Grammar: Talking about Future

Grammar Exercises
1) Talk for a minute about each of the following:
• Your arrangements for this evening
• Your intentions for the rest of the year
• Your predictions for the planet for 2050

2) English does not have a single future tense; instead we use different ways of talking about
future events based on their function as can be seen in the table below. Put the sentences
into the corresponding cells based on their meaning.

At this time next week I will be sitting in the plane on the way to New York.
Be careful! You are going to fall.
By the time I retire I will have been working here for 45 years!
Don't call me after 10 o'clock. I'll be sleeping.
Early in the run, Bailey uses a steep, long uphill to his advantage, and is surly going to win the race.
Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes.
I hope my mother will have finished cooking dinner by the time I get home.
I hope you will come to my party.
I think Brazil will win the World Cup.
I won't be working on my car this weekend. My mother-in-law will be here.
I’m going to drive to work today.
I’m playing football tomorrow.
I’m sure you will enjoy the film.
If she reaches her 60th birthday, she will have been smoking for half a century!
If you want to see Miho tomorrow, you will have to go to the school. She will be taking a test all afternoon.
I'll see you tomorrow.
In the new year I'm going to stop eating so much junk.
It will be a nice day tomorrow.
It is my birthday tomorrow.
Look at those black clouds. I think it’s going to rain.
Oh no, I think I’m going to be sick.
On June 25 2020 they will have been married for 60 years.
Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Tom.
That looks heavy; shall I help you?
There's no point calling her at home. She will have left for work already.
They are coming to see us tomorrow.
They are going to move to Manchester.
We have a lesson next Monday.
We’re having a party at Christmas.
We'll send you an email.
We're going to buy a new car next month.
When does the meeting begin?
You can come at 6 o'clock. I will have done my homework by then.

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SPONTANEOUS DECISIONS, TIMETABLES ACTION HAPPENING AT A
OFFERS AND PROMISES DEFINITE MOMENT IN FUTURE

PREDICTIONS WITHOUT ARRANGEMENTS IN NEAR ACTION FINISHED AT A DEFINITE

EVIDENCE FUTURE MOMENT IN FUTURE

PREDICTIONS WITH EVIDENCE PLANS ACTION LASTING UP TO A

DEFINITE MOMENT IN FUTURE

3) Take a look at the sentences in each cell . Which tenses are used to express specific
functions?

4) Now, choose one of the topics from task 1 and write a short paragraph about it .

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Grammar Exercises
5) Choose the correct form of the verb.
1. Philipp will be / is going to be 15 next Wednesday.
2. Why are you wearing your best suit? I will have / am going to have lunch with my biggest customer.
3. 'I haven’t got my phone. ' 'That’s OK. I will lend / am going to lend you mine.'
4. I feel really tired. I think I will go / am going to go to bed.
5. Would you prefer tea or coffee? I will have / am going to have some coffee, please.
6. It's hot in here; I will turn on / am going to turn on the a/c.
7. Do you want me to help you? No thanks. John will help / is going to help me.
8. They will get / are going to get a new computer.
9. 'We need some more ink for the printer. I will go / am going to go to the shop and get some.' 'You don’t
have to, I’ve already contacted Tim, and he will replace / is going to replace it today.'

6) Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. They will probably arrive / are probably going to arrive at about 4 in the afternoon.
2. Look at the clouds! It will rain / is going to rain soon.
3. Look out! That thing will fall / is going to fall off.
4. I think my mother will like / is going to like this CD.
5. We have been working for hours. We will need / are going to need to stop soon.
6. In 2020 people will buy / are going to buy more hybrid cars.

7) Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. I've got my ticket. I leave / am leaving on Thursday.
2. Hurry, the match starts / is starting in ten minutes.
3. I see / am seeing Julie at 5 and then I have / am having dinner with Simon.
4. The sun rises / is rising a minute earlier tomorrow.
5. He picks / is picking me up at the airport.
6. Black Friday sales begin / are beginning in a couple of hours.

8) Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. I offered him this job. I think he______ it.
a) takes b) is taking c) will take d) is going to take
2. Have you decided what to do about your broken computer? I ______ it fixed instead of buying a new one.
a) have b) am having c) will have d) am going to have
3. I'm sorry I can't come to your party next Saturday at six. I'm afraid I ______ bowling with a friend.
a) go b) am going c) will go d) am going to go
4. Why don't you ask Jim to go with you? I'm sure that he ______ delighted.
a) is b) is being c) will be d) is going to be
5. I’m so tired. I ______ the kids to the park so you can rest a bit.
a) take b) am taking c) will take d) am going to take
6. We ______ dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday.
a) have b) are having c) will have d) are going to have
7. These figures are really bad. We ______ a loss.
a) make b) are making c) will make d) are going to make
8. Joe borrowed your car. WHAT? I ______ him. I need it!
a) kill b) am killing c) will kill d) am going to kill.
9. Tomorrow morning (as usual) the first lesson at International House Bristol ______ at nine o'clock.
a) starts b) is starting c) will start d) is going to start
10. Last night I decided. Next weekend, I ______ Edinburgh for three days. Now I just need to buy a ticket.
a) go b) am going c) will go d) am going to go
11. You are carrying too many books. Don't worry, ______ some of them for you.
a) I carry b) I'm carrying c) I'll carry d) I'm going to carry
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 12. That’s my favorite UK TV show. You can watch it on BBC 1 tonight and it ______ at half past seven.
a) begins b) is beginning c) will begin d) is going to begin
13. I am going on holiday to Australia next week. Maybe the weather ______ good.
a) is b) is being c) will be d) is going to be
14. That is such an obvious lie. Nobody ______ for that.
a) falls b) is falling c) will fall d) is going to fall
15. It is very cloudy and also very cold. I think later it ______.
a) snows b) is snowing c) will snow d) is going to snow
16. Mary wants to speak with you. – Please tell her that I ______ her as soon as I'm free.
a) call b) am calling c) will call d) am going to call
17. Next week on Thursday my friend Marcus ______ a party to celebrate his twenty-first birthday.
a) has b) is having c) will have d) is going to have
18. I'm sorry I was late for your lesson today. I promise that I ______ late again.
a) am never b) am never being c) will never be d) am never going to be
19. I've just checked the flight details and the plane ______ at 6pm.
a) leaves b) is leaving c) will leave d) is going to leave
20. There's someone at the door.
a) I get it. b) I’m getting it. c) I’ll get it. d) I’m going to get it.
21. Yesterday Tom and Jane decided to go to London together. They ______ Bristol tomorrow morning but
they don't know the time of the train yet.
a) leave b) are leaving c) will leave d) are going to leave

9) Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. When I finish this course, I will be learning / will have learned /will have been learning English for 20 years.
2. I will be being / will have been / will have been being here for six months on June 23rd.
3. This time next week I will be sun-bathing / will have sun-bathed / will have been sunbathing in Bali.
4. She buys too many things. She will be spending / will have spent / will have been spending all her money
long before her next pay.
5. By Christmas I will be skiing / will have skied / will have been skiing like a pro.
6. Next year I will be working / will have worked / will have been working here for four years.
7. Just think, next Monday you will be working / will have worked / will have been working in your new job.
8. Will you be eating / Will you have eaten / Will you have been eating when I pick you up, so we can leave
immediately?
9. I will be waiting / will have waited / will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.
10. You will be finishing / will have finished / will have been finishing your report by this time next week.
11. In an hour I will still be ironing / will still have ironed / will still have been ironing my clothes.
12. By the time you return, she will be leaving / will have left / will have been leaving for New York.
13. Won’t they be arriving / Won't they have arrived / Won’t they have been arriving by 5:00?
14. When I come at 6:00, will you be practicing / will you have practiced / will you have been practicing long?
15. Tomorrow he will still be suffering / will still have suffered / will still have been suffering from his cold.
16. Please don't ring the doorbell when you get here. My baby will be sleeping / will have slept / will have been
sleeping.
17. By 2018 I will be living / will have lived / will have been living in London for ten years.
18. Oh, you'll recognize him. He will be wearing / will have worn / will have been wearing a brown leather
jacket and a red scarf.

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Grammar: Present Perfect Simple and
Progressive
Form
Present Perfect Simple: present simple of have + past participle of the main verb
Positive Negative Question
I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?
he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?
Present Perfect Progressive: have been + present participle of the main verb
Positive Negative Question
I / you / we / they I have been speaking. I have not been speaking. Have I been speaking?
he / she / it He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking?

Spelling exceptions
Present Perfect Simple:
When the final letter is e, only add d love - loved
After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled admit - admitted
Final l is always doubled in British English, but not in American travel – travelled / traveled
After a consonant, final y becomes i, but not after a vowel worry - worried, but: play - played
For irregular verbs, see the list of irregular verbs, 3rd column.
Present Perfect Progressive:
Silent e is dropped, but not for –ee come – coming, but agree - agreeing
After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit - sitting
After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in BE, but not in AE travel – travelling / traveling
Final ie becomes y lie - lying

Use
Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Progressive
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form): state: be, have
(for possession only), senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch, brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Progressive

Result (what / how much / how often): Duration (how long):

I have been to London twice. I have been writing for an hour.
Emphasis on completion: Emphasis on duration:
I have done my homework. (My homework is I have been doing my homework. (That's how I have spent my time.
completed now.) It does not matter if the homework is completed now.)
Desired result: Unwanted side effect:
I have washed the car. (The car is clean now.) Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (I got wet while
washing the car. It doesn’t matter if the car is clean now.)
Since the last time: Since the beginning:
I haven't played that game for years. (It's years ago I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes.
that I last played that game.) (It's not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.)
Permanent: Temporary:
James has lived in this town for 10 years. (He’s a James has been living here for a year. (This is only temporary. He is
permanent resident of this town.) an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)

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Present Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple

Present perfect vs Past Simple

An action that started in the past, but still hasn’t An action that started in the past and finished
finished: in the past:
I have lived in Spain for 10 years. (I still live there.) I lived in Spain for 10 years. (I don’t anymore.)
An action repeated over a period of time that An action repeated over a period of time that
started in the past, but hasn’t finished yet: started and finished in the past:
I’ve been to Spain twice this month. (I still go there.) I often went to Spain as a kid. (I don’t anymore.)
(Often indicated by unfinished time expressions – this (Often indicated by finished time expressions –
month, this week, today.) yesterday, last week, at 2 o’clock, in 2003)
Finished action with focus on result or Finished action with focus on time:
experience: I went to Spain last year.
I’ve never been to Spain.
A finished action with a result in the present: Finished action with no connection to the
Oh no, I've lost my keys! present:
(The result is that I can't get into my house now). I lost my keys in Spain. It was terrible!
(No result. I got new keys later.)
An action completed recently or just now: An action completed earlier in the past:
I’ve just recently moved to Spain. She moved to Spain a couple of years ago.
(Indicated by time expressions just, only just, recently, only
recently, just recently.)

Grammar Exercises
1) Answer the questions about today’s grammar unit.
1. Which verb is used as an auxiliary in present perfect simple and progressive:
a have in simple, be in progressive
b have in both tenses
c be in both tenses
d be in simple, have in progressive
2. Which participle form is used in present perfect simple and progressive:
a present in simple, past in progressive
b present in both tenses
c past in both tenses
d past in simple, present in progressive
3. Both tenses connect the past with the present:
a True
b False
4. Which tense is used to emphasize:
a the duration of an action
b the result of an action
c that an action is completed now
d how we spent our time
5. Which tense do the following signal words indicate (Simple Past or Present Perfect):
a on April 17 / three times
b two weeks ago / since last week
c this year / last year
d two hours ago / for two hours

2) Write the participle forms of the following verbs.

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 make drink
catch have
sit shut
spend give
teach sell

Complete the chart with the correct forms.

positive negative question
He has been swimming.
The lesson has not started.
Have you phoned?
We have been driving for hours.
Have we won?
She has not been sleeping well.
She has turned around.
They have not arrived.

3) Make sentences using Present Perfect simple.

we / reach / our goal
the boss / sign / the letter
Ron / not / talk / about it
we / not / sell / our old car
she / buy / a new computer
they / rescue / the girl
she / not / underline / the word
our team / not / lose / the match

4) Make questions to the bold parts of the sentences.

They have never been to Australia.
Betty has spent 200 Euros shopping.
They have seen him at the library.
The same robber has robbed another bank.
Clara has repeated the sentence five times.
Jane has asked a question.

5) Fill the gaps with the appropriate verb forms, use present perfect simple and progressive.
1. Sandy (cook) ____________________ dinner four times this week.
2. We (travel) ____________________ around Scotland for 8 days.
3. Why are your hands so dirty? - I (repair) ____________________ my bike.
4. I (read) ____________________ the book, you can have it back.
5. Paul (believe) ____________________ in God since he was a child.
6. Sorry for being late. I hope you (wait / not) ____________________ long.
7. My grandparents are coming to see us next weekend. They (visit / not) ____________________ us for
two years.
8. She (be / not) ____________________ on holiday for 3 years.
9. I don't want you to drive my car. You (drive / not) a car for ages.
10. He (watch / not) ____________________ TV all afternoon, he only switched the telly on 10 minutes ago.
11. How much money (Jack / spend) ____________________ in the casino?
12. How long (she / sit) ____________________ there?
13. How many short messages (send / you) ____________________ this month?
14. (you / empty) ____________________ the bin yet?
15. Lucy, (you / bathe) ____________________ your dolls? The bathroom floor is absolutely wet.

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 16. I (practise) ____________________ the piano for 30 minutes.
17. Bob (run) ____________________ 10 km.
18. The children (be) ____________________ on holiday for six days.
19. The dog (bark) ____________________ since midnight.
20. We (miss) ____________________ the bus twice this week.
21. You (eat / not) ____________________ up yet.
22. He (speak / not) ____________________ on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of minutes.
23. They (work / not) ____________________ since 5 o'clock. They just started an hour ago.
24. We (know / not) ____________________ them for a long time.
25. She (hang / not) ____________________ up all the pictures yet.
26. How long (wait / she) ____________________ for us?
27. How many times (tell / I) ____________________ you?
28. How often (clean / you) ____________________ the windows this year?
29. How many months (take / you) ____________________ piano lessons?
30. (stay / you / ever) ____________________ in a castle?

6) Fill in the gaps with the correct form, use Present Perfect simple or Past simple .
1. I (just / finish) __________________________ my homework.
2. Mary (already / write) __________________________ five letters.
3. (they / spend) __________________________ their holiday in New Zealand last summer?
4. Tom (move) __________________________ to this town in 1994.
5. My friend (be) __________________________ in Canada two years ago.
6. I (have) __________________________ an accident when I (be) __________________________ in
Manchester last year.
7. I (not / be) __________________________ to Canada so far.
8. But I (already / travel) __________________________ to London a couple of times.
9. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) __________________________ to the cinema.
10. I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy) __________________________ a new film yet.
11. (you / ever / see) __________________________ a whale?
12. Yesterday, my brother (come) __________________________ home from school, (switch)
__________________________ on the TV and (watch) __________________________ TV until dinner
(be) __________________________ ready.
13. Oh no, it's raining and I (leave) __________________________ my umbrella at home.
14. Look! There is so much food left. Nobody (eat) __________________________ anything.
15. Where (you / be) _________________________ yesterday? - I (go) ________________________ to the
shopping centre and (buy) __________________________ a new computer game.
16. Why won't you play football with us this weekend? - I (break) ________________________ my leg.
17. The road is closed. (there / be) __________________________ an accident?
18. Come on, let's celebrate! Our team (win) __________________________ the match.

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Grammar: Past Perfect Simple and Progressive
Form
Past Perfect Simple: had + past participle of the main verb
Positive Negative Question
I / you / he / she / I had spoken. I had not spoken. Had I spoken?
it / we / they He had spoken. He had not spoken. Had he spoken?
Past Perfect Progressive: had been + present participle of the main verb
Positive Negative Question
I / you / he / she / I had been speaking. I had not been speaking. Had I been speaking?
it / we / they He had been speaking. He had not been speaking. Had he been speaking?

Spelling exceptions
Past Perfect Simple:
When the final letter is e, only add d love - loved
After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled admit - admitted
Final l is always doubled in British English, but not in American travel – travelled / traveled
After a consonant, final y becomes i, but not after a vowel worry - worried, but: play - played
For irregular verbs, see the list of irregular verbs, 3rd column.
Past Perfect Progressive:
Silent e is dropped, but not for –ee come – coming, but agree - agreeing
After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit - sitting
After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in BE, but not in AE travel – travelling / traveling
Final ie becomes y lie - lying

Use
The following verbs are usually only used in Past Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form): state: be, have
(for possession only), senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch, brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Past Perfect Simple puts the emphasis on the result and Past Perfect Progressive on the duration, they are used
for:
An action before another action in the past:
When he had finished eating his lunch, he went for a walk.
I had been studying all day, so I was tired.
Third conditional sentences:
If we had gone by taxi, we wouldn't have been late.
If he had been standing near the house when the wall collapsed, it would have killed him.
Reported speech:
Mary said she had been waiting to buy the tickets for the film.
He asked if I had read Harry Potter.

Grammar Exercises
10) Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb, past simple or past perfect .
1. First she graduated and then she started to travel. - After she (graduate) ___________________, she (start)
_______________ to travel.
2. Sue was happy after dancing with Peter all night. - Sue (be) ___________________, happy because
she (dance) ___________________ with Peter all night.
3. There were no sandwiches left when James got up. - By the time James (get) ___________________,
there (be) ___________________ no sandwiches left.

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4. She sold her house and moved to London. - Before she (move) ___________________ to London, she (sell)
___________________ her house.
5. He learnt German at school and he did not need a translator. - He (not need) ___________________ a
translator because he (learn) ___________________ German at school.
6. I had a cup of coffee after working on it since the morning. – I (work) ___________________ on it since the
morning when I (have) ___________________ a cup of coffee.
7. Noel lived in France. He spoke perfect French. - Noel (speak) ___________________ perfect French after
he (live) ___________________ in France.
8. After finishing his drink he got up. - After he (finish) ___________________ his drink he (get)
___________________ up.
9. His driving too fast caused an accident. - He (have) ___________________ an accident as he (drive)
___________________ too fast.
10. Everyone sat down. The show started. - The show (start) ___________________ when everyone (sit down)
___________________.
11. He was relaxing all day. He felt better in the evening. - He (feel) ___________________ better in the evening
because he (relax) ___________________ all day.
12. It was 5°C during the day. The snow disappeared in the evening. - The snow (disappear)
___________________ in the evening because it (be) ___________________ 5°C during the day.
13. After talking to him for an hour or so she felt desperate. - She (feel) ___________________ desperate
because she (talk) ___________________ to him for an hour or so.
14. After switching on the radio she heard the news. - After she (switch) ___________________ on the radio
she (hear) ___________________ the news.
15. The ship sailed for two days. It just landed in Nice. - The ship just (land) ___________________ in Nice after
it (sail) ___________________ for two days.
16. He moved furniture. He started at 9 o'clock and finished at 3 o'clock. - At 3 o'clock he (move)
___________________ furniture for 6 hours.
17. Ben made a mistake. He apologized. - Ben apologized because he (make) ___________________ a mistake.
18. I read the book. I did not want to read it again. - I (not want) ___________________ to read the book again
because I (read) ___________________ it.
19. After swimming all day they were hungry. - They (be) ___________________ hungry because they (swim)
___________________ all day.
11) Finish the sentences with your own words:
When I got home yesterday, ___________________________________________________________________.
I didn't want to go to the movies with my friends because ___________________________________________.
I wasn't hungry because _______________________________________________________________________.
When I arrived at the party ____________________________________________________________________.
As soon as she had done her homework, __________________________________________________________.
I was very tired ______________________________________________________________________________.

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