There are many ways of expressing the future in English.

For example, we can use:

1. The Present Simple
2. The Present Continuous
3. “Going to”
4. Modal verbs : Will / Shall / Might /May / Must / Should /Can

Each future form has different criteria for when we use them.

Did you notice that “WILL” is number 4 on my list – not number 1? Do not automatically use “Will” when you want to speak in a future tense.

Today we are going to look at the « GOING TO » future.

When do we use it?

A) When we have already decided to do something.
B) When we can see or feel that something is going to happen.

The Structure:

Be / going to / + INFINITIVE

Example: It is going to rain.

I know it’s going to rain because I can see black clouds.

Positive

I am going to buy a new computer soon. (A) I have already decided.)

You are going to get fat. (B)I can see that you are eating too much chocolate.)

He is going to be a doctor when he grows up. (A) He has decided.)

She is going to dive in the pool. (B) I can see)

It is going to be hot today. (B) I can see the sun)

We are going to play tennis this afternoon. (A) We have decided)

They are going to have pizza for lunch. (A) They have decided.)

Negative:
I’m not going to
You aren’t going to
He, she, it isn’t going to ...................... watch TV tonight.
We aren’t going to
You aren’t going to
They aren’t going to

Questions:
Am I going to
Are you going to
Is he going to
Is she going to ...................... have a holiday this year?
Are we going to
Are they going to

SPEAKING:

When we are speaking or writing informally, we contract the verb “to be” and say:

I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’re , you’re, they’re / going to ….

Sometimes, when we are speaking (but not writing) we even contract “going to” and say “gonna”

Example: I’m gonna see Jack later. (A) I’ve decided)

Don’t worry. Everything’s gonna be alright! (B) I can feel it)

Wanna (do you want to) practise "gonna"( going to)?

If you do, then sing along with Bob Marley's Three little birds

Used to (do)

1. “Used to (+ verb)” is a past tense only. (Often translated by l’imparfait in French.)
2. We use it when we want to talk about something which happened regularly in the past, but which doesn’t happen now.
3. We also use it to talk about something which was true, but isn’t true now.It indicates that something has changed.
4. “Used to” can also evoke a feeling of nostalgia.

Here are some examples:

There used to be two cinemas in the centre of Vannes, but now one of them (The Eden) has been turned into a block of flats. (Something has changed)

We always used to go to Cornwall for our holidays. (We went to Cornwall regularly, but we don’t go now.)

My grandmother used to make the most delicious apple pies. (Nostalgia)

Who's that guy?

That's Bill Clinton. He used to be the President of the USA.

Negative:
Didn’t use to … (no “d”)
I didn’t use to like red wine (but now I love it).

Question:
What toys did you use to have when you were young?

How did people use to do their washing before the washing machine was invented?

(Have you noticed that there is no “d”?)

Compare these past tenses:

I used to watch TV a lot (= I watched TV regularly in the past, but I don’t do that now.)
I was watching TV when John phoned (=this is what I was doing.)

Pronunciation:
Used to; didn’t use to; did you use to? Are all pronounced with an “s” and a “t” [ju:st]

But look at this sentence: The microwave was broken, so I used the oven instead.
This is not the same structure and the pronunciation is different. Now “used” is pronounced with a “z” and a “d” – [ju:zd]

Hmmm, still not sure about “USED TO”?

Then listen to THE ROLLING STONES singing “It’s all over now” from 1964

IT'S ALL OVER NOW

(B. & S. Womack)
Released in the UK as a single in June 1964 by The Rolling Stones

Well, baby used to stay out all night long
She made me cry, she done me wrong
She hurt my eyes open, that's no lie
Tables turn and now it’s her turn to cry

Because I used to love her, but it's all over now
Because I used to love her, but it's all over now

Well, she used to run around with every man in town
She spent all my money, playing her high class game
She put me out, it was a pity how I cried
Tables turn and now it’s her turn to cry

Because I used to love her, but it's all over now
Because I used to love her, but it's all over now

Well, I used to wake in the morning, get my breakfast in bed
When I'd gotten worried she'd ease my aching head
But now she's here and there, with every man in town
Still trying to take me for that same old clown

Because I used to love her, but it's all over now
Because I used to love her, but it's all over now
Because I used to love her, but it's all over now
Because I used to love her, but it's all over now

Lead Vocals & Tambourine: Mick Jagger; Electric Guitar: Brian Jones & Keith Richards; Drums: Charlie Watts; Bass: Bill Wyman;

Vocabulary:
gotten = got (American English)
the tables have turned (expression) = the situation has completely changed or reversed.
To take someone for…(phrasal verb) Do you take me for an idiot? = Do you think I am an idiot?

Level B1

For Intermediate students who have recently studied "used to (do)", here is a clip of The Rolling Stones singing "All Over Now".

Well,well,well!

All over the native English speaking world there is a huge debate going on.

The big question is: How do we say 2010?

I've looked at sites and blogs from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and it seems that the younger generation want to say "twenty-ten", whereas some older people want to continue with "two thousand and ten". The Americans say "two thousand ten" (no "and") just to add to the confusion.

But, on the whole, when I have seen opinion polls, every one of them prefers to say: TWENTY TEN!

This could be because the younger generation are more likely to use the internet to state their preference. Perhaps an opinion poll held in a shopping centre and asking a wider range of ages would give a different result.

But I feel that "twenty ten" will eventually become the most popular choice.

So, in British English, we write the date like this: 2nd January 2010 ( or 2/1/10)

And we say:

It's Saturday the second of January, twenty-ten.

What's more, people are already saying that the London Olympics will take place in "twenty twelve" (2012).

However, there is another problem. Perhaps you've noticed it as you' ve been reading. Should that be twenty twelve (no hyphen) or twenty-twelve (with a hyphen)?

Again, at the moment, I just don't know. (But with a hyphen looks better to me.)

Plus facile à dire "deux mille dix", n'est- ce pas?

I think this is an interesting example of how the English language changes and develops according to popular opinion.

We will, of course, continue to watch and listen to see the correct way of pronouncing the date, and we will keep you informed.

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