English Grammar to Use – The Future with Will and Shall

Summary

This video explains how to express future events in English using the modal auxiliary verbs 'will' and 'shall.' While 'will' is commonly used for spontaneous decisions and conditions, 'shall' is often employed for making polite suggestions or asking for decisions. The video also highlights the distinction between future events that are not rooted in the present versus those that are established. Additionally, it promotes a British membership that offers access to further learning materials. This overview aims to enhance viewers' understanding of future tense constructions in everyday English.

Takeaways

• 😀 English primarily uses two tenses: present and past.
• 📅 To discuss the future, we can use modal auxiliary verbs 'will' and 'shall.'
• 🎓 'Will' is used with a bare infinitive to indicate future actions, e.g., 'The festivities will start next week.'
• 🤔 'Shall' is often used to ask for decisions or suggestions, e.g., 'Shall we watch a movie?'
• 💭 When making spontaneous decisions, 'will' is typically used, e.g., 'I'll get it.'
• 🌧️ 'Will' can also express future possibilities in conditional sentences, e.g., 'If it doesn't rain, I'll go for a bike ride.'
• 🚫 The negative form of 'will' is 'won't,' used to indicate refusal, e.g., 'I won't eat my peas.'
• 🙋‍♂️ 'Won't' can also form polite requests, e.g., 'Won't you sit here for a while?'
• 🌐 'Will' is used for future events not connected to the present, whereas present continuous is preferred for actions already planned.
• ✨ British members gain exclusive access to audio and materials for improving their English skills.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson in the video?

The lesson focuses on how to express future actions in English, specifically using the modal auxiliary verbs 'will' and 'shall.'

How do we form future statements with 'will'?

'Will' is used with a bare infinitive, which is a verb without 'to,' as in 'The festivities will start next week.'

What is the difference between 'will' and 'shall' in usage?

'Will' is commonly used to indicate future events and spontaneous decisions, while 'shall' is primarily used for making suggestions or asking for decisions.

Can you provide an example of using 'shall' to ask for a decision?

An example of using 'shall' to ask for a decision is, 'Shall we watch a movie?'

What are some situations where 'will' is used to indicate spontaneous decisions?

'Will' is used when decisions are made on the spur of the moment, such as saying, 'I'll get it' when the doorbell rings.

What does the term 'first conditionals' refer to?

First conditionals refer to sentences that discuss possible future events that are likely to happen, often structured with 'if' clauses, such as 'If it doesn't rain, I'll go for a bike ride.'

How is the negative form of 'will' expressed in speech?

The negative form of 'will' is expressed as 'will not,' often shortened to 'won't' in speech, for example, 'I won't go to the cinema if you don't do your homework.'

What is meant by statements that are 'not rooted in the present'?

Statements that are 'not rooted in the present' are future events that are not based on current situations or decisions, like 'Do you think I’ll understand the movie?'

When should we use 'going to' instead of 'will'?

'Going to' should be used for plans that are already decided or rooted in the present, such as 'I am going to the cinema tonight.'

What resource does the speaker recommend for further learning?

The speaker recommends signing up for a British membership to access all audio and materials related to the activation packs.