or valuable quality
.... 10. Assiduous J. apart
.... 11. Assign K. attack somebody violently
.... 12. Assimilate L. help
.... 13. Assist M. consisting of various types mixed together
.... 14. Associated N. a collection of things
.... 15. Assorted O. a promise
.... 16. Assuage P. make unpleasant feelings less strong

.... 17. Assume Q. a violent attack
.... 18. Assurance R. to surprise somebody
.... 19. Astern S. sleeping
.... 20. Astonish T. to give a particular job to somebody
.... 21. Astral U. showing attention to detail
.... 22. Astray V. with a leg on each side of something
.... 23. Astride W. to fit into
.... 24. Astronaut X. somebody who kills a famous person
.... 25. Asunder Y. somebody trained to travel in a spacecraft

Key: 2. G 3. K 4. D 5. X 6. Q 7. N 8. E 9. I 10. U 11. T 12. W 13. L 14. C 15. M 16. P 17. A 18. O 19. H 20. R 21. F 22. B 23. V 24. Y 25. J

Starters:

What are you doing this evening?

We have already learnt how to use the present progressive tense. Today let's learn how to use the present progressive tense with a future meaning, especially when we talk about plans for a fixed time or place.

A: What are you doing this evening?
B: I am staying at home.

A: Where are you going during the weekend?
B: We're visiting our grandparents.

Nirmala is coming home this evening.
Are you starting a new job next week?
Is she working on Sunday?
Is he staying in Bangkok on Monday night?

[Activity 1]

Look at Sandra's diary entries below and correct the following sentences. Check your answers with the key.

Diary entries

Sunday: Meet doctor in the morning
Monday: Go to Mount Lavinia by train
Tuesday: Dinner at Samudra Hotel
Wednesday: Film show at Savoy
Thursday: Attend board meeting
Friday: Toast Masters Club meeting
Saturday: Writing workshop at the SLFI

Sunday:
1. Sandra is meeting a lawyer in the morning.
No, ..............................................

Monday:
2. Sandra is going to Mount Lavinia by bus.
No, ................................................

Tuesday:
3. Sandra is having dinner at the Taj.
No, ...............................................

Wednesday:
4. Sandra is going for a show at the Ritz.
No, ...............................................

Thursday:
5. Sandra is attending a funeral.
No, ...............................................

Friday:
6. Sandra is going on a trip to Kandy.
No, ................................................

Saturday:
7. Sandra is starting a psychology course.
No, .................................................

Future forms with 'shall' and 'will'
After 'I' and 'we' some people say 'shall' instead of 'wil.' However, the meaning is the same. 'Will' is more common than 'shall' in modern English.

Contractions:

I shall: I'll
We shall: We'll
I will: I'll
We will: We'll
I shall not: I shan't
We shall not: We shan't
I will not: I won't
We will not: we won't

How to use 'will':

I will be in office tomorrow.
We will pay you a substantial salary.
You will pass the examination.
He will write the essay in 30 minutes.
She will do it quickly.
They will come early tomorrow.

[Activity 2]

Make questions with 'will' and check your answers with the key.

1. what / time / tomorrow / morning / train / the / start / ?
.........................................................

2. when / you / and / your wife / return / from / office / ?
.................................................................

3. when / you / be / here / on / Sunday / ?
........................................................

4. you / your sister / be / here / tomorrow / ?
...............................................................

5. where / be / you / tonight / ?
..............................................................

6. when / you / return / the / money / ?
..............................................................

7. Alwis / and / Prabha / want / to / visit / Sigiriya / tomorrow ?
......................................................

8. begin / class / the / at / 9 a.m. / ?
...........................................................

9. here / Callistus / be / when / ?
.........................................................

10. you / speak / her / to / about / this /matter / ?
.........................................................

Key:

Activity 1:

1. No, she is meeting a doctor in the morning.
2. No, she is going to to Mount Lavinia by train.
3. No, she is having dinner at the Samudra Hotel.
4. No, she is going for a show at the Savoy.
5. No, she is attending a board meeting.
6. No, she is attending a Toast Masters Club meeting.
7. No, she is attending a writing workshop at the SLFI.

Activity 2:

1. What time will the morning train start tomorrow?
2. What time will you and your wife return from office?
3. When will you be here on Sunday?
4. When will you and your sister be here tomorrow?
5. Where will you be tonight?
6. When will you return the money?
7. Will Alwis and Prabha want to visit Sigiriya tomorrow?
8. Will the class begin at 9 a.m.?
9. When will Callistus be here?
10. Will you speak to her about this matter?