Will

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

will and won't for predictions (It will probably rain), decisions made while you speak (I'll buy some bags), offers (I'll bring my car) and promises (I won't tell anybody), and when to use be going to instead. From a group chat about moving day to telling your teacher's future.

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will helpI'll bewon't

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: moving dayReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Find will, won't and 'llGrammar exercise
  5. 5How will worksGrammar rule
  6. 6will or won't, and whyGrammar exercise
  7. 7What does will do here?Grammar exercise
  8. 8I'll do it!Grammar exercise
  9. 9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11The fortune tellerSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a trip to JapanGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: my futureDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. When did you last move to a new home? Who helped you?
  2. Do you like helping friends with big jobs?
  3. What do you think you will do this evening?

Grammar rule

How will works

will + the base form

Example
PositiveI will help you. → I'll help you.
NegativeIt won't take long. (won't = will not)
QuestionWill there be pizza? — Yes, there will. / No, there won't.

Short forms: I'll, you'll, he'll, she'll, it'll, we'll, they'll. In a short answer, use the long form: Yes, I will. (not Yes, I'll.)

Four uses

  1. Predictions: what you think will happen. It will probably rain. I think you'll love the apartment. I bet it'll be a long day. (I bet = I'm sure, informal)
  2. Decisions at the moment of speaking: "There's no milk." "OK, I'll get some."
  3. Offers: I'll help you. I'll bring my car.
  4. Promises: I'll keep some for you, I promise. I won't tell anybody.

Offers and promises are decisions too. Call it an offer when you do something for another person (I'll help you), and a promise when you say you really will, or won't, do something (I won't tell anybody).

probably goes after will but before won't: It will probably rain. It probably won't take long. With think, the negative usually goes on think: I don't think it will rain.

will or be going to?

  • A plan you made before: be going to. I'm going to move on Saturday.
  • A decision you make now: will. OK, I'll order pizza.
  • A prediction: both are fine. When you can see it coming now, use going to: Look at the sky! It's going to rain.
After will, use the base form: not will to help, not will helps, not will helping. And don't put will before going to + a verb: not It will probably going to rain.

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