3. We --- last Saturday. It was great - we invited lots of people.
4. Excuse me, can I --- at your newspaper, please?
5. 'Where's Jim?' 'He --- in his room. He's very tired.'
6. I met Ann in the supermarket yesterday. We stopped and ---.
7. I haven't seen you since you came back from holiday ---?
8. Suzanne --- a few weeks ago. It's her second child.
9. I don't usually smoke but I was feeling very nervous, so I ---.
10. The phone rang but I couldn't answer it because I ---.
11. You meet Tom at the airport. He has just arrived. You say:
Hello, Tom. ---?
UNIT 18. Used to (do)
A. Study this example situation:
Dennis stopped smoking two years ago. He doesn't smoke any more.
But he used to smoke.
He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.
'He used to smoke' = he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now. He was a smoker, but now he isn't
B. 'Something used to happen' = something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens:
* I used to play tennis a lot but I don't play very often now.
* Diane used to travel a lot. These days she doesn't go away so often.
* 'Do you go to the cinema very often?' 'Not now, but I used to.' (= I used to go ...)
We also use used to... for something that was true but is not true any more:
* This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.
* I used to think he was unfriendly but now I realise he's a very nice person.
* I've started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before.
* Janet used to have very long hair when she was a child.
C. 'I used to do something' is past. There is no present form. You cannot say 'I use to do'. To talk about the present, use the present simple (I do).
Compare:
past: he used to smoke we used to live there used to be
present: he smokes we live there is
* We used to live in a small village but now we live in London.
* There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.
D. The normal question form is did (you) use to ...?:
* Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?
The negative form is didn't use to ... (used not to ... is also possible)
* I didn't use to like him. (or I used not to like him.)
E. Compare I used to do and I was doing (see Unit 6):
* I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV regularly in the past, but I no longer do this)
* I was watching TV when the phone rang. (= I was in the middle of watching TV)
F. Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 60). The structures and meanings are different:
* I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past but I no longer live alone)
* I am used to living alone. (= I live alone and I don't find it strange or new because I've been living alone for some time)
EXERCISES
18.1 Complete these sentences with use(d) to ... + a suitable verb.
1. Dennis gave up smoking two years ago. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.
2. Liz --- a motorbike, but last year she sold it and bought a car.
3. We came to live in Manchester a few years ago. We --- in Nottingham.
4. I rarely cat ice cream now but I --- it when I was a child.
5. Jim --- my best friend but we aren't friends any longer.
6. It only takes me about 40 minutes to get to work since the new road was opened. It --- more than an hour.
7. There --- a hotel opposite the station but it closed a long time ago
8. When you lived in London, --- to the theatre very often?
18.2 Brian changed his lifestyle. He stopped doing some things and started doing other things:
He stopped studying hard/going to bed early/running three miles e3very morning
He started smoking/going out in the evening/spending a lot of money
Write sentences about Brian with used to and didn't use to.
1. He used to smoke.
2. He didn't use to smoke.
3. ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
18.3 Compare what Carol said five years ago and what she says today:
FIVE YEARS A GO
I travel a lot,
I play the piano.
I'm very lazy.
I don't like cheese.
I've got a dog.
I'm a hotel receptionist.
I've got lots of friends.
I never read newspapers.
I don't drink tea.
I go to a lot of parties.
TODAY
I eat lots of cheese now.
I work very hard these days.
I don't know in people these days.
I work in a bookshop now.
I don't go away much these days.
My dog died two years ago.
I read a newspaper every day now.
I haven't been to a party for ages.
I haven't played piano for years.
Tea's great! I like it now.
Now write sentences about bow Carol has changed. Use used to/didn't use to/never used to in the first part of your sentence.
1 She used to travel a lot but she doesn't go away much these days.
2. She used --- but ---
3. --- but ---
4. --- but ---
5. --- but ---
6. --- but ---
7. --- but ---
8. --- but ---
9. --- but ---
10. --- but ---
UNIT 19. Present tenses (I am doing/I do) for the future
A. Present continuous J am doing) with a future meaning
Study this example situation:
This is Tom's diary for next week.
He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon.
He is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning.
He is having dinner with Ann on Friday.
In all these examples, Tom has already decided and arranged to do these things.
Use the present continuous to say what you have already arranged to do. Do not use the present simple J do):
* A: What are you doing on Saturday evening? (not 'what do you do')
B: I'm going to the theatre. (not 'I go')
* A: What time is Cathy arriving tomorrow?
B: At 10.30. I'm meeting her at the station.
* I'm not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere.
* Ian isn't playing football on Saturday. He's hurt his leg.
'(I'm) going to (do)' is also possible in these sentences:
* What are you going to do on Saturday evening?
But the present continuous is more natural for arrangements. See also Unit 20B.
Do not use will to talk about what you have arranged to do:
* What are you doing this evening? (not 'what will you do')
* Alex is getting married next month. (not 'will get')
B. Present simple (I do) with a future meaning
We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for example, for public transport, cinemas etc.):
* The train leaves Plymouth at 11.30 and arrives in London at 14.45.
* What time does the film begin?
* It's Wednesday tomorrow.
You can use the present simple for people if their plans are fixed like a timetable:
* I start my new job on Monday.
* What time do you finish work tomorrow?
But the continuous is more usual for personal arrangements:
* What time are you meeting Ann tomorrow? (not 'do you meet')
Compare:
* What time are you leaving tomorrow?
but * What time does the train leave tomorrow?
* I'm going to the cinema this evening.
but * The film starts at 8.15 (this evening).
EXERCISES
19.1 A friend of yours is planning to go on holiday soon. You ask her about her plans. Use the words in brackets to make your questions.
1. (where/go?) Where are you going? Scotland.
2. (how long/stay?) Ten days.
3. (when/go?) Next Friday.
4. (go/alone?) No, with a friend of mine.
5. (travel/by car?) No, by train.
6. (where/stay?) In a hotel.
19.2 Tom wants you to visit him but you are very busy. Look at your diary for the next few days and explain to him why you can't come.
TOM: Can you come on Monday evening?
You: Sorry but I'm playing volleyball. (1)
TOM: What about Tuesday evening then?
You: No, not Tuesday I --- (2)
TOM: And Wednesday evening?
YOU: --- (3)
TOM: Well, are you free on Thursday?
YOU: I'm afraid not. --- (4)
19.3 Have you arranged to do anything at these times? Write (true) sentences about yourself.
1. (this evening) I'm going out this evening. or I'm not doing anything this evening. or I don't know what I'm doing this evening.
2. (tomorrow morning) I ---
3. (tomorrow evening)
4. (next Sunday)
5. (choose another day or time)
19.4 Put the verb into the more suitable form, present continuous or present simple.
1. I'm going (go) to the theatre this evening.
2. Does the film begin (the film/begin) at 3.30 or 4.30?
3. We --- (have) a party next Saturday. Would you like to come?
4. The art exhibition --- (open) on 3 May and --- (finish) on 15 July.
5. I --- (not/go) out this evening. I --- (stay) at home.
6. '--- (you/do) anything tomorrow morning?' 'No, I'm free. Why?'
7. We --- (go) to a concert tonight. It --- (begin) at 7.30.
8. You are on the train to London and you ask another passenger:
Excuse me. What time --- (this train/get) to London?
9. You are talking to Ann:
Ann, I --- (go) to town. --- (you/come) with me?
10. Sue --- (come) to see us tomorrow. She --- (travel) by train and her train --- (arrive) at 10.15. I --- (meet) her at the station.
11. I --- (not/use) the car this evening, so you can have it.
12. You and a friend are watching television. You say:
I'm bored with this programme. When --- (it/finish)?
UNIT 20. (I'm) going to (do)
A. 'I am going to do something' = I have already decided to do it, I intend to do it:
* A: There's a film on television tonight. Are you going to watch it?
B: No, I'm tired. I'm going to have an early night.
* A: I hear Ruth has won some money. What is she going to do with it?
B: She's going to buy a new car.
* A: Have you made the coffee yet?
B: I'm just going to make it. (just = right at this moment)
* This food looks horrible. I'm not going to eat it.
B. I am doing and I am going to do
We normally use I am doing (present continuous) when we say what we have arranged to do for example, arranged to meet somebody, arranged to go somewhere (see Unit 19A):
* What time are you meeting Ann this evening?
* I'm leaving tomorrow. I've got my plane ticket.
'I am going to do something' = I've decided to do it (but perhaps not arranged to do it):
* 'The windows are dirty.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to clean them later.' (= I've decided to clean them but I haven't arranged to clean them)
* I've decided not to stay here any longer. Tomorrow I'm going to look for somewhere else to stay.
Often the difference is very small and either form is possible.
C. You can also say that 'something is going to happen' in the future. For example:
The man can't see where he's walking. There is a hole in front of him.
He is going to fall into the hole.
When we say that 'something is going to happen', the situation now makes us believe this. The man is walking towards the hole now, so he is going to fall into it.
* Look at those black clouds! It's going to rain. (the clouds are there now)
* I feel terrible. I think I'm going to be sick. (I feel terrible now)
D. 'I was going to (do something)' = I intended to do it but didn't do it:
* We were going to travel by train but then we decided to go by car instead.
* A: Did Peter do the examination?
B: No, he was going to do it but he changed his mind.
* I was just going to cross the road when somebody shouted 'Stop!'
You can say that something was going to happen (but didn't happen):
* I thought it was going to rain but then the sun came out.
EXERCISES
20.1 Answer the questions. You are going to do all these things but you haven't done them yet. Use going to and the word(s) in brackets.
1. Have you cleaned the car? (tomorrow) Not yet. I'm going to clean it tomorrow.
2. Have you phoned Sally? (later) Not yet. ---
3. Have you done the shopping? (this afternoon) Not yet. ---
4. Have you read the paper? (after dinner) Not ---
5. Have you had dinner? (just) ---
20.2 Write a question with going to for each situation.
1. Your friend has won some money. You ask:
(what/do with it?) What are you going to do with it?
2. Your friend is going to a party tonight. You ask:
(what/wear?)
3. Your friend has just bought a new table. You ask:
(where/put it?)
4. Your friend has decided to have a party. You ask:
(who/invite?)
20.3 Read the situations and complete the dialogues. Use going to.
1. You have decided to write some letters this evening.
FRIEND: Are you going out this evening? You: No, I'm going to write some letters.
2. You are a smoker but you have decided to give it up soon.
FRIEND: Smoking is very bad for you.
YOU: I know. ---
3. You have been offered a job but you have decided not to take it.
FRIEND: I hear you've been offered a job.
YOU: That's right, but ---
4. You are in a restaurant. The food is awful and you've decided to complain.
FRIEND: This food is awful, isn't it?
YOU: Yes, it's disgusting. ---
20.4 What is going to happen in these situations? Use the words in brackets.
1. There are a lot of black clouds in the sky. (rain) It's going to rain.
2. It is 8.30. Jack is leaving his house. He has to be at work at 8.45 but the journey takes 30 minutes. (late) He ---
3. There is a hole in the bottom of the boat. A lot of water is coming in through the hole. (sink) The boat ---
4. Emma is driving. There is very little petrol left in the tank. The nearest petrol station is a long way away. (run out) She ---
20.5 Complete the sentences with was/were going to + one of these verbs:
give up have phone play travel
1. We were going to travel by train but then we decided to go by car instead.
2. We --- tennis yesterday but it rained all day.
3. I --- Jim, but I decided to write him a letter instead.
4. When I last saw Tim, he --- his job but in the end he decided not to.
5. We --- a party last week but some of our friends couldn't come, so we cancelled it.
UNIT 21. Will/shall (1)
A. 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?' 'I'll 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/I 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 cat.
* 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.
B. 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')
C. 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)