Macbeth and the future tenses? (Looking Ahead)

[Torsten]

Hi,

In Looking Ahead Alan covers a range of topics making a connection between Macbeth, the future tenses and procrastination. He also uses a number of interesting words such as "blag", "accost" and "goody-two-shoes".

I really like this newsletter issue and look forward to your feedback and questions.

Many thanks,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Irina Bel]

Thanks a lot for this newsletter issue. It is really full of interesting words and phrases, and I'm very happy that you give me such a great opportunity to enlarge my vocabulary.

Again, many thanks and looking forward to other interesting articles,
Irina

[Giabao.]

Dear Alan,
Thank you so much for the the new issue. It is very interesting. Thanks to your letter I now know how to use will and shall correctly. Also, I learn many new words and phrases from this.
I am looking forward to the next one.
Giabao

[Jamal.]

Dear Alan,
Many thanks for the interesting things you send me. I'm looking forward to receiving more, especially reading quizzes.
Best wishes,
Jamal

[Guest]

Thank you Alan for sending me this interesting newsletter. However, in this this text, there are some new words I can't understand. For example: goody-two-shoes. Can you explain it for me? Thank you so much.

[Alkeren]

'The English language is going to disappoint you because unlike its geographical language neighbours it has no future'.

I like the sentence, though it seems confusing if you read it only once.

Alan, will you agree with me if I say: to be going to is 99% about to happen, while will is 50%?

e.g.: I am going to read the article vs. I will read the article?

[Alan]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments

I would certainly never risk accepting percentages on something as variable as that, I'm afraid. The whole point of saying:

[Alan]

Hi,

As I outlined in the letter, the mythical story of goody two shoes is based on a girl who was given an additional shoe by a wealthy man who felt sorry for her as she only had one shoe and had to hop everywhere. The description or name is applied to anyone who always does the right thing and is very correct in their behaviour. For example if someone always does what they are supposed to do and never takes any risks is someone labelled a 'goody two shoes'. If you never cross the road when there is a picture lit up of a pedestrian in red and wait for the green figure to appear even though there are no cars anywhere, you might be called this.

Hope that clarifies.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Have a Break!

[Alkeren]

Alan,

I take the percentages as an easy way to tell my students when you need to use 'to be going to' or 'will' in saying something in the Simple Future.

However, do you think when you want to stress something out like:
I am going to read the article after I finished browsing,

would be better than:
I will read the article after I finished browsing

or there is no difference between them?

[Guest]

Hi
thank you Alan for your newsletter and many thanks Mr/ Torsten four youyr english e-mails.
It is very usefule and Iam very happy to this
thanks
Nour

[Alan]

Hi,

Putting it simply I would say: I am going to read ... after I have finished... suggesting that is my intention

I will read ... after I have finished .. indicating that is my wish.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Guy Fawkes Night for You

[Alkeren]

Alan,

I am going to thank you for giving me the best explanation after I have read your reply.

Alfred

[Abeille]

I am amazed and amused as ever with Alan's brisk issues. Thank you very much indeed! Keep being a goody-two-shoes in English on-line teaching (a bit confused with the right word order, though have a hope that the meaning is quite clear).
Sincerely, Nathalie

[Guest]

Dear Alan,

I am really amazed with your English test becuse my got alot of sellping mistake,so i cant read & writ proparly.

Pleaes help me, how to improve my English

Thank you

[Guest]

Dear Torsten,
Thank you very much for your successive letters of interesting English lessons. I am quite good at that kind of level (I am some what of an English teacher as I told you in my previous letter). I would very much like something more challenging.
I want to buy some books by Alan Townend badly because I'd also like to share them with my student. Please tell me how to pay for the book if I don't have my account, but cash. Is it possible to pay for the book when they are sent to my home address?
Best regards,
Dinh Cam