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 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 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) EXERCISES 21 -1 Complete the sentences with I'll + a suitable verb. 1 I'm too tired to walk home. I think ...filget... 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: .. J. think }'(! 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 / I'll phone her now.' (I'll phone is correct) 2 I can't meet you tomorrow afternoon. I'm playing / I'll play 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 /1 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 /1 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...........................................................................or........................................................................• 6 Your friend wants you to phone later. You don't know what time to phone. You ask him/her.................................................................................................................................................................. UNIT 21 Will/shall (2) I will and I'm going to - unit 23 43 I will and I'm going to Future actions Study the difference between will and going to: Sue is talking to Helen: That's a great idea. I Let's have a party.J 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 SUE HELEN past future Later that day, Helen meets Dave: Sue and I have decided to have a party. We're going to invite lots of people. 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. 23.1 23.2 EXERCISES Complete the sentences using will ('II) or going to. Why are you turning on the television? 1 a: b: 2 a: 3 b: a: 4 b: a: 5 b: a: b: 6 a: 7 b: a: 8 b: a: 9 b: a: 10 b: a: 11 b: a: r: Oh, I've just realised. I haven't got any money. Haven't you? Well, don't worry.................................................................you some. (I/lend} I've got a headache. Have you? Wait there and...............................................................an aspirin for you. (I/get) Why are you filling that bucket with water? ............................................................................the car. (I/wash) I've decided to repaint this room. Oh, have you? What colour............................................................................it? (you/paint) Where are you going? Are you going shopping? Yes,............................................................................something for dinner. (I/buy) I don't know how to use this camera. It's quite easy.............................................................................you. (I/show) What would you like to eat? ............................................................................a sandwich, please. (I/have) Did you post that letter for me? Oh, I'm sorry. I completely forgot......................................................................it now. (I/do) The ceiling in this room doesn't look very safe, does it? No, it looks as if............................................................................down, (it/fall) Has George decided what to do when he leaves school? Oh, yes. Everything is planned.....................................................a holiday for a few weeks and then.......................................................a computer programming course, (he/have, he/do) 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/join) 3 Your friend is worried because she has lost an important letter. you: Don't worry about the letter. I'm sure..........................................................it. (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? you: 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) I'm going to -> IIIUlWil Will -> units 21-22