Will and won't

Objective & content

This grammar sheet teaches will and won't for predictions: will + verb (Cars will fly.), won't (It won't snow.), questions with Will ...? and short answers (Yes, they will. No, it won't.). Pupils read a video call between Zuri and Elliot about their English project, life in 2050, find the missing words and read the rule, given in a box. By the end, they can say what they think will and won't happen, and ask and answer questions about the future.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 is the video call, with a picture of Zuri and of Elliot: Elliot thinks cars will fly and a robot will be the teacher, Zuri thinks cars will drive alone, and Elliot wants to live on a space station. Pupils find five missing words in sentences from the call. The rule, given in a box in short lines, follows: will is the same with every subject, the verb after it has no -s and no to, the short forms are won't, I'll and they'll, and will comes before the subject in a question. Page 2 has eight sentences where pupils tick the right form, six predictions to write with the verb in brackets, five predictions to make negative and five questions about Elliot's ideas to answer with short answers. Page 3 has four sentences to turn into questions, then a crazy weather forecast (four seasons in one week): pupils match the start of each prediction with its end. Last, they write two predictions of their own, about the weather tomorrow or their life in 2050. Every exercise opens with a worked example, except this free writing. Contracted and full forms are both right.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Ask the class "Will cars fly in 2050? Will you live in space?" and write a few answers on the board.
2. (10 min) Read the video call aloud; pupils find the missing words.
3. (5 min) Read the rule in the box with the class; pupils find won't, I'll and they'll in the text.
4. (10 min) Page 2: pupils tick the right forms, write the predictions, then make them negative.
5. (5 min) Page 2: short answers about Elliot's ideas.
6. (10 min) Page 3: pupils make the questions, match the weather forecast, then write their two predictions.
7. (5 min) Check with the answer key on page 4.

Adaptations

[S] Pupils read the video call aloud in pairs, one as Zuri and one as Elliot, before the tasks.

[A] Pupils write three predictions about their school in 2050.

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil. Pages 4 and 5 are the answer key and teacher notes: keep them. Pupils need the present simple and the imperative, and the words for the weather, school and home. To take it further, pupils write a weather forecast for next week and read it to the class like a TV presenter.