Memorandum

To: Dr Rees Powell From: Dennis Mitchell

Date: 15 April 19 __

Rees,

Just to keep you up to date on plans for the AGM. We think there will be about 200 shareholders attending, but of course there might be more. Unfortunately, Paul Greer is flying to Paris on the 2nd May, and he thinks he's going to be late getting back because he's got a lot of business to attend to while he's there, so I'm going to ask Karen Faulkner to take his place. I think we should include a short report on international developments. Shall I invite Bob Yule to prepare something?

On a slightly different note, I'm meeting Nigel Hall from JPB tomorrow, so I'll give him our latest prices then.

See you on Thursday. Dennis.

1. When does the meeting start?

2. Who is giving the opening address?

3. How many shareholders will there be?

4. Where is Paul Greer flying to on the 2nd?

5. Does Paul think he is going to be back in time?

6. Who is Dennis going to ask?

7. What does Dennis offer to do?

8. What is Dennis doing tomorrow?

Find examples of different future forms from the previous exercise , according to the following functions:

Talking about time-tabled events.

Talking about plans and arrangements.

Talking about intentions.

Predicting.

Reacting (offering, deciding, promising etc.)

LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.

In English we can use different forms and functions of the future to show that we are looking at the same event in different ways.

Examples:

The meeting starts at 3.00 p.m. (time-tabled event)

Mr Fujita is coming to the meeting. (fixed arrangement)

I'm going to ask Mr Fujita about the contract during the meeting.

(intention)

Look at this agenda! We're going to be in this meeting for hours!

(prediction with immediate evidence)

I expect about ten people will come to the meeting. (prediction)

I’ll come to the meeting tomorrow. (deciding/ offering / promising)

Look at the conversations below, and fill each gap with the correct future form. (Short forms, for example, I'll, take one gap.)

Deciding to get married.

A: ___ you many me, Julie?

B: Of course I ___,Frank.

Announcing.

A: ___ ___ ___ get married!

B: When?

A: We haven't decided yet

Talking about a fixed arrangement.

A: Have you heard the news! We've fixed a date. ___ ___ married

on the 5th of August!

Offering to help.

A: Have you got a photographer arranged yet?

B: Er, no. We haven't.

A: ___ take some photos during the wedding if you like.

Predicting.

A: Are you looking forward to Frank and Julie's wedding?

B: Oh, yes. I'm sure ___ be a lovely day.

A: Hmm. I think ___ ___ ___ be rather disorganized, actually.

They haven’t prepared anything yet and the wedding's this weekend.

Time-tabled events.

A: What time is it?

B: Don’t worry. It's only 930.

A: But me wedding ___ at 11.00! And the flowers haven’t arrived yet!

Look at the situations below. Write something you can say in each situation.

1. Someone is carrying some heavy bags. Offer to help him/her.

2. Say when your next English lesson is.

3. Talk about your plans for this weekend.

4. Talk about your next holiday.

5. promise to meet a friend.

6. Someone offers you a drink. Decide what to have.

7. Say when you start work tomorrow.

8. Say how you intend to improve your English.

9. You see your dog running in he middle of a road full of fast cars. What do you say?

THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE.

The use of the Past Simple:

A past activity or situation.

Examples:

Last month, the company results were much better. They installed new

machinery in the factory. Costs fell and productivity rose. Sales

increased by ten per cent.

I lived in Italy when I was a child.

The new Production Manager started last week.

Where did you stay?

Why didn’t you phone me on Monday?

He didn’t like classical music when he was younger.

He went to France for his holiday last year.

Susan bought a new car in January.

Did you have a good trip to Paris?

James didn't come to the meeting yesterday.

They didn't have time to finish the report.

He was ill yesterday so he didn’t go to his office.

Useful time phrases with the past:

last Monday, last week, last year, yesterday, in July, in 1998, two weeks ago.