UNIVERSITAS PAMULANG

MEETING V
FUTURE TENSES AND MODALS

A. OBJECTIVES
After studying this material, students are able to:
1.1. Understand the usage of future tense in a sentence
1.2. Understand the usage of modal auxiliaries in a sentence

B. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Objectives of point 1.1.
1.1 Students are able to understand the usage of future tense in a sentence

Passage 1

Carrol is sure that tomorrow will be a big day. She will wake
up at 4 o’clock in the morning. She never wakes up so early this
year so it’s going to be a good start. She has already made a list of
activities she is going to do tomorrow.
First of all, she is going to do self-affirmation. Some says
that self-affirmation will influence her day in a positive way. How will
she do self-affirmation? Firstly, she will be grateful for what she has
achieved. She will appreciate herself and focus on her strength.
Thinking of other people’s kindness will make her feel good. Then,
she will think of my goal that will motivate her to move forward. Self-
affirmation will take about 30 minutes.
Second, she is going to watch some videos about negative
and positive thinking. She has prepared those videos which are
about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Third, she is going to do yoga. She
loves yoga. She has joined yoga class for three months. Finally,
she will do her morning routine and go to work. Yeay, it’s going to
be wonderful!

Exercise 1.
Directions: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in
parentheses based on the passage.
1. Carrol is sure that tomorrow will be a big day.
2. She (wake) ………. up at 4 o’clock in the morning.

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3. she (do) ………..self-affirmation. Some says that self-affirmation (influence)

………her day in a positive way.
4. She (appreciate)………. herself and focus on her strength.
5. she (think) ……… of her goal that (motivate) ……….. her to move forward.
6. she ( watch) ………. some videos about negative and positive thinking.
7. she (do) …….. yoga. She loves yoga.
8. She (do) ……... her morning routine and go to work.

There are several time-expressions that are used in all of the different
forms of the future tense. They are generally used at the end of the sentence or
question. The most common are: tomorrow, next week (Sunday/month/year),
in two days (weeks, months years), the day after tomorrow, etc.
The future tenses can be expressed in several ways in English. Here are
different possibilities:

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1. Simple Future Tense: will and be going to

Simple Future Tense expresses an activity in the future.

Formula of Simple Future: will and be going to

Subject + will + verb base He will come to the class Using

tomorrow. Will
(+)
Subject + am/is/are + going to + He is going to come to Using Be
verb base the class tomorrow. Going To
Subject + will + not + verb base He won’t come to the Using
class tomorrow. Will
(-)
Subject + am/is/are + not He is not going to come Using Be
+going to + verb base to the class tomorrow. Going To
Will + subject + verb base Will come to the class Using
tomorrow? Will
(?)
Am/is/are + subject + going to + Is he going to come to Using Be
verb base? class tomorrow? Going To

2. Future Continuous Tense: will and (be) going to

Future Progressive Tense expresses an activity that will be in progress at a
time in the future.

Formula of Future Continuous Tense: will and (be) going to

(+) Subject + will + be + verb-ing The president will be Using

delivering a speech Will
tomorrow morning.
Subject + am/is/are + going to + The president is going to Using Be
be + verb-ing be delivering a speech Going To
tomorrow morning.
(-) Subject + will + not + be + verb- The president won’t be Using
ing delivering a speech Will
tomorrow morning.
Subject + am/is/are + not + The president is not Using Be
going to + be + verb-ing going to be delivering a Going To
speech tomorrow
morning.
(?) Will + subject + be + verb-ing Will the president be Using
delivering a speech Will
tomorrow morning?
Am/is/are + subject + going to + Is the president going to Using Be
be + verb-ing be delivering a speech Going To
tomorrow morning?

3. Future Perfect
Future Perfect Tense expresses an activity that will be completed before a
particular time in the future.

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Formula of Future Perfect

(+) Subject + will + have + verb3 Ramon will have finished the English
(past participle) task by next Tuesday.
(-) Subject + will + not + have + Ramon will have finished the English
verb3 (past participle) task by next Tuesday.

(?) Will + subject + have + verb3 Will Ramon have finished the English
(past participle) task by next Tuesday?

4. Future Perfect Continuous

Future Perfect Progressive Tense expresses the duration of an activity that
will be in progress before another time or event in the future.

Formula of Future Perfect Continuous

(+) Subject + will + have + been + My mother will have been teaching
verb1-ing (present participle) for 35 years.
(-) Subject + will + not + have + My mother will not have been
been + verb1-ing (present teaching for 35 years.
participle)
(?) Will + subject + have + been + Will My mother have been
verb1-ing (present participle) teaching for 35 years?

Exercise 2.
Directions: Write about your activities tomorrow.
I’m going to get up at ___five___ tomorrow morning.
Then,___________. After that,_________________. Around _____ o’clock,
_______________. Later _____________. At _____o’clock,
_________________. Next, ___________. ______________ a little later. Then at
________ oclock, ____________.

Exercise 3.
Directions: Complete the sentences. Use the simple future (be going to) and the
given expressions (or your own words).

go to the bookstore look it up in my dictionary stay in bed today

talk long walk in the park go to the bookstore go to the beach

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1. We need to buy some reference books. We are going to go to the

bookstore.
2. I have a headache. I _____________________________________________
3. She is writing a composition. She doesn’t know how to spell a word. She
______________________________________________________________
4. The students need to buy books. They _______________________________
5. It’s nice a day today. Wendy and I __________________________________
6. Chicco and Niko want to go swimming. We ___________________________

Exercise 4.
Directions: Use the future continuous.
1. Right now we are attending class. Yesterday at this time, we were attending
class. Tomorrow at this time, we (attend)____will be attending____class.
2. A: Where is she going to be this evening?
B: She (work, at the library) _______________ on my research paper.
3. A: ______________(I,feel) bad about my decision?
B: No. It is the best decision.

Exercise 5.
Directions: Fill in the correct form of the verb with the future continuous (using will
/ be going to) form of future as in the examples.

1. My teacher will be receiving his M.A. degree at the ceremony next week
(receive)
2. Is Tom going to be visiting you today? (visit)

1. I ________ to Boston this weekend. (drive) Do you want to come along?

2. ________ he ________ the conference next week? (attend)
3. Ruth and Ann __________ out of class just as I arrive at the college. (get)
4. I ________ in Norway next week while you are sunbathing in Tahiti (freeze)
5. How many students _________ next month? (not graduate)

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Objectives of point 1.2

1.2 Students are able to understand the usage of modal auxiliaries in a
sentence

Modal auxiliaries generally express speakers’ attitudes. On the other hand, modals
can express that a speaker feels something is advisable, possible, permissible,
necessary, or probable. It is always followed by verb base.
Summary Chart: Modal Auxiliaries and Similar Expressions

Auxiliary Meaning Example

(a) can ability / possibility She can sing beautifully.
polite request Can you invite me to the group
please?
(b) could past ability I couldn’t attend to the next meeting
tonight.
polite request Could you help me to close the door
please?
(c) may possibility It may happen tomorrow.
polite request May I help you?
(d) might possibility It might rain tonight.
(e) must necessity You must study hard.
(f) should advisability You should take a rest at home.
(g) will future happening They will arrive at the airport on
time.
(h) shall future happening We shall buy the tickets soon.
(i) would polite request Would you mind to join in my group
discussion?
(j) be able to ability I wasn’t able to read the text
carefully.
(k) be going to future happening Harry and William are going to
discuss the lesson after the class.
(l) ought to advisability They ought to speak English in the
class.
(m) have to / has to necessity We have to review the lesson next
meeting.
(n) had to past necessity The students had to study last night.

*STRATEGY
Modals are always followed by verb base.
(a) Modals are followed Correct: Correct:
by verb base.
Sammy will sing a They must submit the
romantic song. task soon.

Incorrect: Incorrect:
Sammy will sings a They must submitting
romantic song. the task soon.

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(b) Modals do not take a Correct: Correct:

final –s, even when
the subject is she, he, Carla can make rainbow They should go home
or, it. cake. soon.

Incorrect: Incorrect:
Carla cans make They should went home
rainbow cake soon.

(c) Phrasal modals are The students are able to The students are going
common expressions speak English well. to go to the laboratory.
whose meanings are
similar to those of The students can speak The students will go to
some of modal English well. the laboratory.
auxiliaries. For
example: be able to
is similar to can; be
going to is similar to
will.

Exercise 1.
Directions: All of these contain errors in the form of modals. Correct the errors.
1. The children can collecting the sticks in the box.
_________The children can collect the sticks in the box.______________
2. Milley could read the whole text carefully.
______________________________________________________________
3. We may received the bills later.
______________________________________________________________
4. Those students should to repair the computer soon.
______________________________________________________________
5. Shall we come to the party?
______________________________________________________________
6. Would you remove that mouse from this house?
______________________________________________________________

Exercise 2.
Directions: Complete the conversations. Begin the sentences with subject and
appropriate modal auxiliaries based on the case. Use the expressions in the list or
your own words.

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do my homework

have a driver’s license

buy a new pair of shoes

come to the class

study harder

make new friend who speak English

1. A: My shoes have holes in the bottom.

B: ____________________________________________________________
2. A: What is the headline on the newspaper today?
B: According to the law, a driver _____________________________________
3. A: Did you finish the homework?
B: I _____________ last night although I was tired.
4. A: Why did our teacher come late yesterday?
B: Our teacher _______________ on time because he had a crash.
5. A: I want to improve my speaking skill in English.
B: According to my teacher, we _____________________________________

Exercise 3.
Directions: Work in small groups. Make sentences with should and shouldn’t.
Share some of your answers with the class.

1. The teacher is giving a final exam. One student keeps looking at a paper under
his exam paper. It has the answers on it.
The teacher _______________________
a. take the paper away and give the student another chance.
b. give the student a failing grade for the test.
c. give the student a failing grade for the class.
d. send the student to see the director of the school.

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2. Susan is 16 years old. A boy in her class wants her to go to dinner and a
movie with him. This will be her first date.
Her parents _______________________
a. let her go if her older brother goes too.
b. make her wait until she is older.
c. go with her.
d. let her go by herself.
e. let her go to dinner only.

Exercise 4.
Directions: Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. Use a form of
have/has +infinitive (to + verb base).
1. A: Recky can’t join us for lunch today.
B: Why not?
A: (he, work) He has to work.
B: (he, work) Does he have to work tomorrow too? If he doesn’t maybe
we should postpone the lunch until tomorrow.
2. A: Why (she, go) _________________________ to the library tomorrow?
B: (she, find) ______________________ some data for her research paper.
3. A: It’s almost seven-thirty. What time (John and Brian, leave)
_________________________________ for the airport?
B: Around eight. (they, be) _______________________ at the airport at nine-
fifteen.
4. A: Why did you go to the stationary after class yesterday?
B: (I, buy) ______________ some colored markers.
A: Oh? Why? (you, buy) __________________________colored markers?
B: I need them for some drawings in my art class.

C. EXERCISES
1.1 Exercise 1.
Directions: Add “to” where necessary. If “to” is not necessary, write “X”.
1. My brother can __X___ play the guitar very well.
2. They have _____ pay our the tax every month.
3. You shouldn’t ______ drink five cups of coffee a day.
4. Jane might not _______ be there tomorrow.
5. What time are you going ________ arrive?

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6. My classmates are able ______ speak English fluently.

7. My sister has ______ read the text before the next week.
8. Is Darwin going _____ a brief meeting tomorrow?
9. May I _____ use your telephone?
10. You had ____ go to the post office to send this letter.

1.2 Exercise 2.
Direction: Analyze the errors of the following sentences. Correct the errors.
1. Could you to drive a car when you were seventeen years old?
____Could you drive a car when you were seventeen years old_____
2. Would you please to help me?
___________________________________________________________
3. He will can go to the library tomorrow.
___________________________________________________________
4. My mother couldn’t opens the class door because she didn’t have a key.
___________________________________________________________
5. Please turn the television off. I cannot studied for the exam.
___________________________________________________________
6. My friend was not able call me yesterday.
___________________________________________________________
7. We are going to Boston next year with our big family.
___________________________________________________________
8. If you want to check a book out of the school library, you have to had a
library card.
___________________________________________________________
9. The doctor gave William a prescription. According to the directions on the
bottle, William must takes one tablet every six hours.
___________________________________________________________
10. We had to went to the campus yesterday.
___________________________________________________________
11. The teachers must not to use their mobile phone during the class.
___________________________________________________________
12. I saw a bucket of beautiful flowers at florist yesterday, but I couldn’t
bought it.
___________________________________________________________

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13. Salma cannot goes to market two hours later.

___________________________________________________________
14. May I please to borrowing your dictionary?
___________________________________________________________
15. We didn’t able to get the tickets for the booming movie.
___________________________________________________________

1.3 Exercise 3.
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the following modals: can,
could, be able to, may, might, shall, should, must, have to, don’t have to.
 You may have to make the modals negative according to the context of
the sentence.
 There may be more than one possibility.
Example:
He has to take his car to be serviced. The brakes are squeaking.
Would you please save me a seat at the dinner event?

1. If you are sick, you ________ go to work. You’ll infect everyone there.
2. Drivers _______ stop at red lights.
3. You _______ finish the proposal today. You can finish it tomorrow.
4. She ______ hear much better with her new hearing aids.
5. ______ I order us a bottle of wine?
6. Sam ______ pick his daughter up from school. She’s taking the bus
home.
7. You _____________ smoke here. It’s a smoke-free building.
8. You ________ eat so many sweets. They are bad for you.
9. _________ you mind walking a little faster? We’re going to be late.
10. I’m sorry. I _______ help you. I don’t know how to do it.

1.4 Exercise 4.
Directions: Circle the correct completions.
1. A: “Is Billy going to be at the meeting?”
B: “No, he is too busy. He _____ be there,”
A. doesn’t B. will C. won’t D. might
2. If you want to keep your current job, you __________ be late for work.
A. don’t have to B. must not C. doesn’t have to D. didn’t

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3. A: Where is the left-over chicken from dinner last night?

B: I just saw it when I got some ice cubes. It _______ in the freezer.
A. could be B. must be C. is D. might be
4. A: It’s supposed to rain tomorrow.
B: I know, but the forecast _____ wrong. Weather forecasts are far
from 100 percent accurate.
A. could be B. must be C. is D. will be
5. He should ________ the homework soon.
A. finished B. finishing C. finishes D. finish
6. A: “Are your sisters going to go to market today?”
B: “No, they are going to there ________ Sunday.”
A. next B. yesterday C. last D. ago
7. A: “Why is your classmate late today?”
B: “I don’t know. ______ he slept late last night.”
A. was B. maybe C. did D. may
8. A: Do you know where Pablo is?
B: He __________ at Crystal café. He said something about
wanting to visit after work today, but I’m really not sure.
A. could be B. must be C. is D. are
9. Ann and Rose _____to the zoo next week.
A. are going to go B. can going C. will going D. will can go
10. A: “When are you going to the library?”
B: “I’ll go there before I _______ to the post office tomorrow
morning.”
A. am going B. went C. will go D. go
11. A: “What time ________ Tom and Brian going to arrive?”
B: “At nine.”
A. is B. are C. do D. will
12. Frendy _______ to her mother on the phone.
A. are going to speak C. is going to speaking
B. is going to speak D. are going to speaking
13. A: “Is George going to talk to us this morning about our plans for
next week.”
B: “No. He’ll _________ us this afternoon.”
A. call B. calls C. calling D. called

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14. A: Is Kate a good student?

B: She _______. I don’t know her well., but I heard she was offered
a scholarship for next year.
A. could be B. must be C. is D. are
15. A: Let’s be really quiet when we go into the baby’s room. The baby
_____________, and we don’t want to wake her up.
B: Okay.
A. might sleep C. might have been sleeping
B. might be sleeping D. might sleeping

D. REFERENCES

Azar, Betty Schrampfer. (2002). Understanding and Using English

Grammar, Third Edition with Answer Key. New York: Longman.
Azar, Betty Scrampfer & Hagen, Stacy A. (2006). Basic English Grammar
Third Edition with Answer Key. New York: Pearson Longman.
Grammar Rules. 2019. Modal Verbs. (Accessed on 10 January 2020.
Available at https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-
rules/verbs/modal-verbs/
Sukmawati, Nur Najibah & Nasution, Sukma Septian. 2019. English for
Informatics Engineering. Banyumas: Pena Persada.

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