Will/shall (1) 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?' Til 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 /1 go etc.) in these sentences: • I'll go and shut the door, {not 'I go and shuť) 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 eat. • 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. 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') 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) 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) Will/shall (2) -* I1I.WJ I will and I'm going to -* ir*j 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 EXERCISES Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb. 1 I'm too tired to walk home. I think .J'iU.et,. a taxi. 2 'It's a bit cold in this room.' 'Is it? .....I.'.............\..........................on the heati 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........................... if 5 'I don't know how to use this computer.' 'OK,............. you '................ 6 «Would you like tea or coffee?' '.....................................Il'I'co'ffe^please/ 7 Goodbye! Have a nice holiday.' 'Thanks....................................................you a postcard.> L, y0XXÁ°Á ing me y0ur Camm...................................................." back to you on Monday, OK? 9 'Are you coming with us?' 'No, I think...................................................here.' 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: ...Lthirik V\\ß\p&e 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. one is correct) playing is correct) Which is correct* (If necessary, study Units 19-20 firsL) 1 'Did you phone Ruth?' 'Oh no, I forgot. Jh»he»e/I'l1 pnnm» her now.' (I'll ph 2 I can't meet you tomorrow afternoon. I'm playing / i%4gg tennis. (I'm playing „ ,, -3 1 meet /1 U meet you outside the hotel in half an hour, OK?' 'Yes that's fine ' 4 'I need some money.' 'OK, I'm lending/T'll lend you some. How much do you need?' 3 I m having/111 have a party next Saturday. I hope you can come. 6 'Remember to buy a newspaper when you go out.' 'OK. I don't for^t /1 won't for^t' 7 What time does your train leave / will vour train Ipavp tnmnrrnff? 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 von r.omp with m»? 11 It's a secret between us. I promise I don't tell /1 won't tell anybody. What do you say in these situations? Write sentences with shall I...? or shall we...? 1 ľ°U Tdwufríenu Tntl° 1° somethinS this eve™g but you don't know what. You ask your friend. ...What shall we.do this evening? 7 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................................................................ 3 It's Ann's birthday next week. You want to give her a present bu't'you don't know'whatľ 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 ortowä£ You " ask him/her.................................................... nr % 6 Your friend wants you to phone later. You don't know what'time to phoneľYou ask him/her............... UNIT 21 43 I will and I'm going to Future actions Study the difference between will and going to: Sue is talking to Helen: Let's have a party, j That's a great idea. We'll invite lots of people. will ('11): We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. The speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea. decision now I'll... > SUE HELEN past now future Later that day, Helen meets Dave: Sue and I have decided to have a party. We're going to invite lots of people. J going to: We use (be) going to when we have already decided to do something. Helen had already decided to invite lots of people before she spoke to Dave. decision before -»I'm going to... ;> HELEN DAVE past now future Compare: • 'George phoned while you were out.' 'OK. I'll phone him back.' but • 'George phoned while you were out.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to phone him back.' • 'Ann is in hospital.' 'Oh really? I didn't know. I'll go and visit her.' but • 'Ann is in hospital.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to visit her tomorrow.' Future happenings and situations (predicting the future) Sometimes there is not much difference between will and going to. For example, you can say: • I think the weather will be nice later. • I think the weather is going to be nice later. When we say 'something is going to happen', we know (or think) this because of the situation now. For example: • Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain, (not 'it will rain' - we can see the clouds now) • I feel terrible. I think I'm going to be sick, (not T think I'll be sick' - I feel terrible now) Do not use will in situations like these. (See also Unit 20C.) In other situations, it is safer to use will: • Tom will probably arrive at about 8 o'clock. • I think Ann will like the present we bought for her. I'm going to -► WWW'I Will -► HlüftHB^ EXERCISES 23.1 Complete the sentences using will ('II) or going to. 1 A: Why are you turning on the television? B: ...ľ.m.äoing.tq.yyatch... the news. (I/watch) 2 A: Oh, I've just realised. I haven't got any money. B: Haven't you? Well, don't worry.................................................................you some. (I/lend) 3 A: I've got a headache. B: Have you? Wait there and...............................................................an aspirin for you. (I/get) 4 A: Why are you filling that bucket with water? B: ............................................................................the car. (I/wash) 5 A: I've decided to repaint this room. B: Oh, have you? What colour............................................................................[t> (you/paint) 6 A: Where are you going? Are you going shopping? B: Yes'............................................................................something for dinner. (I/buy) 7 A: I don't know how to use this camera. B: It's quite easy.............................................................................you, (jyshow) 8 A: What would you like to eat? B: ■•••;.......................................................................a sandwich, please. (I/have) 9 A: Did you post that letter for me? B: Oh, I'm sorry. I completely forgot......................................................................tt now> (Tydo) 10 A: The ceiling in this room doesn't look very safe, does it? B: No, it looks as if............................................................................down, (it/fall) 11 A: Has George decided what to do when he leaves school? B: Oh, yes. Everything is planned.....................................................a holiday for a few weeks and then.......................................................a computer programming course, (he/have, he/do) 23.2 Read the situations and complete the sentences using will (11) or going to. 1 The phone rings and you answer. Somebody wants to speak to Jim. CALLER: Hello. Can I speak to Jim, please? YOU: Just a moment.............................................................................him. (I/get) 2 It's a nice day. You've decided to sit in the garden. Before going outside, you tell your friend. you: The weather's too nice to stay indoors.............................................in the garden. (I/sit) friend: That's a good idea. I think............................................................................you> (I/j0in) 3 Your friend is worried because she has lost an important letter. YOU: Don't worry about the letter. I'm sure..........................................................jt. (you/find) FRIEND: I hope so. 4 There was a job advertised in the paper recently. At first you were interested but then you decided not to apply. friend: Have you decided what to do about that job that was advertised? Y0U: Yes>............................................................................for it. (I/not/apply) 5 You and a friend come home very late. Other people in the house are asleep. Your friend is noisy. YOU: Shhh! Don't make so much noise.........................................everybody up. (you/wake) 6 John has to go to the airport to catch a plane tomorrow morning. JOHN: Ann, I need somebody to take me to the airport tomorrow morning. ANN: That's no problem..............................................you. (I/take) What time is your flight? JOHN: 10.50. & ANN: OK.............................................................................at about 9 o'clock then, (we/leave) Later that day, Joe offers to take John to the airport. JOE: John, do you want me to take you to the airport? JOHN: No thanks, Joe.............................................................................me. (Ann/take) UNIT 23 47