UNIT 21. Will/shall (1)

UNIT 21. Will/shall (1)

A. We use I'll (= I will) when we decide to do something at the time of speaking:

* Oh, I've left the door open. I'll go and shut it.

* 'What would you like to drink?' 'I'll have an orange juice, please.'

* 'Did you phone Ruth?' 'Oh no, I forgot. I'll phone her now.'

You cannot use the present simple (I do/I go etc.) in these sentences:

* I'll go and shut the door. (not 'I go and shut')

We often use I think I'll ... and I don't think I'll ...:

* I feel a bit hungry. I think I'll have something to cat.

* I don't think I'll go out tonight. I'm too tired.

In spoken English the negative of will is usually won't (= will not):

* I can see you're busy, so I won't stay long.

B. Do not use will to talk about what you have already decided or arranged to do (see Units 19-20):

* I'm going on holiday next Saturday. (not 'I'll go')

* Are you working tomorrow? (not 'will you work')

C. We often use will in these situations:

Offering to do something

* That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it. (not 'I help')

Agreeing to do something

* A: You know that book I lent you. Can I have it back if you've finished with it?

B: Of course. I'll give it to you this afternoon. (not 'I give')

Promising to do something

* Thanks for lending me the money. I'll pay you back on Friday. (not 'I pay')

* I won't tell anyone what happened. I promise.

Asking somebody to do something (Will you ...?)

* Will you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.

* Will you shut the door, please?

You can use won't to say that somebody refuses to do something:

* I've tried to advise her but she won't listen. (= she refuses to listen)

* The car won't start. I wonder what's wrong with it. (= the car 'refuses' to start)

D. Shall I ...? Shall we ...?

Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I ...?/shall we ...?

We use shall I ...?/shall we ...? to ask somebody's opinion (especially in offers or suggestions):

* Shall I open the window? (= do you want me to open the window?)

* I've got no money. What shall I do? (= what do you suggest?)

* 'Shall we go?' 'Just a minute. I'm not ready yet.'

* Where shall we go this evening?

Compare shall I ...? and will you ...?:

* Shall I shut the door? (= do you want me to shut it?)

* Will you shut the door? (= I want you to shut it)

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EXERCISES

21.1 Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb.

1. I'm too tired to walk home. I think I'll get a taxi.

2. 'It's a bit cold in this room.' 'Is It? --- on the heating then.'

3. 'We haven't got any milk.' 'Oh, haven't we? --- and get some.'

4. 'Do you want me to do the washing-up?' 'No, it's all right. --- it.'

5. 'I don't know how to use this computer.' 'OK, --- you.'

6. 'Would you like tea or coffee? '--- coffee, please.'

7. 'Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.' 'Thanks. --- you a postcard.'

8. Thank you for lending me your camera. --- it back to you on Monday, OK?

9. 'Are you coming with us?' 'No, I think --- here.'

21.2 Read the situations and write sentences with I think I'll ... or I don't think I'll ...

1. It's a bit cold. You decide to close the window. You say: I think I'll close the window.

2. You are feeling tired and it's quite late. You decide to go to bed. You say: I think ---

3. A friend of yours offers you a lift in his car but you decide to walk. You say: Thank you but ---

4. You arranged to play tennis today. Now you decide that you don't want to play. You say: I don't think ---

5. You were going to go swimming. Now you decide that you don't want to go. ---

21.3 Which is correct? (If necessary, study Units 19-20 first.)

1. 'Did you phone Ruth?' 'Oh no, I forgot. _I phone (X)/I'll phone (O)_ her now.' (I'll phone is correct)

2. I can't meet you tomorrow afternoon. _I'm playing (O)/I'll play (X)_ tennis. (I'm playing is correct)

3. _'I meet/I'll meet_ you outside the hotel in half an hour, OK?' 'Yes, that's fine.'

4. 'I need some money.' 'OK, _I'm lending/I'll lend_ you some. How much do you need?'

5. _I'm having/I'll have_ a party next Saturday. I hope you can come.

6. 'Remember to buy a newspaper when you go out.' 'OK. _I don't forget/I won't forget.'_

7. What time _does your train leave/will your train leave_ tomorrow?

8. I asked Sue what happened but she _doesn't tell/won't tell_ me.

9. _'Are you doing/Will you do_ anything tomorrow evening?' 'No, I'm free. Why?'

10. I don't want to go out alone. _Do you come/Will you come_ with me?

11. It's a secret between us. I promise _I don't tell/I won't tell_ anybody.

21.4 What do you say in these situations? Write sentences with shall I ...? or shall we ...?

1. You and a friend want to do something this evening but you don't know what. You ask your friend. What

shall we do this evening?

2. You try on a jacket in a shop. You are not sure whether to buy it or not. You ask a friend for advice. ---

it?

3. It's Ann's birthday next week. You want to give her a present but you don't know what. You ask a friend

for advice. What ---

4. You and a friend are going on holiday together but you haven't decided where. You ask him/her. ---

5. You and a friend are going out. You haven't decided whether to go by car or to walk. You ask him/her ---

6. Your friend wants you to phone later. You don't know what time to phone. You ask him/her ---

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UNIT 22. Will/shall (2)

A. We do not use will to say what somebody has already arranged or decided to do in the future:

* Ann is working next week. (not 'Ann will work')

* Are you going to watch television this evening? (not 'will you watch')

For 'I'm working ...' and 'Are you going to ...?, see Units 19-20.

But often, when we talk about the future, we are not talking about what somebody has decided to do. For

example:

CHRIS: Do you think Ann will pass the exam?

JOE: Yes, she'll pass easily.

'She'll pass' does not mean 'she has decided to pass'. Joe is saying what he knows or thinks will happen.

He is predicting the future.

When we predict a future happening or situation, we use will/won't.

* Jill has been away a long time. When she returns, she'll find a lot of changes.

* 'Where will you be this time next year)' 'I'll be in Japan.'

* That plate is very hot. If you touch it, you'll burn yourself.

* Tom won't pass the examination. He hasn't worked hard enough for it.

* When will you know your exam results?

B. We often use will ('ll) with:

probably: I'll probably be home late this evening.

I expect: I haven't seen Carol today. I expect she'll phone this evening.

(I'm) sure: Don't worry about the exam. I'm sure you'll pass.

(I) think: Do you think Sarah will like the present we bought her?

(I) don't think: I don't think the exam will be very difficult.

I wonder: I wonder what will happen.

After (I) hope, we generally use the present:

* I hope Carol phones this evening.

* I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

C. Generally we use will to talk about the future, but sometimes we use will to talk about now. For

example:

* Don't phone Ann now. She'll be busy. (= I know she'll be busy now)

D. I shall .../we shall ...

Normally we use shall only with I and we.

You can say I shall or I will (I'll), we shall or we will (we'll):

* I shall be tired this evening. (or I will be ...)

* We shall probably go to Scotland for our holiday. (or We will probably go ...)

In spoken English we normally use I'll and we'll:

* We'll probably go to Scotland.

The negative of shall is shall not or shan't:

* I shan't be here tomorrow. (or I won't be ...)

Do not use shall with he/she/it/you/they:

* She will be very angry. (not 'she shall be')

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EXERCISES

22.1 Which form of the verb is correct (or more natural) in these sentences? The verbs are underlined.

1. Ann isn't free on Saturday. _She'll work (X)/She's working (O)._ (She's working is correct)

2. _I'll go/I'm going_ to a party tomorrow night. Would you like to come too?

3. I think Jane _will get/is getting_ the job. She has a lot of experience.

4. I can't meet you this evening. A friend of mine _will come/is coming_ to see me.

5. A: Have you decided where to go for your holidays?

B: Yes, _we will go/we are going_ to Italy.

6. There's no need to be afraid of the dog. _It won't hurt/It isn't hurting_ you.

22.2 Complete the sentences with will ('ll) + one of these verbs:

be be come get like look meet pass

1. Don't worry about your exam. I'm sure you I'll pass.

2. Why don't you try on this jacket? It --- nice on you.

3. You must meet George sometime. I think you --- him.

4. It's raining. Don't go out. You --- wet.

5. They've invited me to their house. They --- offended if I don't go.

6. Goodbye. I expect we --- again before long.

7. I've invited Sue to the party but I don't think she ---.

8. I wonder where I --- 20 years from now.

22.3 Put in will ('ll) or won't.

1. Can you wait for me? I won't be very long.

2. There's no need to take an umbrella with you. It --- rain.

3. If you don't eat anything now, you --- be hungry later.

4. I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. It --- happen again.

5. I've got some incredible news! You --- never believe what's happened.

6. Don't ask Margaret for advice. She --- know what to do.

22.4 Where will you be at these times? Write true sentences about yourself. Use one of these:

I'll be ... or I expect I'll be... or I'll probably be ... or I don't know where I'll be. or I'm not sure. I might be ...

(For might see Unit 30.)

1. (next Monday evening at 7.45) I'll probably be at home.

or I'm not sure. I might be at the cinema.

or I don't know where I'll be. (etc.)

2. (at 5 o'clock tomorrow morning) ---

3. (at 10.30 tomorrow morning) ---

4. (next Saturday afternoon at 4.15) ---

5. (this time next year) ---

22.5 Write questions using do you think ... will ...? + one of these verbs:

be back cost finish get married happen like rain

1. I've bought Mary a present. Do you think she'll like it?

2. The weather doesn't look very good. Do you ---

3. The meeting is still going on. When do you ---

4. My car needs to be repaired. How much ---

5. Sally and David are in love. Do ---

6. 'I'm going out now.' 'OK. What time ---'

7. The future situation is uncertain. What ---