Difference between will and going to

by funtalk | Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

When we want to speak in the future tense in English, we are faced with different verb tenses that we can use, the most common being will and be going to. But how can we know which one to use in each case? In this article we reveal all the secrets and tricks so that you can know which future verb form to use on each occasion. Let’s get started!

Expressing the future in English

When we want to express a future situation in English, we can use the future simple and continuous, or the future perfect and future perfect continuous. When we speak in the simple future, the forms be going to and will are the most used. However, there are some nuances that differentiate the two.

Differences in use

We use the form be going to to describe future plans, i.e., those that have been previously decided at the time of speaking, for example:

• I am going to sell my car. I am going to sell my car.
• I am going to watch TV tonight. I will watch TV tonight.

We can also use the form be going to to draw attention to something that will happen at the moment we are speaking:

• Be careful! The door is going to hurt your hand. Watch out! The door will hurt your hand.

The form will, on the other hand, is used to express spontaneity, that is, to talk about decisions we have made at that precise moment.

• I’m very tired. I think I will take a nap. I am very tired. I think I’ll take a nap.

Likewise, we also use will to make promises, predictions, obvious facts about the future and voluntary actions. Let’s take a look at it:

To make promises:

• I promise i will call when i arrive. I promise I will call when I get there

To make predictions based on experience and opinion:

• It will be an awesome trip. It will be a fantastic trip.

Obvious facts about the future:

• If you study, you will pass the exams. If you study, you will pass your exams.

Voluntary actions:

• Will you help me clean? Will you help me clean up?

In the case of predictions, you should know that going to can also be used for them. However, these must be based on current evidence, so we cannot confuse the two cases:

• Look at the sky. It is going to rain. Look at the sky. It’s going to rain.

We can make this prediction based on the state of the sky at the current time only. On the other hand, if we say:

• I think Barça will win the match. I think Barça will win the match.

We use the will form, because we rely on previous experiences and also express our opinion.

Forms of will and be going to

Grammatically, both verb forms present differences in conjugation, as well as in writing.

Usually, will is contracted with the pronoun of the sentence, that is, with the person who performs the action.

• I’ll be there for you. I will be there for you.
• I promise i’ll help you later. I promise I will help you later.

In the case of going to, we find the contraction gonna, which is usually used in more informal situations:

• She’s gonna fly to London. She will fly to London.
• I’m gonna make a cake. I will make a cake.

Status verbs

by funtalk | Apr 19, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

State verbs are verbs that do not refer to an action per se, but rather to emotions, feelings, thoughts and opinions. What you should keep in mind when you want to use one of these verbs is that they behave grammatically differently from the others. In today’s article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about state verbs and how you should use them.

Difference between state and action verbs

As their name indicates, action verbs describe things that are carried out, i.e. actions:

• I play piano. I play the piano.
• She is singing a song. She is singing a song.

State verbs, on the other hand, do not refer to actions per se, but to emotions or thoughts that the subject of the sentence has:

• I have two pianos. I have two pianos.
• She believes in you. She believes in you.

What state verbs are there

There is a list of all the status verbs that exist, although our recommendation is that you learn the most important ones in each category. In addition, as is often the case in the English language, there are exceptions in which the same verb can be considered both an action verb and a state verb, so you should be aware of the context:

• Verbs of status and possession: have, be, belong, own, possess, etc.
• Verbs of perception and sense: see, smell, feel, taste, hear, etc.
• Verbs of thought and opinion: remember, know, believe, understand, forget, seem, agree, etc.
• Verbs of likes or preferences: like, hate, love, dislike, want, hope, prefer, etc.

All of these verbs cannot be used in the continuous tenses, so if we come across a verb that is in this tense, we will know that it is not a state verb.

How are state verbs used?

As we have just told you, state verbs can never be used continuously, except in certain situations:

Temporary or atypical situations:

• He is rude. He is rude.
• He is being rude. He is being rude (at that precise moment).

Voluntary perceptions:

• The food tastes good. The food tastes good.
• I am tasting the food. I am tasting the food (voluntarily).

There are some commonly used verbs that can be found in both groups, as we will see below:

Think: only used continuously when we refer to “considering” or “planning” something.

• I think that you’re right. I think you are right.
• She’s thinking of buying a car. She is thinking about buying a car.

Feel: when we talk about the state in which we feel we can use the continuous or progressive form of the verb.

• I feel happy for my friend. I am happy for my friend.
• I am feeling happy. I feel happy.

See: We can use this verb in a continuous form when we refer to “visiting” or “getting to know someone”.

• I see you later. See you later.
• I am seeing Roger at 7 o’clock. I will be visiting Roger at 7.

Hear: we only use the continuous form of hear when we speak in a judicial sense.

• She is hearing her case now. He is celebrating his case visit.

Have: the verb to have can be used in a continuous form when we do not refer to possess.

• I’m having a shower. I’m taking a shower.

The best applications to learn English

by funtalk | Apr 8, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

With the advent of new technologies and the emergence of the Internet, learning English is no longer an excuse. Thanks to these advances, we can learn this new language from anywhere, at any time and just by using our cell phone or computer. If you do not have time to attend an academy in person or your schedule does not allow it, applications may be the solution.

Duolingo

It has been 10 years since the birth of this platform, which has also become an application, to learn different languages. It is a learning method divided into different levels of difficulty, combining grammar with reading, listening and oral comprehension exercises. It is an ideal tool not only for learning, but also for improving a language, or more than one at a time.

Babbel

Babbel is one of the best options if you need to learn vocabulary and improve your pronunciation. The only drawback of this application is that it does not have grammar exercises. However, it has an extremely user-friendly interface and employs daily conversations to enhance knowledge.

Wibbu English

The highlight of this educational application is that it is designed for Spanish speakers. In fact, it emphasizes those typical mistakes made by Spanish speakers and helps to see the similarities and dissimilarities between the two languages. It is a totally dynamic and entertaining app, with which you will learn without even realizing it.

uSpeak

This application becomes the most ideal for those who wish to learn English while playing. It has three different levels of difficulty that will allow you to learn from zero to a very advanced level. It combines audio, pronunciation and vocabulary, among others.

Wilngua

Similar to Duolingo, Wilngua offers a very complete course to learn English. Its application is highly interactive, offering an incredible user experience. It has four different levels of difficulty and more than 600 exercises so that each student can go at his or her own pace. In addition, the app allows us to take a test to see what our knowledge is and at what level we should start.

Busuu

Another fantastic option to boost your knowledge of the English language is the Busuu application. It is a platform where any user can correct the exercises of other members of the community and connect with them to discuss and solve doubts. The best thing is that Busuu bases all its lessons on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, so it provides security and guarantee on its practices.

Learn English anywhere

As you can see, nowadays there are more and more applications and platforms that allow you to learn languages from anywhere and whenever you want. Didn’t you study English in school? No problem. Thanks to these apps you can make up for lost time. Remember that it is never too late to achieve what you set out to do.

Differentiate between simple and continuous present tense

by funtalk | Apr 8, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Often the present simple and the present continuous are two verb tenses that can cause a lot of confusion if we do not understand how they are formed or if we choose to make literal translations from our language. If you are one of those who still do not know how to differentiate between the two tenses and when to use them, this article is for you.

Present simple or present simple

It is used to talk about what we do every day, such as routines, as well as permanent situations or events that are always in a certain way.

• I wake up at 8 o’clock everyday. I get up every day at 8 am.

This is an action we take every day.

• I study English twice a week. I study English twice a week.

Although it is not something we do every day, it is part of our routine and we do it regularly.

• Water boils at 100º. Water boils at 100º.

It is a fact or a reality, so we also use the present simple.

To form the present simple we will not conjugate the verb, that is, we will use its present form. The only thing to remember is that when we speak or write in the third person singular he, she and it, the verb will have an s at the end.

• I speak English. I speak English.
• She speaks English. She speaks English.

Present continuous or present continuous

The present continuous is used to express things that happen at the moment we are talking about, just now. However, it is also used to talk about plans that will occur in the immediate future.

• I am reading a book. I am reading a book.

It indicates that right at this very moment, I am reading a book.

• I’m flying to London on Monday. I’m flying to London on Monday.

This is a sure plan that, moreover, will occur in the very near future.

• Justin studies at Bordeaux University; at the moment he is spending a term in Oxford. Justin studies at Bordeaux University; at the moment he is spending a term in Oxford.

We can also use the present continuous to talk about actions that started in the past, are happening in the present and will continue in the future.

• Unemployment is still going up by 20% a month. Unemployment is still going up by 20% a month.

There is one last case in which we use this verb tense, when we speak of changing trends or situations.

To form the present continuous, we will use the verb “to be” and the gerund of the main verb, that is, the verb ending in -ing.

• I am watching TV. I am watching television.

How we can differentiate them

Now that you know the theory, we are going to give you some tricks to help you differentiate between the two verb tenses.

Expressions of time: usually, the present simple is accompanied by expressions of time such as everyday (every day), twice a week (twice a week), everyweekend (every weekend). These expressions indicate repetition, habit or regularity.

When the action takes place: if we ask ourselves at what moment the action takes place and the answer is now(right now), we must use the present continuous.

Verbs ending in -ing: as we have already mentioned, to form the present continuous we will use the gerund, that is, verbs ending in -ing. This may give you a clue as to the verb tense being used.