Simple Present - Use

The Simple Present is frequently used in English. It is also called Present Simple. Have a look at the following examples: 1) repeated actions (every day, always, often, sometimes or never) My friend often draws nice posters. I never drink milk.

2) things in general The sun rises in the East.

3) fixed arrangements, scheduled events (e.g. timetable) The plane flies to London every Monday.

4) sequence of actions in the present (first - then, after that) First I get up, then I have breakfast.

5) instructions Open your books at page 34.

6) with special verbs - which are normally not used with the Present Progressive (These verbs express states, possessions, feelings etc.) be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish I understand English. He doesn't like fish.

Simple Present - Signal words

These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Present these are adverbs of frequency: always often

usually sometimes seldom never Other phrases of time can occur, like: every day every week every year on Mondays after school

Form of the Simple Present

We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person Singular (he, she, it - or a name) we put an -s to the end of the infinitive. infinitive - 3rd person Singular (he, she, it) infinitive + -s

Affirmative sentences:
I/we/you/they play football. He/she/it plays football. NOTE: he, she, it - Do not forget the -s.

Negative sentences:
We use the auxiliary do. I/we/you/they do not play football. He/she/it does not play football. NOTE: We often use short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Present: I/we/you/they don't play football. He/she/it doesn't play football.

Questions:
Do I/we/you/they play football? Does he/she/it play football?

Simple Present - Spelling

Be careful with some words when using the 3rd person singular.

1) verbs ending in a sibilant [s] [z] [] [] [] [] or verbs ending in -o preceded by a consonant We add -es to the infinitive. Examples: I watch - he watches I pass - he passes I go - he goes I do - he does

2) verbs ending in -y verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u): Add -s. Example: I play - he plays verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a consonant: Change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. Example: I hurry - he hurries

Special verbs in the Simple Present

1) have as a full verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I have a book. he, she, it: He has a book. He does not have a book. Does he have a book? I do not have a book. Do I have a book? negative sentence question

2) be as a full verb affirmative sentence I am from Britain. he, she, it: He is from Britain. we, you, they: We are from Britain. We are not from Britain. Are we from Britain? He is not from Britain. Is he from Britain? negative sentence I am not from Britain. question Am I from Britain?

We often use the short forms with this verb.

3) do as a full verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I do an exercise. he, she, it: He does an exercise. He does not do an exercise. Does he do an exercise? I do not do an exercise. Do I do an exercise? negative sentence question

4) modal auxiliaries can, could, may, must, need, will etc. affirmative sentence negative sentence question

every time regardless the subject (I, he, she, it, we, you, they): I can play tennis. I cannot play tennis. Can I play tennis?

NOTE: We can subtitute don't (can't) for do not (cannot). Modals have the same form every time regardless the subject. We do not add an -s to the infinitive.

Simple Present - Diagram

We use the Simple Present when we talk about something which happens repeatedly.

We use the Simple Present to describe a series of actions in the present.

Long forms and short forms in the Simple Present

We often use short forms of the auxiliaries. The Simple Present is formed with a full verb. Short forms are only used in negative phrases.

affirmative long form I, we, you, they: I read he, she, it: he reads short form -

negative (do not) long form I, we, you, they: I do not read he, she, it: he does not read short form I, we, you, they: I don't read he, she, it: he doesn't read

Present Progressive - Use

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking Peter is reading a book now.

2) fixed plan in the near future She is going to Basel on Saturday.

3) temporary actions His father is working in Rome this month.

4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions) My friend is preparing for his exams.

5) trends More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever) Andrew is always coming late.

Signal words
now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Form
to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I am playing football. I'm playing football. Negative sentences: You are not playing football. You're not playing football. You aren't playing football. You are playing football. You're playing football.

I am not playing football. I'm not playing football.

Questions:

Present Progressive - Signal words

Signal words tell you what tense you have to use. In the Present Progressive these words are used in situations which happen at the time of speaking. now at the moment Look! Listen!

Present Progressive/Continuous - Form

Present Progressive/Continuous

Summary Use Signal words Form of affirmative, negative sentences and questions Spelling Special verbs Diagram Long forms and short forms Present Progressive - Complex Test 1 Complex Test 2 Exercises - Present Progressive

Form of the Present Progressive/Continuous

We use a form of to be (am, are or is), the infinitive of the verb and the ending ing. to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Affirmative sentences:
I am playing volleyball. He/she/it is playing volleyball. We/you/they are playing volleyball. NOTE: Use am with I - is with he, she, it - and with all other pronouns are. We often use short forms in affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive.

Negative sentences:
I am not playing volleyball. He/she/it is not playing volleyball. We/you/they are not playing volleyball. NOTE: We often use short forms in negative sentences in the Present Progressive.

Questions:
In the Present Progressive we put the auxiliary (am, are or is) before the subject (Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Rest). see: Questions in Present Progressive

Am I playing volleyball? Is he/she/it playing volleyball? Are we/you/they playing volleyball

Present Progressive - Spelling

Be careful with some words when adding -ing to the infinitive. 1) consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word Double the consonant. sit he is sitting put - he is putting If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it: benefit - benefiting (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.) In British English we double one -l at the end of the word: travel - travelling

2) one -e at the end of the word Leave out the -e. write he is writing take he is taking BUT: double e: add -ing see he is seeing

3) verbs ending in -ie Change 'ie' to 'y'. lie - he is lying

4) verbs ending in -c Change 'c' to 'ck'. picnic - he is picnicking

Special verbs in the Present Progressive

There are verbs which are normally not used in the Present Progressive, like: be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish

We sometimes use these words in the Present Progressive in the following situations: He's seeing his father tomorrow. (fixed date) The group is seeing the sights of Paris. (see in connection with tourists) They are having a great time in Kapstadt. (have as an activity verb) What's the matter with you? What are you thinking? - (to be worried about sth.) If you are not sure with these verbs, use a good dictionary. 1) have as a full verb affirmative sentence I am having a bath. he, she, it: He is having a bath. we, you, they: We are having a bath. We are not having a bath. Are we having a bath? He is not having a bath. Is he having a bath? negative sentence I am not having a bath. question Am I having a bath?

1) do as a full verb affirmative sentence I am doing an exercise. he, she, it: He is doing an exercise. we, you, they: We are doing an exercise. We are not doing an exercise. Are we doing an exercise? He is not doing an exercise. Is he doing an exercise? negative sentence I am not doing an exercise. question Am I doing an exercise?

We often use the short forms with these verbs

Present Progressive - Diagram

We use the Present Progressive when we talk about something which is happening at the moment of speaking.

Long forms and short forms in the Present Progressive

We often use short forms of the auxiliaries. The Present Progressive is formed with the auxiliary to be (am, are, is), so short forms are very frequent. affirmative long form I am reading he, she, it: he is reading we, you, they: we are reading short form I'm reading he, she, it: he's reading we, you, they: we're reading

negative (not after to be) long form I am not reading he, she, it: he is not reading we, you, they: we are not reading short form I'm not reading he, she, it: he isn't reading or he's not reading we, you, they: we aren't reading or we're not reading

Simple Past/Past Simple - Brief version

Use
1) action finished in the past I visited Berlin last week.

2) series of completed actions in the past First I got up, then I had breakfast

3) together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.

They were playing cards when the telephone rang.

Signal words
yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002

Form
- with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Examples
Affirmative sentences: regular verbs I played football. We visited Alaska last year. Negative sentences: You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) for negations. I I He didn't didn't played play play football. football. football. irregular verbs I went to the cinema. We were in Rome yesterday.

Questions: Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do). Did you play football? Did he play football?

Simple Past - Signal words

These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Past these are expressions of time in the past. yesterday last week a month ago in 2002

Form of the Simple Past

Form the Simple Past: - with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Affirmative sentences:
Use the same form of the verb every time regardless the subject. regular verbs I played football. irregular verbs I went to the supermarket.

Negative sentences:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the subject. regular verbs I did not play football. irregular verbs I did not go to the supermarket.

NOTE: Short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Past are used quite often. regular verbs I didn't play football. irregular verbs I didn't go to the supermarket.

Questions:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the subject. regular verbs Did you play football? irregular verbs Did I go to the supermarket?

Simple Past - Spelling

You have to know all forms of the irregular verbs very well. For the Simple Past you need the form of the verb which can be found in the 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs. go - went - gone Add -ed with regular verbs. regular verbs

infinitive + -ed Sometimes the are exceptions in spelling when adding -ed. 1) consonant after short, stressed vowel at the end of the word Double the consonant. stop stopped swap - swapped If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it: benefit - benefited (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.) In British English we double one -l at the end of the word: travel - travelled

2) one -e at the end of the word Add only -d. love loved save saved 3) verbs ending in -y verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u): Add -ed. Example: I play - he played verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a consonant: Change 'y' to 'i' Then add -ed. Example: I hurry - he hurried irregular verbs 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Special verbs in the Simple Past

Many frequently used verbs are irregular. You find these words in the appendix of a dictionary or in your English book. You must learn these words by heart. Have a look at the following lists which can be downloaded and printed. (*.pdf files) Most common irregular verbs Irregular verbs - full list Irregular verbs - Learn effectively 1) have as a full verb

affirmative sentence

negative sentence

question

every time regardless the subject (I, he, she, it, we, you, they): I had a book. I did not have a book. Did I have a book?

2) be as a full verb affirmative sentence I, he, she, it: I was in Rome. we, you, they: We were in Rome. We were not in Rome. Were we in Rome? I was not in Rome. Was I in Rome? negative sentence question

3) do as a full verb affirmative sentence negative sentence question

every time regardless the subject (I, he, she, it, we, you, they): I did an exercise. I did not do an exercise. Did I do an exercise?

We often use short forms/contracted forms with these verbs

Simple Past - Diagram

We use the Simple Past when we talk about something which started and finished in the past.

We use the Simple Past to describe a series of actions in the past.

We use the Simple Past (red) together with the Past Progressive (grey). The action in the Simple Past interrupted the action in the Past Progressive (the one which was in progress).

Pronunciation of the ending -ed in the Simple Past

In the Simple Past we add -ed to regular verbs. Be careful pronuncing the verbs: 1) verbs ending in -ed preceded by a voiceless consonant [p, k, f, , , s, ] -> speak [t]. The -e is silent. Example: I stop - I stopped [stpt] 2) verbs ending in -ed preceded by a voiced consonant [b, g, v, , , z, , l, m, n] or a vowel -> speak [d]. The -e is silent. Example: I clean - I cleaned [kli:nd] 3) verbs ending in -ed preceded by [t] or [d] -> speak [d]. The -e changes to []. Example: I visit - I visited [vztd]

Present Perfect - Use

1) Result of an action in the past is important in the present I have cleaned my room.

2) Recently completed action He has just played handball.

3) State beginning in the past and still continuing We have lived in Canada since 1986.

4) together with lately, recently, yet I have been to London recently.

Signal words
just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for

Form
have/has + past participle

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I have cleaned my room. I've cleaned my room. Negative sentences: I have not cleaned my room. I've not cleaned my room. I haven't cleaned my room. Questions: In the Present Perfect we put the auxiliary (have or has) before the subject (Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Rest). see: Questions in Present Perfect Have I cleaned my room? Have you cleaned your room? You have not cleaned your room. You've not cleaned your room. You haven't cleaned your room. You have cleaned your room. You've cleaned your room.

Present Perfect - Signal words

These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Present Perfect the following words are used frequently: just yet never already ever so far up to now recently since for

Form of the Present Perfect

We form the Present Perfect with have and the past participle (regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs) have/has + past participle has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it) have: all other forms past participle: - regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Affirmative sentences
regular verbs I/we/you/they have opened the window. He/she/it has opened the window. irregular verbs I/we/you/they have gone to the supermarket. He/she/it has gone to the supermarket.

NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

Negative sentences
regular verbs I/we/you/they have not opened the window. He/she/it has not opened the window. irregular verbs I/we/you/they have not gone to the supermarket. He/she/it has not gone to the supermarket.

NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

Questions
regular verbs Have I/we/you/they opened the window? Has he/she/it opened the window? irregular verbs Have I/we/you/they gone to the supermarket? Has he/she/it gone to the supermarket?

NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it). see: Questions in Present Perfect

Present Perfect - Spelling

You have to know all forms of the irregular verbs very well. For the Present Perfect you need the form of the verb which can be found in the 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs. go - went - gone Add -ed with regular verbs. regular verbs infinitive + -ed Sometimes the are exceptions in spelling when adding -ed. 1) consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word Double the consonant. stop stopped swap - swapped We do not double the consonant if it is not stressed: benefit - benefited (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.) In Britsh English we double one -l at the end of the word: travel - travelled

2) one -e at the end of the word Leave out the -e. Add -d. love loved save saved

3) verbs ending in -y verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u):Add -ed. play - played Change 'y' to 'i' after a consonant. Then add -ed. worry - worried irregular verbs 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Special verbs in the Present Perfect

1) have as a full verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I have had a book. he, she, it: He has had a book. He has not had a book. Has he had a book? I have not had a book. Have I had a book? negative sentence question

2) be as a full verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I have been to Britain. he, she, it: He has been to Britain. He has not been to Britain. Has he been to Britain? I have not been to Britain. Have I been to Britain? negative sentence question

3) do as a full verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I have done an exercise. he, she, it: He has done an exercise. He has not done an exercise. Has he done an exercise? I have not done an exercise. Have I done an exercise? negative sentence question

NOTE: We sometimes use short forms for have (has) with affirmative or negative sentences.

Present Perfect - Diagram

We use the Present Perfect for actions in the past which have a connection to the present. The time when these actions happened is not important.

We use the Present Perfect for recently completed actions.

We use the Present Perfect for actions beginning in the past and still continuing.

Long forms and short forms in the Present Perfect

We often use short forms of the auxiliaries. The Present Perfect is formed with the auxiliary have. So short forms are used frequently with the Present Perfect. affirmative long form I, we, you, they: I have gone he, she, it: he has gone short form I, we, you, they: I've gone he, she, it: he's gone

negative (have not) long form I, we, you, they: I have not gone he, she, it: he has not gone short form I, we, you, they: I haven't gone or I've not gone he, she, it: he hasn't gone or he's not gone

Present Perfect Progressive - Use

1) Actions beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time) I have been waiting for you for three hours. (It was a long time.)

2) Recently completed actions (focus is on the action) She has been watching too many videos. (It was too much time.)

Signal words
all day, the whole day, since, for Questions with how long

Form
have/has + been + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I have been playing handball. I've been playing handball. Negative sentences: I have not been playing handball. I've not been playing handball. I haven't been playing handball. Questions: Have I been playing handball? Have you been playing handball? You have not been playing handball. You've not been playing handball. You haven't been playing handball. You have been playing handball. You've been playing handball.

Present Perfect Progressive - Signal words

There are no unambiguous signal words for the Present Perfect Progressive. We often use expressions of time with this tense. The following words/phrases can indicate that the Present Perfect Progressive should be used: all day the whole day since for Questions with how long

Form of the Present Perfect Progressive

We form the Present Perfect with have, been and the verb with the ending -ing. have/has + been + infinitive + -ing has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it) have: all other forms

Affirmative sentences
I/we/you/they have been playing volleyball. He/she/it has been playing volleyball. NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

Negative sentences
I/we/you/they have not been playing volleyball. He/she/it has not been playing volleyball. NOTE: We use has + not in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

Questions
Have I/we/you/they been playing volleyball? Has he/she/its been playing volleyball? NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

Present Perfect Progressive - Spelling

Be careful with some words when adding -ing to the infinitive. 1) consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word Double the consonant. sit he has been sitting put - he has been putting If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it: benefit - I have been benefiting (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.) In British English we double one -l at the end of the word: travel - I have been travelling

2) one -e at the end of the word Leave out the -e. write he has been writing take he has been taking BUT: double e: add -ing flee he has been fleeing

3) verbs ending in -ie Change 'ie' to 'y'. lie - she has been lying

4) verbs ending in -c Change 'c' to 'ck'. picnic - she has been picnicking

Special verbs in the Present Perfect Progressive

We do not normally use verbs which express a state in this tense. We prefer verbs which describe a process. A verb which expresses an action (dynamic verb) can form both the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Progressive:

Present Perfect: I have visited him in Canada. (The focus is on the result. - I have been there and I have met him.) Present Perfect Progressive: I have been visiting him in Canada. (The focus is on the duration of the action.) A verb which expresses a state can only form the Present Perfect: I have believed him. Have a look at verbs which are not used in progressive forms (state verbs). 1) do as a main verb affirmative sentence I, we, you, they: I have been doing an exercise. he, she, it: He has been doing an exercise. He has not been doing an exercise. Has he been doing an exercise? I have not been doing an exercise. Have I been doing an exercise? negative sentence question

NOTE: We can subtitute haven't been doing (hasn't been doing) for have not been doing (has not been doing)

Present Perfect Progressive - Diagram

We use the Present Perfect Progressive for actions in the past which have a connection to the present. We use the Present Perfect for actions beginning in the past and still continuing. The focus is on the action.

We use the Present Perfect Progressive for recently completed actions. The focus is on the action.

Past Perfect - Use

1) Together with the Simple Past Mary had read the book before she watched a film.

2) the past equivalent of the Present Perfect He had played hockey.

Signal words
no unambiguous ones

Form
had + past participle

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I had played hockey. I'd played hockey. Negative sentences: I had not played hockey. I'd not played hockey. I hadn't played hockey. Questions: Had you played hockey? Had you played hockey? You had not played hockey. You'd not played hockey. You hadn't played hockey. You had played hockey. You'd played hockey.

Attention
Past Perfect - Simple Past The match had started when he arrived. Simple Past - Simple Past The match started when he arrived

Past Perfect - Signal words

There are no unambiguous "signal words" in the Past Perfect. We often use the Past Perfect together with the Simple Past. Watch out when two actions in the past are combined: first action (completed before the second one began): Past Perfect second action: Simple Past

Form of the Past Perfect

We form the Past Perfect with had and the past participle (regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs) had + past participle We use the same form of the auxiliary had every time regardless the subject. past participle: - regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Affirmative sentences
regular verbs I/you/he/she/it/we/they had played hockey. irregular verbs I/you/he/she/it/we/they had gone home.

Negative sentences
regular verbs I/you/he/she/it/we/they had not played hockey. irregular verbs I/you/he/she/it/we/they had not gone home.

Questions
regular verbs Had I/you/he/she/it/we/they played hockey? irregular verbs Had I/you/he/she/it/we/they gone home?

Past Perfect - Spelling

You have to know the irregular verbs when using the Past Perfect. The spelling rules are the same like in the Present Perfect. So please see Present Perfect - Spelling

Special verbs in the Past Perfect

1) have as a full verb affirmative sentence negative sentence question

alle forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they): He had had a book. He had not had a book. Had he had a book?

2) be as a full verb affirmative sentence negative sentence question

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they): He had been to Britain. He had not been to Britain. Had he been to Britain?

3) do as a full verb affirmative sentence negative sentence question

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they): He had done an exercise. He had not done an exercise. Had he done an exercise?

NOTE: We sometimes use short/contracted forms for had with affirmative or negative sentences.

Past Perfect - Diagram

We use the Past Perfect for an action which was completed before a special point of time in the past.

We often use the Past Perfect together with the Simple Past. The action which was completed before the other action began is put into Past Perfect.

Long forms and short forms in the Past Perfect

We often use short forms of the auxiliaries. The Past Perfect is formed with the auxiliary had. affirmative long form short form

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) I had gone I'd gone

negative (had not) long form short form

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) I had not gone I hadn't gone or I'd not gone

going to-future - English Grammar Use

1) planned actions in the future We are going to sing at the party.

2) You are certain that sth. is going to happen in the future. Look at that car! It is going to crash into the yellow one.

Signal words
no unambiguous ones

Form
to be (am, are, is) + going to + infinitive

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I am going to play handball. I'm going to play handball. Negative sentences: You are not going to play handball. You're not going to play handball. You aren't going to play handball. You are going to play handball. You're going to play handball.

I am not going to play handball. I'm not going to play handball.

Questions: Am I going to play handball? see: Questions in going to-future ATTENTION!! Do not mix up with the Present Progressive! going to-future He's going to read the book. Present Progressive He's reading the book. Are you going to play handball?

going to-future - Signal words

There are no "clear" signal words for the going to-future. So analyse the type of the action in the sentence. Then decide which future form should be used in the sentence. Have a look at the use of the going to-future

Form of the going to-future

We use a form of to be (am, are or is), going to and the infinitive of the verb. to be (am, are, is) + going to + infinitive

Affirmative sentences
Example:

I am going to play handball. He/she/it is going to play handball. We/you/they are going to play handball. NOTE: Use am with I, is with he, she, it and with all other pronouns are. We often use short forms in affirmative sentences in the going to-future:

Negative sentences
Example: I am not going to play handball. He/she/it is not going to play handball. We/you/they are not going to play handball. NOTE: We often use short forms in negative sentences in the going to-future.

Questions
In the going to-future we put the auxiliary (am, are or is) before the subject (Auxiliary - Subject - going to - Verb - Rest). Example: Am I going to play handball? Is he/she/it going to play handball? Are we/you/they going to play handball?

going to-future - Special

We can substitute the going to-future with the Present Progressive when using an expression of time. There is only little difference between the two sentences. We are watching a tennis match at 2 o'clock. We are going to watch a tennis match at 2 o'clock.

Wo usually use the Present Progressive with go and come rather than the going to-future: I am going to go to the zoo. -> I am going to the zoo. I am going to come to the zoo. -> I am coming to the zoo.

Short forms in the going to-future

We often use short/contracted forms with the going to-future. affirmative long form I am going to buy he, she, it: he is going to buy we, you, they: we are going to buy short form I'm going to buy he, she, it: he's going to buy we, you, they: we're going to buy

negative (not after to be) long form I am not going to buy he, she, it: he is not going to buy we, you, they: we are not going to buy short form I'm not going to buy he, she, it: he isn't going to buy or he's not going to buy we, you, they: we aren't going to buy or we're not going to buy

will-future/going to-future - Diagram

Both tenses are future tenses. We use the will-future for predictions, assumptions, promises and when we do something spontaneously. We use the going to-future with planned actions.

Use
1) Future actions happen without the speaker's intention The sun will shine tomorrow.

2) Predictions, assumptions I think Sue will arrive in Paris at 6 pm.

3) Spontaneous actions Hang on! I'll have a word with you.

Signal words will-future - Signal words

There are no "clear" signal words for the will-future. Words like "tomorrow" only indicate that a future form is used. So you have to think of the type of the action in the sentence. Then you can decide which future form should be used in the sentence. Have a look at the use of the will-future.

Form of the will-future

We form the will-future with the auxiliary will and the infinitive of the verb. We use the the same form of the verb every time regardless the subject. In British English we sometimes use shall instead of will for the first persons (I/we). will + infinitive

Affirmative sentences
Example: He will play football. NOTE: short/contracted form in the will-future: He'll play football.

Negative sentences
Example: He will not play football. NOTE: short/contracted forms in the will-future: He won't play football. or He'll not play football.

Questions
Example: Will he play football? see: Questions in will-future

will-future - Special
We sometimes use shall instead of will in the British English in the first person singular and the first person plural. In spoken (and in written) English more and more will is used in affirmative sentences nowadays. We frequently use shall in questions: Shall I carry this box?

We use the will future in written language (especially in newspapers), where in spoken English we often use the going to-future. spoken: The headmaster is going to close the old gym. written: The headmaster will close the old gym

Short forms in the will-future

We often use short forms of the auxiliaries. The will-future is formed with the auxiliary will, so short forms are very frequent. The auxiliary will can only be contracted when it is followed by an infinitive. Example: Who will help me? - I will.

Here the auxiliary will must not be contracted. affirmative long form short form

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) he will read he'll read

negative (do not) long form short form

all forms (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) he will not read he won't read or he'll not read

will-future/going to-future - Diagram

Both tenses are future tenses. We use the will-future for predictions, assumptions, promises and when we do something spontaneously. We use the going to-future with planned actions.