How to help my child succeed in international English exams

Rome was not built in a day. Neither is proficiency in any language. It takes time to learn a language. Think about your mother-tongue. How much time would a person need to learn it to be an advanced-level speaker?

International English exams such as IELTS, SAT, and TOEFL test a person’s language skills.

But they do more than that.

Not many people are aware of this: they indirectly test a person’s level of general knowledge.

For example, you may be expected to read and answer questions on a piece about Global History. If you have no clue about history, the task is challenging. Your mind does not have the framework to understand the topic.

What can you as a parent do? This post is for parents who have children in the 8^th to the 12^th class.

I start with a disclaimer. This post will not provide any short-cuts to getting higher scores.

Instead, you will learn how to strengthen the English language foundation of your child, so that when the time comes to appear for such exams, she will be better prepared.

Are you interested to learn more? Then read on.

How to succeed in international English exams

Let’s go step by step. Here is step one:

How can parents help their children learn English? Take a level test.

Before one starts on a journey, one needs to know where one is. At what level is your child? Is she at the intermediate level or higher or lower? It would be good to find out.

If there is a language school near you, such as the British Council, then you could find out whether they conduct language assessment tests. The results will provide you with an objective measure of your child’s language skills.

You can also take a quick test online from Cambidge.

In my experience as an English teacher, I have noticed that people tend to overestimate their English skills. Do not make the same mistake.

If you are able to visit a language school nearby, go there and find out. It will be worth it.

How can parents support English language learners: Learn the four skills and language

As a parent, the more aware you are of language learning, the better you can guide your child. So, let’s take a deep dive into language learning.

There are four skills when it comes to language usage. The skills are: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Apart from the four skills we also have grammar and vocabulary.

Let’s start with speaking.

Speaking skills

There are two aspects to speaking: fluency and accuracy. I have noticed that there are people who speak fluently, but they make a lot of basic grammatical errors! This affects accuracy and will negatively affect one’s score, especially in tests such as IELTS. Here are a few videos from the British Council that would help, if you are thinking about IELTS.

Fluency and Coherence

Grammar

Pronunciation

Lexical Resources

Even if your child is not preparing for IELTS, do watch these videos. They can improve her overall speaking skills.

Many students are fluent and have reasonably good grammar, but pronunciation is a problem.

How can you improve pronunciation? There are many ways to do this.

The first is to listen. When you hear people talk, listen to how they pronounce words. The danger is that everyone you meet may be pronouncing a word incorrectly!

The internet can come to the rescue. If you are unsure of how a word is pronounced, visit the Cambridge Dictionary.

Just type in the word and listen to the pronunciation. There would normally be two variations: UK and US. Choose the one that you are more comfortable with.

You can also have fun when learning pronunciation. Pick a song and sing along. Don’t worry if your voice is out of tune. It’s a fun way to spend time with your child. Both of you can sing your hearts out.

On YouTube, there are many songs with the lyrics as well. Select a song that you think is appropriate. This exercise may sound silly, but it is a good way to get accustomed to accents and also improve one’s pronunciation without any stress. To get you started, play this song from the Beatles: Here comes the sun.

You can also pay attention to how words are pronounced when watching movies, serials, and news programs. Become aware of how you pronounce words and compare the pronunciation with other peoples. Yes, to improve your child’s pronunciation, you have to work on yours as well.

To get an overview of pronunciation, read this post.

Let’s look at the next skill.

Listening skills

As a skill, listening may be more rewarding than speaking.

Many people are better speakers than listeners. They speak, speak, and speak, without listening to what the other person has to say. I urge you to be a better listener to improve your English language skills.

When listening to a person speak, or watching a movie, do not be passive. Be an active listener. Give your full attention. Analyze what the person is trying to say. For example, when watching a documentary on climate change, think about what the main point of the argument is. Think about the words used to convey a message. Think about the sequencing of ideas and the examples given. Think about the pronunciation and intonation.

Sounds exhausting?

It could be. However, you will find it a more enriching experience. And your general language skills will improve.

Once you start finding yourself to be a better listener, see how you can guide your child. Here is what you can do. Watch a video on science. And then ask general and specific questions.

Let’s look at this video on the planet Saturn.

I have come up with some questions based on the video:

General questions

1. What is the video about?

2. How did the rings of Saturn form?

Specific questions:

1. What is the Roche Limit?

2. What are the names of two of Saturn’s moons?

The first set of questions require listening for gist, while the second set of specific questions asks you to listen for detail.

To improve listening skills, this is what you can do.

1. Play the video once, and ask two general questions. (You can make some more, if you like.)

2. Then, ask the two specific questions. If she cannot answer them properly, play the video again.

Try this approach with other videos. You will find your child honing her listening skills. You can even ask your child to make questions to test you! This would further activate her listening skills. And she would enjoy it to see you fumble.

Listening is an overlooked skill. Do not underestimate it. It can be beneficial in not only improving one’s language skills, but also general knowledge. Both of which are tested on exam day.

Reading skills

Reading is a lot like listening. It is another under-rated skill. People read to pass exams. Many people do not read out of curiosity or for pleasure. In short, people read only when they need to.

Try to develop the reading habit in your child. This will reap benefits in many ways.

First, her vocabulary will improve. It is said that a word has to be encountered at least ten times before it can be used by a person naturally and appropriately. Do not encourage your child to memorize word lists. She may use them incorrectly and out of context. Vocabulary building takes time. It takes years. Reading is the best way to do it.

Reading also helps in improving one’s general knowledge. There is a wide range of topics that your child may encounter on an international English language test. Here is short list:

1. Science

Possible topics: astronomy, geology, and chemistry

2. Social sciences

Possible topics: economics, psychology, and political science

3. The Environment

Possible topics: climate change, pollution, deforestation

4. Film and entertainment

Possible topics: film genres, film and its impact on society, the role of theatre in social change

Do not get intimidated. As I wrote at the beginning of this post, Rome was not built in a day. There are more common topics that could appear on test day. However, these four should be enough for now. I do not want to overload you.

To help your child succeed in international English exams, make sure that she reads the newspaper. Many students start reading the newspaper weeks before the exam day. How much can they learn? Reading newspapers should become a habit and not something one does ten days before the test.

Do not impose reading on her. You could start by asking her to read an article on a topic she likes. It could be about sport or history. Slowly expand the range to include other topics such as science and technology.

Your local English paper would have many good articles. You could also read these online news websites:

When on these websites, do not start with the current news. Read the sections on science & technology, sports, environment, and culture. Then start reading other sections.

If you feel that there may be inappropriate content for your child, decide what she should read.

When you have selected an article, this is what you can do:

Ask your child to read the headline and guess what the article is about. This will help her prepare her mind to better absorb the writing.
Look at the photograph and discuss what it is trying to say. What is the focus of the photograph? Is there a message?
Let her read the article, and then ask her what new information she has learnt. Are there any words she is unsure of? Find out the meaning and pronunciation from an online dictionary. Did she like the article? Why or why not?

To help your child succeed in international English exams, you will have to think like a teacher.

Asking these kinds of probing questions will make her more engaged with the article. Over time, she will become a better reader. Improved reading skills will be an advantage throughout life.

Writing skills

We have now arrived at the last skill. In IELTS, many candidates find this the most difficult part of the test. Even if the test your child is planning to take does not have writing, I urge you to read on. Writing is a skill that is essential in adult life.

To write well, it would be a good idea to read well. When reading an article or opinion piece, pay attention to the organization of ideas. How is the topic introduced? What is the first main point? Is it supported with facts or examples?

A big problem when it comes to writing is coherence and cohesion. Coherence refers to the logical flow of ideas. And cohesion refers to the use of cohesive devices (such as however, therefore) that hold the sentences and paragraphs together.

Watch this video on coherence and cohesion. Even if your child is not planning to take IELTS, it would be useful.

It is important to plan well before actually writing. In fact, the better plan, the easier it is to write.

Phew! That was a lot of information. Sorry, we are not done yet. If you recall, in language learning, apart from the four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing), there is what we call language.

Language includes grammar and vocabulary.

How to succeed in international English exams: Grammar

Make sure that your child’s grammatical foundation is strong. If the foundation is weak, then errors will persist into adulthood. And of course, she will find it difficult to get a high score in any international English exam.

Grammar is vast. You could start with my post on articles (a, an, the). If you want to know more about the future time, click here.

Here are some online resources for grammar: BBC Learning English and British Council.

If your child finds grammar to be difficult, spend more time exploring those online websites.

Another way to learn grammar is through more exposure to the language. Make your child watch more English movies and read more books.

How can parents help their children learn English? Vocabulary

As we looked at before, the more one engages with the language, the more one improves one’s vocabulary. Make sure that your child is exposed to a variety of topics. This will improve her topic-specific vocabulary. For instance, if she watches a video about climate change, she will learn words that are used in that field. You could ask her to have a book where she writes down new words and phrases.

Here are some channels I recommend: CNN 10 and National Geographic.

Of course, she should also read newspapers, magazines, and non-fiction and fiction books. Make sure the reading material is broad, covering diverse topics ranging from technology to culture.

How can I help my child? One step at a time

As you can tell, you are in a marathon and not a sprint.

To succeed in international English exams requires one to have a strong foundation in both language and general knowledge. A strong base in general knowledge will help your child to better cope with the variety of topics that will be present on test day.

The sooner you start the better. Take it one step at a time. And do not overwhelm your child or yourself!

If you are in India, I have written a book on common Indian errors in Business English, covering topics such as vocabulary, Indian English, and grammar. It would be helpful when focusing on common errors Indians make. Click here to find out more about it.

Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments section below.

FAQs

How can parents help their children learn English?

Make English a part of your child’s environment.
Watch cartoons, serials, and movies. Read comic books, magazines, and novels.
The key to learning any language is complete immersion.

How can parents support English language learners?

Find out your child’s language level. That is the first step in the journey.
Focus on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Emphasize the skills of listening (watch documentaries, TV programs) and reading (read newspapers, magazines, and novels).

What is the best way to study for an English language exam?

Make a long-term plan to improve your English. Do not start preparing two weeks before the test.
Understand the expectations of the test. This is key.
Answer past question papers.

Is IELTS hard to pass?

If your English is at the upper-intermediate or advanced level, it is not difficult. But, you will still need to know the expectations of the test. Otherwise, you may not reach your full potential, even if you are an advanced-level speaker.
If your English level is at the intermediate level or below, then it is difficult. Start by improving your general English skills.

What can I do to pass the English exam?

Improve your general English level.
Find out the expectations of the test.
Practice answering common test questions. When possible, go to the official website/YouTube channel of the test authority to get authentic practice material.

How can I help my child with English language?

Make your child familiar and comfortable with the language. Watch English programmes on YouTube or TV.
As a parent, you should be aware of what language learning means. Focus on the four skills: writing, speaking, listening, and reading. Remember that listening and reading are undervalued skills.
Focus on grammar, but do not try to cover all grammar points in a short period of time. It takes time for a learner to understand, absorb, and practice. Go slow and steady.

Those crazy little words called prepositions – II

Where are you right now? During these lockdown days, most probably, you are in home. Correct? No. That sentence is grammatically incorrect. You are at home. Prepositions when it comes to spaces can get tricky. I know.

We use in when talking about a well-defined space. So, my guess is that you are reading this post in a room. When it comes to the preposition in you can say: in my building, there are thirty flats. If you are feeling hungry, there are muffins in the box.

So, here comes the question. Don’t mull over it. Go with your gut feeling. You have two options: a. The party is in the garden. b. The party is at the garden.

Did you say in the garden? Woohoo! That’s correct. A garden is a well-defined space and so we use in. If you got it wrong, no worries. Now you know.

When we talk about spaces that have a specific purpose, then things change. We usually use at. That’s why it is at home and not in home. The word home has specific emotions and meanings attached to it. It’s not a random place.

Now, picture this. You are flying to Colombo for a meeting. You call your friend and say, “Hey, I am at the airport. Do you want me to buy anything for you?” Note that you said at the airport, and not in the airport. So when it comes to airports, train stations, and other places with specific purposes, use at.

This is the really tricky part. Let’s look at another place: a hospital. If you are at the hospital visiting a relative who is a patient there, you say: I’m at the hospital. On the hand, if Rahul is a patient, you say: he is in hospital (UK English). In US English, it would be: he is in the hospital.

There is more I’d like to tell you about prepositions, but I want these above points to sink in, nice and slowly. So, I’ll end the post here.

If you would like to read my first post on prepositions, click here.

And here is a short video on common errors in the use of prepositions.

Still want more on prepositions? Visit British Council Learning English for prepositions of time and of place.

The zero article

I’ve noticed that many people do not have time to learn about articles. They’re just not bothered, frankly. But, if you don’t use articles correctly, there will be grammatical errors in your presentations, emails and reports.

This is the third post on articles. In the previous posts, we looked at the indefinite and definite articles.

And now, for the grand finale.

Let us find out about that most mysterious article of all, the third type of article, known as the zero article.

To see the zero article, click twice inside the golden frame below. You will have to click twice, quickly. And then focus on the empty space within the frame. (Make sure you look at all parts of the frame, especially the corners.)

Are you ready? Go ahead.

The image is a plain, golden picture frame with no picture in it. — Source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/679128818778148568/

Did you see the zero article?

What?

Are you saying that nothing happened?

Well, in a sense, that is true.

You see, the zero article is invisible.

Before we talk more about this type of article we need to be clear about two concepts.

Read these two definitions:

Abstract nouns–An abstract noun is a noun that you cannot touch, see, smell, hear, or taste. For example, peace, love, and imagination are abstract nouns.
Plural count nouns–These are nouns that can be counted. Examples are: masks, beds, and vampires. You can say I see: five masks, three beds, and two vampires.

Did you get that?

Okay then.

We use the zero article before an abstract noun or before a plural count noun.

Simple as that.

Here are two sentences where we use the zero article.

Imagination is the need of the hour.

I don’t meet vampires after sunset.

In both these sentences, there is a zero article before the noun–imagination (abstract noun); vampires (plural count noun).

We are almost done here. I need to tell you about the times when we use the definite article the before an abstract noun or a plural count noun.

We use it when talking about something specific.

For instance: The imagination of a child is limitless.

Or: The vampires in my hometown are quite harmless.

In both these sentences, we are referring to a specific type of noun–the imagination of a child; the vampires from my hometown.

Now that you know about the zero article, keep an eye out for it. Not people know about this hidden article.

For more on articles, visit British Council LearnEnglish.

The definite article

Once upon a time, people used to stay at hotels. It was either for business or for tourism. They would check-in and then, after a day or two, check-out. I know, I hear you. We are living in unprecedented times.

Those ‘normal’ days shall return. And my wishes go out to all those reading this post who are from the hospitality sector.

Now, let’s talk about the the — the definite article.

Which option is correct?

a. The film crew is staying at Oberoi.

b. The film crew is staying at the Oberoi.

(By the way, that’s the name of a hotel group in India, in case you are not from around here.)

The image is of a movie actress signing autographs at a hotel.

Yes, it’s a. You’re 100% correct. This aspect of grammar comes naturally to you.

No, it’s not. Sorry for that. The correct answer is b. (I’m not sure whether you were actually considering the two options, or have just scrolled down to find the answer. So, I need to keep you on your toes. It’s for your own good. Trust me.)

When it comes to hotels, most of the time, we use the definite article the. So, we stay at the Oberoi, or the Taj, or the Radisson, or the Hyatt.

There is an ad with the line: ‘Take me to the Hilton.’ That’s a memorable line.

The definite article, the, creates a feeling of intimacy in the mind of the reader — an example of the subtle, yet effective, influence of the.

Here is another use of the.

Which is the correct option?

a. The conference focuses on opportunities in Middle East.

b. The conference focuses on opportunities in the Middle East.

You may have selected the correct answer (which is b), but tricky it is, especially if someone asks: but why? Don’t skim this part of the post. Slow down. Read carefully. It will help you someday.

With country names we usually do not use the definite article the. There are some exceptions (of course) such as the Netherlands and the Philippines.

However, we use the definite article the before a collection of states. For example: There are many Canadian companies operating in the United States of America. The USA is a collection of states. Similarly, you can live in the European Union, travel to the United Arab Emirates, and then visit your friend in the United Kingdom.

We use the definite article before the phrase: Republic of ______.

So you can start a company in the Republic of South Africa. And you can purchase machinery from the Republic of Korea.

Let’s talk about the Middle East (from the conference above). When it comes to place names that are ‘adjective + place’, we use the. Middle = adjective. East = place. So, there are many logistics companies in the Middle East.

When referring to geographical areas, I suggest you do a bit of research (a one-minute google search should suffice) before adding or subtracting the definite article.

It is: the company has a strong presence in Southeast Asia. And not in: ~~the Southeast Asia~~. And you’ll have the definite article when saying: the company has a strong presence in the Southeast Asian market.

My previous post gives an introduction to articles. Do read it to get a better understanding of the basics.

Have you ever heard of the zero article? You may be pleasantly surprised to find out about it.

Are you curious to know more about the use (and misuse) of articles? Check out my latest book on Amazon.

Definite and indefinite articles

This post is about articles such as a and the. After reading the heading, if you thought that this is about newspaper articles, or how to write articles for your blog, then click away. But, if you wish to know more about a’s and an’s, stay and bravely read on.

You’re still here! Articles are overlooked words which add meaning and set the tone in a piece of writing. Learners of English many times drop articles or use them inappropriately. This may be because in their mother-tongues there are no articles. So, if you are in that boat, no worries. You’ll have to prepare your mind to use articles correctly. As always, slow and steady.

Let’s get down to business. There are three articles — the indefinite articles (a, an) and the definite article (the).

Oops… Did I say three articles? Actually, there is one more, an invisible article. Are you aware of such a mysterious article being present (and not present) when you read sentences in blogs, newspapers, and novels?

Before we look at this invisible article, let’s talk about the visible ones.

We use the indefinite article a before a word that starts with a consonant sound. So that would be a face mask or a video call. And we use the indefinite article an before a vowel sound. For example: There is an alligator under your chair or an octopus in the kitchen sink, or an orangutan at the door.

If your doorbell just rang, open the door slowly. Not because orangutans are dangerous, but because you (with your face mask and face shield) might frighten the poor creature. (Hey, I’m just trying to spice up your lockdown life.)

We return to the use of articles. Here comes the tricky part. (What fun would there be if language was without any trapdoors?) So here is the question. (Drum roll, please.) Is it an university? Or a university? Think about.

Read the previous paragraph. What’s the first sound in that word? Although university starts with a vowel, the first sound is a consonant sound. Let’s change tracks, and talk about food.

Picture this. You have taken the first spoonful of your favourite dessert. It’s been a while since you’ve had it, and you exclaim to the whole world: YUM! The first sound in that yum is also the first sound in the word university. It’s a consonant sound. And that is why we have — a university.

The same goes for the phrase European company. It is a European company and not ~~an European company~~. Clear? Oh… It’s not. Okay, let me elaborate. In the word European, the first sound is a consonant sound. And that sound is the same as the first sound in that most expressive of words: yum.

We use the definite article the to talk about someone or something specific. What’s the difference between: give me a piece of chocolate cake and give me the piece of chocolate cake? In the first sentence, I’m taking about any piece of chocolate cake that is on the table. I’m not referring to a specific one. But, in the second sentence, both of us know which piece of cake I have in mind.

We have shared knowledge.

Now that we have a basic overview of the use of the visible articles, let’s look at how they are used in the real world.

Is it: a. Learning English is a piece of a cake! b. Learning English is a piece of cake!

The image is an illustration of a slice of cake.

The answer is b.

When speaking, some people drop/add articles in common expressions. For example, someone told me, “We need to think out of box.” Instead, it should have been, “out of the box.” There are many more cases of this innocent dropping/adding of articles. Keep your ears peeled when people speak.

At the beginning of this post, I said that articles are overlooked words. There is, however, a class of people who pay special attention to these shortest of words. Writers, poets, and wordsmiths, know the value of articles. Marin Luther King Junior, the American civil rights activist, recognized the power of articles. In his famous 1963 speech he used articles to spectacular effect. The title of his speech is ‘I have a dream’. Note: It is not: ‘I have the dream.’

By using the indefinite article, a, the speaker is being understated. There are many dreams out there. This is my dream. By being understated, he amplifies the message. He makes it universal. Here is an excerpt from his speech:

I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

The articles are in bold. The definite article, the, is used twice, referring to something specific — the difficulties of today… the American dream…. (The audience on that day in 1963 knew exactly what he was referring to. There is shared knowledge between the speaker and his listeners.) Let’s turn our attention to the use of indefinite articles. He uses the phrase — a dream — in the first sentence. In the second sentence, he could have gone with — ‘It is the dream deeply rooted…’ But, where is the poetry in that? The phrase ‘I have a dream’ is used many times in the speech. This repetition brings rhythm, meaning, and poignancy to his message. To understand how that rhetorical magic happens, we need to recognize the presence and nuanced influence of our one letter word — a.

In the next installment, we’ll look at some more uses of articles in the real world away from the pages of grammar books. We shall also meet that elusive fourth article that keeps such a low profile.

In the meantime, watch this video. And when listening, think about the ‘a’ in “I have a dream.” Now, that is a powerful use of the indefinite article.

Those crazy little words called prepositions

Some people get emotional when talking about prepositions. It’s true.

I remember a learner who asked me: Why in a chair and not on a chair? His face was distressed, and he was searching for logical reasoning. If you are not sure, by the way, it is: He is sitting in a chair.

During demonetization a lot of us were standing in front of ATMs, just like these people below. Is that person, who is on the phone, saying: a “I am in the queue.” or b “I am on the queue.” ? (Assuming he knows his prepositions.)

The answer is a.

Many people would have gone for b. In India, we like to use ‘on’ a lot. I don’t know why. When learning English as second language, prepositions can be tiny, tricky words to handle. Is it in or on? At or in? Is there any logic to it all?

My advice is to take it one preposition at a time. Learn it as a chunk with other words that go with it. I’ll give you some reasoning as well. But, for the most part, see if you can naturally associate a preposition with a noun. After some effort, it should be effortless. Automatic.

In this post, let’s look at some commonly used prepositions. A Bollywood actor would say a sentence like: I live in Mumbai. With a city, town, neighborhood, or village, the preposition is in. So, it would be: She lives in Bandra.

Close your eyes. Okay, that may not be practical when you have to read the next sentence. Keep them open. Imagine this. You are on a flight heading to New York. The plane halts in Paris for one hour. You call your friend and say: The plane is at Paris for an hour. No time to visit the city!

Here, if you noticed, we used at and not in. We use at when we are at a point in a journey. We use at with car journeys and train journeys as well. Try it sometime, maybe after this whole crazy covid-19 crisis is over.

When travelling by public transport, where in general you can move around, use on. So, Shilpa is on the plane. Your brother is on the bus, headed to Mysore. Your manager is on the metro. That’s right, on the metro, because it is public transport, and you can move about. For instance, you can walk from your seat to the opening door. If you are travelling in New York, you would say into your cellphone: Hey, I’m on the subway.

In transport that you cannot walk about, where your movement is severely restricted, use in. ‘I’m in an Uber cab.’ And of course, ‘I’m in your car. Where are you?’ If you are sitting on the roof of the car, then you say: ‘I’m on your car.’

If you are taking a private plane (a Learjet, maybe?), where there is not much walking space, you say: I’m in the plane. So, the next time you are in a high-end private airplane, you will know which preposition to use.

Of course, when it comes to a horse, bicycle, or motorbike, you are on and not in. If you are in a motorbike or bicycle, that spells trouble. And I would not wish it upon you.

When you are attending/participating in a group event, use at. So you are at a party, at the match, and at a meeting.

At a meeting? I see you scrunching your eyebrows at that phrase — at a meeting — while saying to yourself hmm. Can’t I say in a meeting? I’ve heard that before, many times. Well, you can. But the meaning is a bit different. At a meeting means that you are, well, attending a meeting. Now, say for instance you are attending a marketing meeting, and your phone rings. You respond with a message: I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you back. This means that you are busy, very busy, and that you will call that person after you have finished with the meeting. The emphasis is on you being engaged in an activity (the meeting).

If you would like to know more about prepositions, do check out Common Indian Errors in Business English. This book looks at the use (or misuse) of prepositions by Indian speakers. It covers other topics as well, such as the use of articles and uncountable nouns. The book is full of images and multiple choice questions, just like the above illustration in this post. By the way, I am its author. And, here is the cover:

Here is part two of those crazy little words called prepositions.

Six ways to talk about the future

A few years ago, I was delivering a training session at a company in Noida (near Delhi, India), and the topic was talking about the future. I noted that the participants were using the same language, over and over again.

Tomorrow morning, we will be meeting the client. Then in the afternoon I will be going to the warehouse. In the evening, they will be preparing the report.

will be… will be… will be…

I know–whatever will be, will be.

How many ways can we talk about the future? Some say four, some say more. Interestingly, not many people know about them. That is why many say: will be.

It would be good for you to use different ways to talk about the future. This gives your language variety, allowing you to express different shades of meaning.

In grammar, there is a present tense and a past tense. There is no future tense. This is because there is no specific grammatical form for the future. Instead, we usually talk about the future time using verbs (will and shall) and grammatical structures from other tenses. For example, we could use the present simple to talk about the future.

Does that sound confusing? Read on and find out how.

The Future time

1. Will

This is a common way to talk about the future. You say things like:

I will make breakfast.
I will send the PowerPoint slides in ten minutes.
I will call the manager to find out what is happening.

We use will when we talk about something that we decide to do at the moment of speaking.

When the Terminator says–I’ll be back–he is telling us what is on his mind, right now.

2. going to

This may be a bit tricky.

Stand up. Stretch your arms. Take a deep breath. Sit down. Done? Now, read further.

There are two ways to use the phrase going to.

a. We use going to when we talk about something that has a good chance of happening.

For example, you see dark clouds. And you say, “It is going to rain.” You are making a prediction based on some evidence–those dark clouds.

Another example sentence is: He is going to fall.

There is some evidence suggesting that this event could occur. For example, he may be replying to a WhatsApp message while walking down the stairs.

b. We also use going to when we have made a decision in the past, and we are talking about it right now.

Confused? Don’t be. This example should help:

Monday 10 am

Priya: Let’s go for a movie this evening.

Natasha: That’s a good idea. I’ll see what’s playing.

Monday 3 pm

Zach: Hi there! Do you and Priya have any plans later today?

Natasha: Yes. We are going to watch a movie.

Here, Natasha is telling Zach about a decision that has been made in the past. And that is why she uses ‘going to’.

Let’s imagine, instead of the Terminator saying, ‘I’ll be back’, he says: I‘m going to be back.

What does that mean? It means that he has made a decision in the past and he is telling us about it right now.

Does that make sense?

Just nod your head in agreement. (It’s the Terminator we’re talking about here.)

If your answer is no or maybe, read Natasha’s dialogue again.

Still want more? Try the explanation from Cambridge dictionary.

3. Shall

Shall is a lot like will. We use it to express a decision we make at the time of speaking.

Nowadays, in general, we don’t use shall that much. Having said that, there are some situations when shall works very well.

Picture this:

You are about to start a meeting at work. There is casual chatter in the room. You look around the table and ask:

“Shall we start?”

Isn’t that a polite, inclusive way to begin?

When you are participating in your next meeting (online or otherwise), see where you can insert a question with shall. For example, “Shall we move on to the next point?”

4. Present Continuous Tense

We use the present continuous tense to talk about plans or arrangements in the future that are already fixed or arranged.

This is an excellent way to talk about the future.

Remember those participants in my session in Noida? They kept on using–will be. Instead they could have said: Tomorrow morning, we are meeting the client. Doesn’t that sound pleasing to your ears? To me, that sounds smoother, more fluid than using will be.

Use the present continuous tense when talking about confirmed plans or arrangements.

This tense works well in a semi-formal / formal business environment.

To get you started, here are some examples:

I am making a presentation this Friday.

(This means that everything is set. The room has been reserved. The participants have been informed.)

We are leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow.

(This means that all arrangements–tickets, hotel accommodation, meetings with vendors–have been made.)

5. Present Simple Tense

We use the present simple to talk about fixed schedules.

For example: the train for Mumbai leaves at 11:00 am every day. This means that it will leave tomorrow at the same time as well.

You can also use the present simple tense when talking about major events in the future.

For example: The Shareholders’ Meeting starts at 9:00 am on 20 December.

If you have a major event in your personal life (the wedding reception is on ….) or in your profession life, use the the present simple tense.

6. Future continuous tense

We use the future continuous tense to talk about something going on at a particular time, or over a period of time, in the future.

For example:

Sam: Can we discuss the proposal tomorrow at 10?

Yoko: No, sorry… I’ll be meeting the sales team between 9 and 11 o’clock.

You can use the future continuous tense when explaining why you won’t be available at a particular time in the future.

What next?

I know that this post may be a bit of an overload. You have just read (or skimmed through) six different ways to talk about the future time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, here is some advice:

The next time you talk about the future, monitor yourself. Are you using will all the time? Or are there a lot of will be‘s ?
Once you have identified a pattern, the next step is to see how you can enrich your language. In the next meeting you have, see whether you can use shall. For example, you could say: Shall we start the meeting?
Take it easy. Don’t start using all six different ways in one go! Select one way. Use it five to ten times during different interactions / situations. And then move on to the next way. Slow and steady.

By talking about the future in different ways, you express yourself with more precision and clarity.

For more on the future time, read this post from British Council LearnEnglish.

Like to know more about grammar? How about learning about articles.

All about nouns in a nutshell

Read this sequence of words, and guess what is happening —

Colgate, Gillette, Dove, Levi’s, Kellogg’s, Samsonite, Samsung, Uber, Indira Gandhi International, Indigo, Maggie, Kempagowda International Airport, Ola, Radisson blu…

Yes, I woke up and brushed my teeth with Colgate toothpaste, took a shower with Dove soap, got ready, had Kellogg’s cereal for breakfast, booked an Uber cab on my Samsung cellphone, and left Delhi for Bengaluru airport. After reaching, I took an Ola cab to the Radisson Blu hotel.

All about nouns

Proper nouns

The list above is composed solely of nouns, proper nouns, to be precise. Proper nouns are specific places, persons, or events. And of course, brand names are proper nouns.

Isn’t it amazing that you were able to make sense of and find connections with all (or almost all) of the proper nouns in that list?

We live in a world that is saturated with proper nouns. In our daily lives, many of us have conversations teaming with proper nouns. Do we go to Subway or Pizza Hut for lunch? Coke or Pepsi? Should I buy shoes from Nike or Adidas?

There are other noun types out there. Maybe not as glamorous or enticing. But, they are important.

Common nouns

There are common nouns, which name a class of things, animals, people, or places. Yes, that’s the definition you learned (or memorized) at school. Examples of common nouns are: teacher, student, bird, city, and tree.

Concrete nouns

Then there are concrete nouns: nouns that you can know through your five senses. Words such as keys, tickets, and sunglasses. We deal with a lot of concrete nouns in our daily lives.

There is one type of noun that overshadows all the nouns we have seen till now. This is the most powerful category of nouns.

Abstract nouns

These nouns can inspire you to greatness, and they can make people do terrible things. You cannot see them, hear them, smell them, taste them, nor touch them. I’m talking about abstract nouns. Love. Hate. Justice. Jealousy. Forgiveness. War. Peace. Envy. Compassion. The list goes on and on. All these words are abstract nouns.

Now that you know the value of abstract nouns. Start thinking about them as well. Are you feeling jealousy? Or pity? Or compassion? Or … Abstract nouns help you introspect.

In 2008, Barack Obama’s election campaign centered on an abstract noun. It proved to be a successful choice. It captured the imagination and aspirations of the voting public. The abstract noun was: hope.

Image from wikipedia.org

Now, what on earth are uncountable nouns?

The difference between its and it’s

apostrophe-black Its or it’s. What’s the difference?

Is this correct? Its my life. Nope. Why not? Because there is no verb in that sentence. It should be: It’s my life.

It’s can mean two things: it is — or — it has. It all depends on the context. In our example sentence — It’s my life = It is my life. It is not: ~~It has my life.~~

Let’s look at another sentence: It’s been a while since we last met. Now, here, it’s = it has.

Its is another dish altogether. And it has two different and distinct flavors.

1. Possessive pronoun

cartoon-robot-free-vector-illustration-800x566

image from: superawesomevectors.com

Imagine you have a robot (like the one above). In general, we consider a robot to be a thing. So we would say: it is washing the dishes.

Let’s look at some dialogue —

Your friend: Whose book is that?

You (pointing to the robot): Oh… That’s its.

Your friend: I didn’t know robots can read.

That is one way of using its. Here its acts as possessive pronoun. If the book was yours, you would say: Oh… That’s mine. (Mine is another possessive pronoun, by the way.)

You are still reading this post. That means you are determined to understand it’s vs its. A positive sign. We have one more use of its and then we’re done. Promise.

2. Possessive adjective

A friend asks you: Whose book is that?

You (pointing to the robot): Oh… That’s its book.

Here its acts as a possessive adjective. It gives us more information about the book. If it is your book, you would say: Oh… That’s my book.

Do you get it?

Are you a bit confused? I hope not. Don’t worry about all the grammatical jargon (possessive pronoun, possessive adjective). Just think about when to use it’s and its.

Keep in mind that its can be used either as a pronoun (a word that replaces a noun) or as an adjective (a word that describes a noun).

Phew! Done.

Next time someone emails you: Its okay. You know what is not okay!

For more on grammar, read these posts on articles and prepositions.