Tag: Basic

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Structure: ‘going to’ for future

Form: be + going to + infinitive verb.

It’s necessary to conjugate the verb ‘be’ in the present simple form (I am, you are etc…) and then use ‘going to + infinitive verb. The infinitive verb should be your main verb in this form.

Use 1: talk about future plans which you thought about before you speak.

eg 1: I’m going to meet a friend tomorrow.

Use 2: to talk about future predictions when you’re sure about the prediction.

eg 2: The company is going to hire some new pilots next year.

Take a look at the diagram below for more information, then practice some sentences yourself. It’s also useful to go back and check out using the future simple (will + infinitive verb) and try to clarify the differences for yourself.

Uses of ‘going to’ for the future

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Structure: ‘can & could 4’

Can & could for prohibition

In this final post about ‘can’ and ‘could’ we look at using them to say that something is prohibited / isn’t allowed. This can be done in the present with can, and the past with could. Have a look at the diagram for more information and as usual, write some of your own example for practice!

Diagram of how to use can & could to say that something isn't allowed.
How to use can & could to say that something isn’t allowed.

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Structure: ‘can & could 3’

Can & could for permission and requests

In this post we continue to talk about can and could. This time, we will talk about how can and could are used to ask for permission and to make requests. Have a look at the digram for more information.

Can & could for permission and requests

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Structure: ‘can & could 2’

Can & could for probability

In this post, we talk about how can and could are used in the context of likelihood and probability. Have a look at the digram for more information.

Diagram of how to use can & could for probability / likelihood.
How to use can & could for probability / likelihood.

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Structure: ‘can & could 1’

Using ‘can & could’

These two verbs can be used in many different ways and in the next few posts we’ll talk about the different ways they can be used. Today we’ll talk about using ‘can’ and ‘could’ when talking about ability, this is normally the first context that people see ‘can’ and ‘could’. Check out the diagram below and don’t forget to come back next week to see another way to use ‘can’ and ‘could’.

Diagram of how to use can & could relate to ability.
How to use can & could for ability.

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Structure: ‘Future simple’

Using ‘will’

The future simple / will is one of the most common tenses used in English so it’s one of the most important. There are two primary used for the future simple / will.

  1. to talk about future plans when you think and speak at the same time and you’re (obviously) not sure about your plans. We often use ‘I think’ before this form to emphasise that you’re not sure.
    • I think I’ll (I will) relax at the weekend.
  2. to talk about future predictions when you’re not sure about the prediction. We can also use ‘I think’ before this form to emphasise that you’re not sure.
    • I think that the company will cancel many flights due to the bad weather.

Tip: Don’t confuse ‘will’ and ‘going to’ to talk about the future. They are both used to talk about future plans and future predictions but with different ideas. Click here to read about using ‘going to’ for future plans and predictions and to compare it with using ‘will’.

Check out the diagram below for a summary and try to make some sentences of your own.

Diagram of uses of the future simple
Uses of the future simple

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