Summary of English Language Skills: Jobs & Future Tense

## Introduction This guide covers two key topics from the unit: **phrasal verbs** (compound verbs) and the **Be going to** structure for expressing future plans in English. It's designed for high school students and presents rules, practical examples, and practice exercises. > Definition: A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or adverb that changes the meaning of the base verb. > Definition: The **be going to** structure is used to talk about future plans or predictions based on present evidence. ## Part 1: Grammar — Be going to (Future Plans) ### Basic Structure The general form is: person + verb 'to be' + going to + base form of the verb. - Affirmative: subject + am/is/are + going to + verb - I am going to study. - He is going to play. - We are going to travel. - Negative: subject + am/is/are + not + going to + verb - I am not going to study. - She is not going to study. - Interrogative: am/is/are + subject + going to + verb ? - Are you going to study? — Yes, I am. - Am I going to study? — Yes, you are. ### Usage and Nuances - Intended Plans: I am going to visit my aunt next weekend. - Predictions with Evidence: Look at the clouds. It is going to rain. > Note: In spoken English, contractions are often used: I’m, he’s, we’re. ### Comparison Table (Be going to vs. Present Continuous for Future) | Usage | Be going to | Present Continuous | |---|---:|---:| | Plans/Intentions | Yes | Yes (fixed plans) | | Predictions with evidence | Yes | Not necessarily | | Fixed arrangements and schedules | No | Yes (My flight leaves at 6) | ### Practical Examples - Affirmative: My sister is going to study at Oxford University. - Negative: I am not going to buy a car tomorrow. - Interrogative: Are we going to spend our holidays in Switzerland next year? Fun fact: Did you know that the phrase "going to" comes from the verb "go" construction, which originally implied movement and over time evolved into a future marker in spoken English? ### Activity: Unscramble the words and write the correct form 1. going / our / holidays / next / we / spend / Switzerland / in - Answer: We are going to spend our holidays in Switzerland next year. (or) We’re going to spend our holidays in Switzerland next year. 2. friend / going / me / to / not / my / visit / best / Sunday / next - Answer: My best friend is not going to visit me next Sunday. 3. buy / car / not / I / going / a / to / tomorrow - Answer: I am not going to buy a car tomorrow. 4. Oxford University / going / at / to / sister / my / study / law - Answer: My sister is going to study law at Oxford University. ## Part 2: Phrasal Verbs > Definition: A phrasal verb combines a verb with a preposition or adverb, and its meaning can be literal or idiomatic. Useful List (English — Spanish): - climb up: to climb - check in: to check in - go back: to go back / to return - grow up: to grow up - hang around: to spend time / to hang out - look after: to look after / to take care of (someone or something) - look for: to look for / to search for - put up: to accommodate / to erect (depending on context) - take off: to take off (clothes) / to take off (plane) ### Usage with Examples - I will look after my baby brother today. - Don’t take off your sweater; it’s cold. - We can’t check in at the hotel before 10 a.m. - Teenagers often hang around with friends. - When are you going back to your hometown? ### Exercise: Complete the Sentences 1. I can't go out with you because I'm looking after my baby brother today. My parents are not home. 2. It's cold. Don't take off your sweater. 3. It's not easy to put up a tent. You must follow the instructions carefully. 4. Let's have breakfast in a café because we can't check in at our hotel before 10 am. 5. When are you going back to your hometown? 6. Teenagers make a lot of noise when they hang around with friends. 7. What do you want to be when you grow up? Did you know that many phrasal verbs don't translate word-for-word a