Thank you, thank you for coming
Today I'd like to introduce you to a truly magical new product
It's going to change the future
Many years ago we launched "Will"
an extraordinary product so easy to use
A modal verb which has an infinitive verb afterwards. All the time
Even with he/she/it it doesn't matter, always an infinitive verb
So amazing and easy to use that everyone understands it's a future tense
And it's just awesome
but we found it has problems
ESL students can use it too much
and in some cases where it sounds unnatural
So how do we fix this?
Well first we need to understand when we can use will and when it's most appropriate
Here are some situations where will works fantastically
It still sounds natural and it's great
Showing that you're happy and willing to do something
Ok I'll pay for dinner ...again!
To make an offer
Don't worry I'll carry your bags for you
With possibilities and suppositions
Maybe I'll go out tonight
I suppose he'll join us
It's possible that it will change
To make promises: I will love you forever
To express beliefs
Do you think you'll pass your exam?
I think you'll be fine
and use it to show your determination to do something
I will get married before next year
so that was "Will"
and it just works
but more commonly now we use this thing called "be going to"
and it's simply unbelievable
it's simple
its elegant
and its natural
it's more natural in almost every situation
It's more commonly used than any other future tense
and it comes in a variety of three beautiful verb forms for you to choose from
depending on the subject
I am going to
You / We / They are going to
He / She / It is going to
it's simple
its elegant
and its natural
and this was how we solve the problem of "Will"
For your plans we don't use "Will" anymore
We use "be going to" for future plans and past plans
"I AM going to eat pizza" that's a future plan
"I WAS going to eat pizza" that's a past plan but it changed
So for example:
"Yesterday I WAS going to eat pizza, but then I remembered I'm on a diet!"
You make your decision, you have a plan
Use "be going to"
it's simple
it's elegant
and its natural
But what else?
We have "Be" + "ing" the present continuous
You now have the ability to add more certainty to your plans
You've made your decision, you have a plan
It's 100% definite it's not going to change
well maybe it will change
but in your head for the moment it's 100%
For example you're walking to the supermarket and you're thinking
"I'm going to eat pizza tonight" That's a good plan
You go into the supermarket, and you buy a pizza
Now it's a definite plan
This is very exciting I want you to see what happens to this sentence
"I'm going to eat pizza tonight" It's a great plan, and that's fine
"I'm eating pizza tonight" "Be" + "ing" That's 100% certainty to your plan
"Are you coming out tonight?" "No, I'm staying home I'm eating pizza..
...and I'm watching Netflix and chilling"
He's chilling!
But again we can always simply use "be going to"
In almost every case
it's simple
it's elegant
and it's natural
These are not three separate times, they're all future tenses
and now we've added all of these functions into our new product
we're super proud of it we're super excited
and we're calling it "Future Assistant"
and now I'm so excited to show you how future assistant can
...and WILL...
help with your future
Future Assistant, what am I going to do next?
*Bloop bloop* You're going to show a presentation of my abilities
Future Assistant works perfectly in the home
It connects all of your lights, your heating, your electricity, your water, your fridge,
your windows and doors
and it can plan your future using the most appropriate future tense
Let's take a look at Future Assistant in action
Future Assistant can make offers
"Future Assistant I'm cold" *Bloop bloop* I'll turn up the heat
Thank You Future Assistant
You are welcome
You smell good
Show suppositions:
*Bloop bloop* I guess you'll be staying in tonight because you don't have any friends
A willingness to help you:
Future Assistant can you send my mum an "I love you" message
*Bloop bloop* Sure I'll do that right now
Your mum's hot
You want to make plans? Future Assistant is there to help
It's so easy, you make a plan, you tell Future Assistant
Future Assistant, I'm meeting Johnny at 5:00 tomorrow
*Bloop bloop* Got it beautiful
Remember how "be" + "ing" the Present Continuous
Can imply a more definite plan
Watch this!
Future Assistant, what am I wearing tonight?
*Bloop bloop* Don't worry you wearing that black dress that you love
Your butt looks great in that
Thank You Future Assistant!
This next function got our so excited in the office
Future Assistant now ships with a "Shall" function!
"Shall" An offer in the question form
and not in modern English for giving commands
Like "You shall open the window" That doesn't work
and it sounds too formal and to historical for declarations
For example
"You shall not pass!"
Gandalf!
Yeah no okay okay. We're not Gandalf
so for us regular humans
"Shall" as a command sounds very strange
and the question is usually inclusive of the speaker
"Shall I...?"
"Shall we...?
An offer or suggestion perhaps
Let's have a look!
*bloop bloop
bloop bloop bloop
bloop*
Future Assistant I'm a bit warm
shall I turn the heat off and open a window?
Yes please
*Bloop bloop* Shall we watch a movie?
yeah sure!
Put me closer to you
*Bloop bloop* Yeah that's it
Oh and there's one last thing
The present simple
We know the present simple from everyday actions
But when you're talking about schedules, timetables, your flights, your trips
We can use present simple
And now with Future Assistant
all of your future schedules your trips your flights your bookings
they're given to you in the present simple
Let's have a look at that in action!
Future Assistant what am i doing today?
*Bloop bloop* You're flying to Paris today, your flight leaves at 7
and it's your sister's birthday tomorrow
Don't forget it, babe!
*Bloop bloop* your sister's hot!
now for marriage proposals we still couldn't get "be going to" to sound natural
So we still use "Will" in that question "Will you marry me?"
But for almost every other situation, "be going to"
It's the way to the future
it's simple
it's elegant
and it's natural!
Thank you!