This document provides information and examples about using future time markers like "will" in the English language. It discusses how "will" is used to talk about predictions, promises, requests, offers, refusals, and probabilities. It also covers contractions like "I'll" and the time marker "tomorrow." Examples are provided to illustrate different uses of "will" like making predictions about the future, asking for or offering something, and refusing something. Readers are encouraged to practice using "will" with a partner by answering sample questions.

1. Will for the Future;
Future Time Markers
The Future of Space
Travel
9
Focus on Grammar 2
Part IX, Unit 31
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. NNeewwss FFllaasshh
This is an exciting
day. We’re
watching the first
airplane travel into
space!
Let’s go now to an
interview with Burt
Rhutan, the
inventor of
Spaceship One.
In the future, many
people wwiillll ttrraavveell by
airplane into space.
How wwiillll Spaceship
One cchhaannggee the way
people travel?
WWiillll these trips bbee
expensive?
No, they wwoonn’’tt
ccoosstt much. People
wwiillll pprroobbaabbllyy ttaakkee
their vacations to
other planets.
Good morning.
This is Gloria Lopez
reporting for
Station XKZ.

3. TThhee FFuuttuurree
Use will + the base form of the verb to talk
about things that will take place in the future.
In the future, we will
have friends from
In the future, we will
have friends from
other planets.
other planets.

4. BBee CCaarreeffuull!!
Use the base form of the verb after will or
won’t.
I I will will takes take
your
gift to my leader.
I will takes your
gift to my leader.

5. CCoonnttrraaccttiioonnss
Use contractions of will with pronouns in
speaking and informal writing.
Contractions
II’’llll
yyoouu’’llll
hhee’’llll
sshhee’’llll
iitt’’llll
wwee’’llll
tthheeyy’’llll
I will
you will
he will
she will
it will
we will
they will
Practice your
pronunciation
of the
contractions.

6. SSuurere, ,I Iw’lli.ll.
BBee CCaarreeffuull!!
Do not use contractions in affirmative short
answers.
Will you please
drive more
slowly?

7. PPrreeddiiccttiioonnss
Use will to make predictions.
By the year 2060,
we will have
airports on Saturn.
By the year 2080,
schoolchildren will take
fieldtrips to Jupiter.

8. PPrroommiissee oorr AAssssuurraannccee
Use will to make a promise or give assurance.
I think I’m lost.
Don’t worry, I’ll
help you.
promise
assurance
I’ll take you back
to your
spaceship, I
promise.

9. AAsskk ffoorr oorr OOffffeerr
Use will to ask for or offer something.
WWiillll you ggiivvee
me a ride to the
next planet?
Sure, wwee’’llll ggiivvee
you a window
seat.
rreeqquueesstt
ooffffeerr

10. WWoonn’’tt
Won’t is the contraction of will + not. It has
two meanings.
rreeffuussaall
He won’t have a
job next week.
I won’t eat
another bite.
negative
future

11. PPrraaccttiiccee 11 Look at the statements. Match
the statements to the different
uses for will.
4. “ WWiillll you
please ttaakkee oouutt
the garbage?”
4. “ WWiillll you
please ttaakkee oouutt
the garbage?”
1. “I think it
wwiillll rraaiinn
next week.”
2. “This
homework is
too difficult. I
wwoonn’’tt ddoo it.”
3. “I’’llll ggeett you
some water for
your hiccups.”
Offer
“I’’llll lloovvee you
forever.”
Promise
Predict
Ask for
Refuse
Example:
1. “I think it
wwiillll rraaiinn
next week.”
2. “This
homework is
too difficult. I
wwoonn’’tt ddoo it.”
3. “I’’llll ggeett you
some water for
your hiccups.”
“II’’llll lloovvee you
forever.”

12. PPrroobbaabbllyy
To say that something is not definite, use
probably with will for the future.
We’ll probably
visit that planet.

13. TTiimmee MMaarrkkeerrss
Some time markers are used only for the
future.
We’ll learn
more about
Earth
tomorrow.

14. PPrraaccttiiccee 22 Use will to answer the
questions with a partner.
1. What will you do in ten years?
2. Where will you live?
3. Will you take vacations to other planets?
4. Will you take English classes next year?
5. What classes will you take?

15. RReeffeerreenncceess
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.