Ex.55 Second person interrogative: will you and other forms

Will you? often introduces a request or invitation, and sometimes a command. It is often used also to introduce questions about intentions when the situation requires an unpremeditated decision. You can have either. Which will you have? You've missed the last train. What will you do now?

For other types of intention, however, it is usually safer to use one of the other future forms: be going to, the present continuous or the future continuous (which is considered the most polite form).

Put the verbs in brackets into one of the four forms. When more than one answer is possible, this will be noted in the key.

1 Why are you taking all that bread with you? You (feed) the swans?

2 You (let) your flat again next summer?

3 You (light) the fire for me, please? Here are the matches.

4 You (wear) a tie tomorrow? ~

Oh no. Tom said, 'Come as you are.'

5 I know you don't like wearing ties, but (wear) one tomorrow, just to please me? -Yes, of course.

6 Shop assistant: You (come) this way, please?

7 You (have) something more to eat? ~ Yes, please, I'd like another sandwich.

8 You (have) anything more to eat? ~ No, because I haven't any more money.

9 You (study) computer programming at college?

10 You (speak) to Tom at the meeting tomorrow, do you think?

11 You (turn) off the TV, please? No one is watching it.

12 You (take) your exam now or in December?

13 You (listen) in to the concert this evening?

14 You (help) me with this, please? I can't lift it.

15 Hotel receptionist: You (stay) for more than one night, Mrs Jones?

16 You (lend) me your typewriter for an hour? I want to type a letter.

17 You (meet) him at the station? ~

No, we never meet him. He doesn't like being met.

18 You (come) sailing with me this afternoon? ~ No, thank you, I don't like sailing.

19 You (have) some more wine? ~ Yes, please.

20 I can't understand this letter. You (translate) it for me, Miss Pitt?

21 You (use) your camera this afternoon?— No, you can borrow it if you like.

22 You (go) to the tobacconist's? ~ Yes.-Then you (get) me twenty cigarettes?

23 You (come) to the Motor Show with me next Wednesday? ~ Thank you very much. I'd love to.

24 I'll be going abroad next week. Is there anything I can get you?-You (pass) through Paris? ~ Yes, I (spend) a few days there. ~ Then you (get) me some scent?

25 I see that you are repairing your old henhouse. You (keep) hens?

26 I've just bought my tickets. ~ You (travel) by sea or air?

27 What are all these slates for? You (repair) your roof?

28 You (hold) my parcels, please, while I put up my umbrella?

29 You (go) to Madeira as usual this summer?

30 You kindly (explain) why you didn't do what I told you?

31 You (recognize) him, do you think?

32 I've chosen a school for my son. ~

You (send) him to a public school or to a State school?

33 Passenger to bus conductor: You (tell) me where to get off, please?

34 You (go) by car? If so, would you give my brother a lift?

35 You (type) all night again? Because if so I think I'll go to a hotel.

36 You (stop) interrupting! I'll never get finished if you don't keep quiet.

Ex.56 shall and will

Shall is correct for the first person of the future simple (except when this form is used to express intention), but in the affirmative and negative will is very often used instead, i.e. we can say, 'I/we will' and 'I/we won't' instead of 'I/we shall' and 'I/we shan't'. In the interrogative will should not be used to replace shall.

There are some rather old-fashioned or formal constructions where shall is used with the second or third persons. Here shall cannot be replaced by will. Such constructions are usually avoided but a few examples have been given below.

Use will or shall to fill the spaces in the following sentences. Sometimes either could be used.

1 When you are in bed I ... be at work.

2 Who'll help me?~ I. . .

3 We will unite to resist oppression, and tyrants . . . not triumph over us. (We won't let them triumph.)

4 What... we do now? -Wait.

5 You've been a good child, and when we get home you . . . have a sweet. (I'll give you a sweet.)

6 Your father . . . hear of this. (I'll certainly tell him.)

7 ... we go to the cinema? ~ Yes, let's.

8 She . . . tell the same story over and over again, (obstinate insistence)

9 Club rule: Members . . . write the names of their guests in the book provided.

10 Theatre regulation: Persons . . . not be permitted to sit in the gangways.

11 Where ... I be in six years' time, I wonder?

12 He ... not come here again. (He refuses.)

13 He . . . not come here again. (I won't let him come.)

14 Clause in lease: The tenant ... be responsible for all repairs.

15 This kind of snake . . . not bite unless it is startled.

16 ... you have a cigarette?~ No, thanks, I don't smoke.

17 He ... play his radio very loudly, which annoys me very much. (obstinate insistence)

18 By this time next year I... be earning my own living.

19 Who . . . take this letter to the post for me?~ I. . .

20 What ... we do with all the food that's left over?

21 Do you know the way? No? Then I ... show you.

22 Where ... I put it? -Put it behind the piano.

23 Police notice: . . . anyone who witnessed the accident please ring 2222.

24 Yachts ... go round the course, passing the marks in the correct order, (extract from Yacht Racing Rules)

25 When . . . you hear the result?~ I ... not hear for another week.

26 'I ... not apologize', she said, stamping her foot.

27 Who. . . I say called?~

You needn't mention my name. He ... know who I am.

28 She . . . never do anything you tell her.

29 I ... not be here next week.

30 I... not have to do any cooking for a month. I'm going to an hotel.

31 ... I put it on your desk? ~ Please do.

32 I ... fill up this form! The questions are impertinent.~ If you don't, madam, you . . . (negative) get your visa.

33 ... you stand quite still for a moment, please?

34 ... I put more salt in the stew?

35 A dog . . . obey his owner but a cat... not.

36 I ... know whether you are telling the truth or not.

Ex.57 Time clauses (conditionals)

The future simple is not used in time clauses, the simple present tense being used instead.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense (present or future).

1 When he (return) I'll give him the key.

2 He'll be ready as soon as you (be).

3 I'll stay in bed till the clock (strike) seven.

4 She will be delighted when she (hear) this.

5 When the laundry comes I (have) some clean handkerchiefs.

6 I shan't buy tomatoes till the price (come) down.

7 Stay here till the lights (turn) green.

8 When it (get) cold I'll light the fire.

9 The lift (not start) until you press that button.

10 She'll have to behave better when she (go) to school.

11 When you look at yourself in the glass you (see) what I mean.

12 He (be) here before you go.

13 I (lend) you my cassette recorder whenever you want it.

14 He (wake) up when we turn the lights on.

15 He (ring) us up when he arrives in England?

16 He will wash up before he (go) to bed.

17 I won't come to London till the bus strike (be) over.

18 I (give) the children their dinner before he (come) home.

19 They will be astonished when they (see) how slowly he works.

20 I'll pay you when I (get) my cheque.

21 I (go) on doing it until he tells me to stop.

22 I'll buy that house when I (have) enough money.

23 You (fall) rapidly through the air till your parachute opens.

24 We'll have to stay here till the tide (go) out.

25 When the Queen (arrive) the audience will stand up.

26 When the fog (lift) we'll be able to see where we are.

27 The refrigerator (go on) making that noise till we have it repaired.

28 As soon as the holidays begin this beach (become) very crowded.

29 The car (not move) till you take the brake off.

30 The alarm bell (go on) ringing till you press this button.

31 As soon as she (learn) to type I'll get her a job.

32 Look before you (leap). (proverb)

33 We (have) to stay on this desert island till we can repair our boat.

34 Don't count on a salary increase before you actually (get) it.

35 When winter (begin) the swallows will fly away to a warmer country.

36 We can't make any decision till he (arrive) here.

Ex.58 The future perfect tense

Put the verbs in brackets into the future perfect tense.

1 In a fortnight's time we (take) our exam.

2 I (finish) this book by tomorrow evening.

3 By this time tomorrow we (have) our injections.

4 By the end of next year I (be) here twenty-five years.

5 I'll still be here next summer but Tom (leave).

6 I (finish) this job in twenty minutes.

7 By next winter they (build) four houses in that field.

8 When we reach Valparaiso we (sail) all round the world.

9 At the rate he is going he (spend) all his money by the time he is twenty-one.

10 By this time next year I (save) £250.

11 By the time we get to the party everything (be) eaten.

12 The train (leave) before we reach the station.

13 If I continue with my diet I (lose) 10 kilos by the end of the month.

14 By the end of my university course I (attend) 1,200 lectures.

15 By the end of this week my illness (cost) me £100.

16 By the time that he leaves school his parents (spend) £25,000 on his education.

17 By the end of the term 1 (read) all twelve volumes.

18 When you come back I (finish) all the housework.

19 The police (hear) of the theft by this time.

20 We (drink) all that wine by the end of the year.

21 On the fourth of next month he (be) in prison for ten years.

22 When we reach Crewe we (do) half of the journey.

23 At this rate you (break) all the wine glasses by the end of the month.

24 If we don't hurry the sun (rise) before we reach the top.

25 I'm going to Hyde Park to hear the people making speeches. ~ You'll be too late. By the time you get there they (finish) their speeches and everybody (go) home.

26 By midnight he (be) unconscious for forty-eight hours.

27 By the end of the month 5,000 people (see) this exhibition.

28 By next April I (pay) £3,000 in income tax.

29 I suppose that when I come back in ten years' time all these old houses (be) pulled down.

30 On 21 October they (be) married for twenty-five years.

31 After this performance I (see) Hamlet twenty-two times.

32 The strike leader said, 'By midnight 500 men (come) out on strike.'

33 At your present rate you (burn) all that coal by the end of the month.

34 The treasurer said, 'By the end of the year all our debts (be paid) off.'

35 Tourist: We've only got five hours in Rome; we are leaving at six;

but I'm sure that we (see) everything of importance by then.

36 Householder to Zoo: One of your elephants is in my garden eating my tomatoes.

Zoo official: The elephant keeper will be with you in half an hour. Householder: Your elephant (eat) all my tomatoes by then.

Ex.59 Time clauses (conditionals)

The future perfect tense is not used in time clauses, the present perfect being used instead.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense, using the future, present, or present perfect. Compare 1 to 5 with 1 to 5 in Exercise 58.

1 When we (take) our exam we'll have a holiday.

2 When I (finish) the book I'll lend it to you.

3 When we (have) our injections I expect we'll feel awful.

4 When I (be) here for a year I'll ask for a rise.

5 When Tom (go) I'll tell you a secret.

6 By the time he (get) back from his holiday the milkman will have left twenty-one bottles of milk outside his door.

7 Don't drive at more than 50 k.p.h. till your car (do) 4,000 kilometres.

8 When you (do) 4,000 kilometres you can drive it at 70 k.p.h.

9 When you open the safe you (see) a small black box.

10 When we (have) lunch we'll go for a walk.

11 When the bell rings I (take) the meat out of the oven.

12 I'll bolt all the doors before I (go) to bed.

13 When we (see) the cathedral we'll go to the museum.

14 We'll have to stay up this tree till the bull (go) away.

15 He (not let) you out till you have finished your homework.

16 As soon as I hear from him I (let) you know.

17 My father will be furious when he (see) what you have done.

18 You (not hear) the sound of the explosion till after you have seen the flash.

19 These gates will remain shut until the train (pass).

20 When he (sell) all his newspapers he'll go home.

21 We can't have a fire here until we (sweep) the chimney.

22 You (get) a shock when you open that box.

23 When you are eighteen your father (give) you a latchkey.

24 Don't jump out of the aeroplane until the pilot (say) 'Go!'

25 I can't leave the country till the police (return) my passport.

26 When a bottle of champagne (be) opened for twenty-four hours the wine is not fit to drink.

27 Hotel receptionist: When you (sign) the hotel register the porter will show you your room.

28 You (not know) how good oysters are till you have tasted one.

29 That road will not be safe till the floods (subside).

30 When everybody (leave) the park the park-keeper will lock the gates.

31 When we have seen the Chamber of Horrors we (have) a cup of tea.

32 When you (have) something to eat you'll feel better.

33 I (stay) in court till the jury returns.

34 You cannot become a member of this club until you (make) a parachute descent.

35 When the boa constrictor (eat) the goat he will become very lethargic.

36 As soon as everybody has gone to bed the mice (come) out of their holes.

Ex.60 would and should

Put should or would in the spaces in the following sentences.

1 ... you mind opening the door?

2 ... you like another cup of coffee?

3 He insisted that the newspaper . . . print an apology.

4 The old admiral ... sit for hours watching the ships.

5 ... you be so good as to keep an eye on my house while I am away?

6 I ... say nothing about it if I were you.

7 That dress doesn't suit you; you . . . buy another.

8 If you pulled the communication cord the train . . . stop and you . . . be fined.

9 They went to the cinema at 2.30, so they ... be back here by 6.00.

10 ... you please help me with this?

11 It is very strange that he ... think that.

12 I wish he ... not play his radio so loudly.

13 ... you be very kind and lend me your typewriter?

14 I ... like to know where you have been.

15 It was decided that the matter ... be referred to a special committee.

16 Perhaps you ... be kind enough to let us know about this.

17 If the telephone . . . ring please say that I'll be back at six.

18 ... you like to come or ... you rather stay here?

19 There are too many accidents. Everyone ... be much more careful.

20 Their method was always the same; they . . . wait till their victim had left the bank and then go up to him and ask for a light.

21 What are you doing here? You ... be in bed.

22 It is essential that this matter ... be kept out of the newspapers.

23 He suggested that the money ... be raised by public subscription.

24 If you . . . change your mind, this address will always find me.

25 If this machine ... at any time fail to give complete satisfaction please post us the enclosed card.

26 He changed his name so that nobody . . . know what he had been before.

27 If he offered me money I ... refuse.

28 I wish you . . . not ask so many questions.

29 He ordered that Tom . . . leave the house at once.

30 I ... be most grateful if you ... do this for me.

31 He is anxious that everyone . . . understand why he acted as he did.

32 You . . . not argue with your father; you . . . obey him.

33 He was a very patient cat; he ... sit for hours beside a mousehole.

34 ... the pain return take one of these pills.

35 It is most important that I... see him at once.

36 He didn't dare (to) sell the ring in case someone . . . ask where he

got it.

Ex.61 would and should

Put should or would in the spaces in the following sentences:

1 It is only fair that you . . . know the truth about your own father and it is better that you . . . hear it from me than from some stranger.

2 If you . . . kindly wait here a moment I'll ring the director's office.

3 ... these measures fail to restore order harsher restrictions will have to be imposed.

4 The rocks were icy and he was terrified lest he ... slip.

5 If Pierre liked any dish he ... send for the chef and congratulate him, and if anything was wrong he ... send for the manager and complain. ~

An Englishman . . . never dare to do that; he ... be too shy.

6 I was just burying the bones in the garden when who . . . look over the hedge but the village policeman.

Future forms

7 When he found out that the man had smallpox he urged that every effort... be made to contact his fellow passengers.

8 I wish you ... go out or sit down. How . . . you like it if I kept tramping round when you were trying to work?

9 I've just received an anonymous threatening letter. What... I do about it? ~ I ... take it to the police if I were you.

10 The committee thinks that you have been guilty of disloyalty. ~

I don't know why the committee . . . think that.

11 I can't repair it now but if you . . . like to leave it with me I'll see

what can be done.

12 You complained to the manager, of course?~

No, I asked to speak to him but he ... not come to the phone. -You . . . have insisted.

13 Where will he be now? ~

Oh, he ... be there by now; the flight only takes an hour.

14 If your main parachute . . . fail to open, your second one will open automatically.

15 I suggested that Tom . . . walk on and try to get help while I stayed with the injured man but he ... not hear of this.

16 I am amazed that you . . . even suggest offering bribes.

17 This passage doesn't lead anywhere. It is odd that no one . . . have noticed this before.

18 ... you mind not smoking; this is the petrol store. ~ Then there ... be a 'No Smoking' notice.

19 Can't I trust you not to read my letters? It is ridiculous that I... have to lock things up in my own house.

20 He said he wished I ... not come so often.

21 This train is entirely automatic; there is no driver; but a mechanic is always available in case anything ... go wrong.

22 She had one rather boring habit; she . . . insist on telling people about her dreams.

23 He recommended that the trouble makers in the factory ... be dismissed.

24 It is absurd that women ... be paid less than men for doing the same work.

25 I ... rather you asked him. Last time I tried to speak to him he ... not listen.

26 When he went out he left the radio on so that his parents . . . think that he was still in his room.

27 He was determined that his children ... go to the best schools available.

28 Tom says you are foolish to take such a risk. ~ He . . .! {That is typical of him.}

29 When four hours had passed and there was still no sign of him she began to be worried lest he ... have met with some accident.

30 People are very fond of saying, 'This ... be stopped', or,

'Something ... be done about this', but if they were the government they ... not know how to stop it or what to do about it.

31 It is amazing that the Leaning Tower of Pisa . . . have stood for so long.

32 He resigned from the government in order that everyone . . . know that he disapproved of the new policy.

33 If I had had his education and he had had mine perhaps I ... be sitting at his desk and he ... be out here sweeping the streets.

34 He was a terribly obstinate child, who . . . never obey the simplest order, but . . . argue every point till she nearly went mad.

35 Robinson said, 'Why . . . Smith get all the credit when someone else has done all the work?'

36 All day he ... sit in his office immaculately dressed, but at night he ... put on dirty ragged clothing and roam about the streets with disreputable companions.

5. Conditionals