MINI-GRAMMAR: THE FUTURE 2 : PREDICTIONS

THE FUTURE 2 : PREDICTIONS

We can use both will and going to + infinitive to make predictions about the future.

You'll really enjoy the trip.
You're really going to enjoy the trip.

We use going to + infinitive when we have present evidence for the prediction.

It's going to rain later this afternoon.
(There are black clouds in the sky.)

I'm not going to finish this today.
(I still have a lot of work and it's already late.)

In many situations, it is possible to use both will and going to.

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MINI-GRAMMAR: THE FUTURE 1 : FUTURE PLANS

THE FUTURE 1 : FUTURE PLANS


We use going to + infinitive to talk about future plans and intentions. These are things that we definitely want to do, but we haven't made firm arrangements yet.

We're going to get some new PCs tomorrow.

We use the present continuous to talk about things we have already decided to do and made arrangements for.

We're getting the two o'clock flight from Oujda Angad to Casablanca.
(= We've already bought the tickets.)

We tend not to use going to + infinitive with the verbs go and come. We prefer to use the present continuous.

They're going to Marrakech next summer.
What time are you coming?

We use will + infinitive to talk about the future when we haven't made any plans or arrangements. This is often used with probably, possibly or perhaps.

We haven't made any plans yet, we'll probably decide what to do when the others arrive tomorrow.

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MINI-GRAMMAR: TIME LINKERS ( SIMPLE PAST / PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PERFECT )

TIME LINKERS ( SIMPLE PAST / PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PERFECT )

We can use while, as and when to show that two actions happen at the same time (= two simultaneous actions happening at the same time ).

He was reading a letter while / as / when she was watching TV.
While / As/ When she was watching TV, he was reading a letter.

We can use the moment, as soon as and when to show that one action happens immediately after another one.

The child fell asleep the moment / as soon as / when he climbed onto the sofa.
The moment / As soon as / When the child climbed onto the sofa, he fell asleep.

We can use by the time, before and after to show that one action has happened before another.

The party had finished by the time we arrived.

By the time we arrived, the party had finished.

Before he went to bed, he had answered the mail.
After he had answered the mail, he went to bed.

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MINI-GRAMMAR: THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the past perfect to talk about completed actions in the past that happened before other actions in the past.

The police arrived, but the pickpocket had run away.
(= The pickpocket ran away and then the police arrived.)

We often use the past perfect and the past simple together to show the order in which two actions took place.
Compare the following pair of sentences:

He had married her when he bought a new flat. (= He married her and then he bought the flat.)
He married her when he had bought a new flat. (= He bought the flat and then he married her.)

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MINI-GRAMMAR: THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS

THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS

We use the past continuous for actions in progress at a particular time in the past. These actions are incomplete.

At nine o'clock last night, he was watching TV.

We use the past simple for completed past actions.

He decided to buy a new car.

We often use the past continuous and the past simple together. We use the past continuous for longer, 'background' actions and we use the past simple for shorter, completed actions.

They were having dinner in a restaurant and they decided to go to a nightclub.

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