3

First job

Curso de Ingls
Avanzado

1. Listening: First day in the office

Warm-up. Match the jobs to the related words

KEY:

1. Accountant

a) Cows

2. Chef

b) Houses

3. Estate agent

c) Waste

4. Plumber

d) Wardrobes

5. Refuse collector

e) Taxes

6. Fire-fighter

f) Ignition

7. Carpenter

g) Pipes

8. Vet

h) Cinnamon

1.e 2.h 3.b 4.g 5.c 6.f 7.d 8.a

1.1. Listening transcript: First day in the office

A new employee, Diane Coleman, is going to join the staff of EuroMachinery Inc. He
is going to be the new sales manager. He has an appointment with Steve Bell, the
companys general manager:
Steve Bell: Good morning! Let me introduce myself; Im Steven Bell, general
manager of EuroMachinery Inc. You must be Mr. Coleman, am I right?
Diane Coleman: Good morning, sir. Yes, you are completely right. Im very
pleased to meet you.
Steve Bell: Its nice to meet you too, Mr. Coleman. Please, come in! Ive been
waiting for you.

Diane Coleman: Im sorry Im late. Ive been walking around the area for a while
until Ive been able to find the building. However, Ive come across it when I was
about to call you.
Steve Bell: Dont worry about that. I know that our headquarters are a little bit
difficult to locate. At least youve been able to find us; many of our employees used
to get lost on their way here during their first days. Im sure you will hear several
stories about this during the following days. But now lets get straight to the point.
As you may know, we have chosen you to be the companys sales manager. Has
anybody told you about your new job?
Diane Coleman: No, but Ive been the sales manager of another company for the
last twenty-three years, so I consider myself to have a sound knowledge of this
field.
Steve Bell: Of course; Im sure of that. Thats why you are here! Come with me,
please. I want to show you something.
Diane Coleman: All right; thank you.
Steve Bell: Here it is. Welcome to your new office, Mr. Coleman! Im sorry it isnt
ready yet, but you will be working here as soon as possible, hopefully next week.
Meanwhile, you will have to share that office with the administration manager. I
hope you have no objection to this temporary situation.
Diane Coleman: Of course I havent, Mr. Bell! Besides, itll be a good chance to
get to know one of my workmates from the beginning.
Steve Bell: Good; Im glad to hear that. Now let me introduce to you Mrs. Anne
Rogers, our account manager. Anne, heres Diane Coleman, the new sales
manager.
Anne Rogers: Nice to meet you.
Diane Coleman: Nice to meet you, too.

Steve Bell: Mr. Coleman, we have heard a lot about you and your achievements as
a sales manager, so I would like to thank you for having accepted to share your
experience with us. I personally hope that you feel comfortable here.
Diane Coleman: Im honoured to hear that. I love my job, so theres no doubt Ill
do my best to help the company to improve its sales rates. Thank you for giving me
the opportunity of joining this company.
Steve Bell: Dont mention it. Now Ill show you the rest of the building before
lunch. You can start working tomorrow. What do you think?
Diane Coleman: That sounds perfect to me. Id love to start as soon as possible.
Exercise 1: Comprehension questions. Read these statements and decide
whether they are true or false.
1. The general manager of EuroMachinery Inc. is Diane Coleman.
a) True
b) False

2. The new sales manager, Ms. Diane Coleman, is late to his appointment with Mr.
Steve Bell, the companys general manager.
a) True
b) False

3. Ms. Coleman is going to work as a sales manager for the first time in his life.
a) True
b) False

4. Ms. Colemans new office isnt ready yet. Therefore, he will have to work in the
account manager office for a long time.
a) True
b) False

5. Ms. Coleman will start working immediately

a) True
b) false

KEY: 1b; 2a; 3b; 4b, 5b

Exercise 2: Vocabulary. Which words do they use to refer to the following
concepts?
1. Personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task (noun)
___
2. The office that serves as the administrative centre of a company. Its usually a
plural word (noun)
___
3. To discover where something usually place or building- is (verb)
___
4. The act of expressing opposition or protest against something (noun)
___
6. Lasting for a relatively short period of time (adjective)
___
KEY: staff; headquarters; locate; objection; temporary

Exercise 3: Fill the gaps with the words given

Business job work

1. Shes not at home, shes just left to go to ___

2. They own a very profitable ___
3. I cant go out, I have a lot of ___ to do
4. Hes been unemployed for a few months but hes just found a new ___
5. Hes bought an expensive ___ by an important painter

KEY: 1.work 2.business 3.work 4.job 5.work

1.2 Countable and uncountable nouns

In English nouns can be countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns
Countable nouns are easy to recognize. They are things that we can count.
For example: "apple".

Countable nouns can be singular or plural:

I bought an apple
I bought three apples

We can use the indefinite article a/an with countable nouns:

An apple is a fruit

When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/the/my/this with
it:
I want an apple. (not I want apple.)
Where is my car? (not Where is car?)

When a countable noun is plural, we can use it alone:

I like apples.
Cars are fast.

We can use some and any with countable nouns:

I've got some apples.
Have you got any apples?

We can use a few and many with countable nouns:

I've got a few apples.
I haven't got many apples.

Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into
separate elements. We cannot "count" them. For example, we cannot count
"water". We can count "bottles of water" or "litres of water.

Uncountable nouns dont have a plural form :

This water is very pure.
Your luggage looks heavy.

We do not use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot
say "an information" or "a music". But we can say a something of:
a piece of news
a bottle of water
a grain of rice

We can use some and any with uncountable nouns:

I've got some water.
Have you got any milk?

We can use a little and much with uncountable nouns:

I've got a little water.
I haven't got much rice.

Countable and uncountable

Sometimes a noun can be countable or uncountable, but with a difference in
meaning. Lets see some examples:
Hair
Theres a hair in my soup!
He doesnt have much hair left
Room
My house has 3 rooms and two bathrooms
Theres no room for you in this house

Exercise 1: Write the words in the right column

Accident

Service

Bed

Suggestion

Accommodation

Suitcase

Damage

Software

Bus

Office

Equipment

Transport

Food

News

Furniture
Hotel

Countable

Uncountable

KEY: Countable: Accident, Bed, Bus, Hotel, Service, Suggestion, Suitcase,

Office.

Uncountable:

Accommodation,

Damage,

Equipment,

Software, Transport, news

Exercise 2: Choose the right option

1. How ___ sugar do you want?
a) much
b) many
c) some

2. I havent got ___ luggage

a) much
b) many
c) some

3. She didn't eat much for lunch, only ___ apple.

a) much
b) an
c) some

10

Food,

Furniture,

4. How ___ people did you invite?

a) much
b) many
c) some

5. Laura hasnt got ___ money.

a) much
b) many
c) some

KEY: 1.a 2.a 3.b 4.b 5.a

1.3 Articles

The indefinite article a (or an before a vowel sound) means one and it is used
with singular countable nouns.
Ex: There is a book on the shelf. (one of many that exist)
We also use a/an to speak about
- Jobs: Im a teacher
- Definitions: A teacher is a person who works in a school
- Exclamations: What a fantastic weekend!

11

The definite article the means the only and it is used with countable and
uncountable nouns.
Ex: Can you bring me the book? (a particular book)
We also use the for
- Oceans, seas and rivers: The Thames
- Regions: the Midlands
- Groups of islands: The Canary Islands
- Names of countries which include Republic, Kingdom, States or Emirates:
The United Kingdom
- Deserts and mountain ranges: The Alps
- Also with sea, coast, seaside, country, mountains, hills: I love spending
summer in the seaside.

We dont use the with:

- Lakes: Lake Michigan
- Continents, states, cities, towns and villages: Paris
- Buildings that use the name of their town: Edinburgh Castle

We use no article when we speak about all or when the quantity is not
important (when we speak in general) and we use it with uncountable and
countable nouns.
Ex: Books are becoming less and less popular among young people.

Sometimes we can use the or no article before some places with a change of
meaning. For example:
- At school (the study there)

12

- At the school (visiting the building)

- In hospital (as a patient)
- In the hospital (working or visiting)

Exercise 1: Choose the right option

1. That house has been designed by ___ famous Italian architect

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

2. I bought ___ beautiful dress

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

3. I think ___ woman there is the general manager

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

13

4. I watched ___ amazing film last night

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

5. Ive been learning to play ___ piano

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

6. I never eat ___ carrots

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

7. ___ boy I told you, lives next door

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

14

8. ___ people are so selfish!

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

9. I would like to have ___ rice

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

10. ___ price of petrol keeps rising

a) a
b) an
c) the
d)

KEY: 1.a 2.a 3.c 4.b 5.c 6.d 7.c 8.d 9.d 10.c

15

Exercise 2: Fill the gaps with a suitable article.

1. ___ Nile is the longest river in the world
2. Hes been on a trip to ___ Pennines
3. He spends more than 12 hours a day in ___ hospital
4. My sister is ___ hairdresser
5. What ___ lovely house you have!

KEY: 1.the 2.the 3.the 4.a 5.a

2. Reading: Best part-time jobs

Warm up. Answer the following questions:
a) What did you want to do as a job when you were a boy/ girl? Why?
b) What job did you choose finally? Why?
c) What do you do at the moment?
d) Would you change if you had a chance?
e) What would you like to do? Why?

2.1 Reading: Best part-time jobs

Read the following text:
Finding and keeping a part-time job while attending high school can be a
daunting task. Balancing work with classes, homework, extracurricular activities,
and just hanging out with friends can be tough, but millions of teens are able to
manage part-time work along with their other responsibilities.

16

During my first two years of high school I was a paper delivery boy, leaving
at 4 am every morning to deliver newspapers. I also went out once or twice a week
in the evening to collect money from my customers. For the last two years of school
I had a retail job, behind the counter at a drugstore. These jobs taught me how to
manage money, how to handle responsibility, and how to deal with the general
public. They were invaluable experiences and provided me with some much-needed
autonomy and spending money, too.
Should High School Students Work Jobs?
There are different schools of thought on whether teenagers should have
part-time jobs, but I find that the pros easily outweigh any cons. A teenager who
works long hours every day after school could see his or her schoolwork suffer, but
a less-intensive part-time job can be a wonderful learning experience. If kids can
get to school on time, maintain solid grades, and participate in school activities,
part-time jobs in high school can be beneficial to their success.
Lets examine some popular part-time jobs and small business opportunities
for high school students, along with some of the advantages and disadvantages of
each:
1. Animal Shelter Worker
If you love animals, working at an animal shelter could be a great part-time
job while you are in school. Shelters hire minimum-wage employees to spend time
with the animals and clean out their cages. If you want to become a veterinarian,
this part-time job provides you with hands-on experience, working closely with
animals.
2. Babysitting
Babysitting a sibling or a younger neighbour is a rite of passage amongst
many teens. Babysitters usually work Friday and Saturday evenings, leaving the
week open for completing homework and participating in school-related activities.
3. Grocery Store Employee
Grocery stores hire students throughout the year. There are many different
jobs at a grocery store; workers can bag groceries, stock shelves, mop floors, or
even operate a cash register. Part-time employees can expect to make minimum

17

wage working at a grocery store. Many grocery stores have unionized cash register
operators, so these jobs can pay a bit more than the other options listed here.
4. Pizza Delivery
If you have a car and a good driving record, you can get a job delivering
pizzas. Delivery drivers dont get paid very much, but they do receive tips. Work
typically entails driving back and forth to the pizza place, picking up pizzas and
delivering them to customers.
Students with pizza delivery jobs have a sense of autonomy, and they can
listen to their own music while they are working. Delivering pizzas on time and
collecting money teaches responsibility, and teenagers love the freedom of driving
their own vehicle. It may not be glamorous, but with the right attitude, and a good
pizza, delivery drivers can have a good time at work, while making decent money.
5. Restaurant Wait Staff
The pay for professional wait staff at a restaurant will likely be well below
minimum wage. The customers can be a pain, and shifts can run late into the
evening, but restaurant employees also have a lot of fun at work. There is a lot of
camaraderie with fellow employees, the tips can be good, and employees typically
receive discounted or free meals during their shifts.
Being a member of a wait staff teaches patience, customer service, money
management, food handling, food preparation, and multi-tasking skills that can pay
off after high school. Being a waiter is a very popular job for teenagers both during
the school year, and in the summer. Its a good job that offers scheduling flexibility
and a solid number of shifts each week.
Adapted from 15 Best Part-Time Jobs for High School Students
by David Quilty

18

Exercise 1: Comprehension questions. Say if these sentences are true or

false according to the text
1. Not many teenagers manage to keep a job while studying
a) True
b) False

2. The writer used to work as a delivery boy from the evening until 4 am
a) True
b) False

3. The writer finds many advantages in part time jobs

a) True
b) False

4. Babysitting allows teenagers to dedicate more time during the week to

school
a) True
b) False

5. Wait staff is well paid.

a) True
b) False

KEY: 1.b 2.b 3.a 4.a 5.b

19

Exercise 2: Vocabulary. Join the verbs with their definition

1. Attend

a) become or cause to become members of a trade union

2. Manage

b) succeed in surviving or in achieving something despite difficult

circumstances

3. Provide

c) be present at (an event, meeting, or function)

4. Outweigh

d) make available for use; supply

5. Unionize

e) be heavier, greater, or more significant than

6. Entail

f) involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or

consequence

KEY: 1.c 2.b 3.d 4.e 5.a 6.f

Exercise 3: Vocabulary. Choose the right option
1. The workers were paid their ___ every week
a) income
b) salary
c) wages

2. Shes only been in the company for tree months. Its a/an___
a) overtime
b) part time
c) temporary

20

3. I think Tom ___ over 20.000 a year

a) earn
b) win
c) gain

4. The company is paying my travel ___

a) costs
b) needs
c) expenses

5. I need a week ___ to relax

a) away
b) out
c) off

KEY: 1.c2.c3.a 4.c 5.1c

2.2 Infinitive or ing form

When two verbs appear together in a sentence, the first verb determines if
the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form) or the infinitive form
(to+base form). It depends on the firs verb.

21

1) Verb + to infinitive (most verbs). For example:

Afford

Deserve

Prepare

Agree

Fail

Pretend

Aim

Hope

Promise

Appear

Learn

Refuse

Arrange

Manage

Seem

Attempt

Neglect

Tend

Choose

Offer

Threaten

Decide

Omit

Wait

Demand

Plan

Wish

Ex: I you decide to come youll make me happy

Some of these verbs always need an object:

Dare

Order

Tell

Encourage

Persuade

Warn

Force

Remind

Invite

Teach

Ex: My father reminded me to come early

22

Some verbs can have an object or not:

Want

Beg

Ask

Help

Expect

Intend

Ex: I want to go to the party

I want you to go to the party

2) Verb + ing form

Admit

Deny

Keep (on)

Appreciate

Detest

Mention

Avoid

Dislike

Mind

Cant face

Enjoy

Miss

Cant help

Fancy

Postpone

Cant stand

Feel like

Practise

Carry on

Finish

Put off

Confess

Give up

Risk

Consider

Imagine

Resist

Delay

Involve

Suggest

Ex: I miss spending time with you

23

3) Verb + to infinitive/ ing form with no difference in meaning

Attempt

Love

Begin

Prefer

Cant bear

Propose

Continue

Start

Hate

I prefer eating out

I prefer to eat out

Note: We dont use two -ing forms one after another

I am starting reading the book. But I am starting to read the book.
Although like, prefer, hate and love can be followed by to infinitive o ring
form, would like, would prefer, would love and would hate are always followed by to
infinitive.
Ex: I would like to visit you some day.

4) Verb + to infinitive/ ing form with difference in meaning

Remember

Go on

Forget

Like

Regret
Try
Stop
Mean

24

Remember to bring a towel (the action is necessary)

I remember bringing the towel (a memory of a past action)

I forgot to bring the towel. (an action which was necessary)

Ill never forget driving for the first time (a memory from a past action)

We regret to hear that, but life goes on.(I feel sorry)

Now I regret having smoked so much during my whole life.(I wish I hadnt)

Mike is trying to fix the oven.(attempt to do it)

I tried pushing this key but the computer is still locked.(as an experiment)

An old man stopped to talk to us.(in order to do something)

Can you all stop making noise, please?

I think that Julian didnt mean to break the window.(didnt intend to do it)

I need to go to New York, which means taking a plane.(it involves)

He went on to explain the plan (the next thing he did)

He went on explaining the plan (he continued)

I like to brush my teeth every time I eat.(it doesnt mean I enjoy doing it)

I like walking around the mountains. (I enjoy doing it)

25

(finish doing something)

Exercise 1: Choose the right option in these sentences:

1. He says he remembers ___ turtle eggs when he was a child.
a) to eat
b) eating
2. On my way home, I stopped ___ a briefcase.
a) to buy
b) buying

3. I regret ___ you that I shall be resigning from my position as sales manager.
a) to inform
b) informing

4. Im terribly sorry, Anne. I didnt mean ___ you.

a) to hurt
b) hurting

5. Daniel enjoys ___ comedy films

a) watching
b) to watch

6. Gina suggested ___ for a drink after work.

a) going
b) to go

26

7. When did you learn ___ the piano?

a) playing
b) to play

8. Do you mind ___ me with my homework?

a) helping
b) to help

9. John is planning ___ to the UK next month

a) travelling
b) to travel
10. He asked __ to the general manager
a) talking
b) to talk

KEY. 1b; 2a; 3a; 4; 5a; 6a; 7b; 8a; 9b; 10b.

Exercise 2: Fill the gaps with one of the verbs given.

smoking - to take opening - to borrow to go 1. I might want ___ you Science notes.
2. We cant afford ___ a vacation this summer
3. Do you mind ___ a window?

27

4. I like ___ to the dentist once a year.

5. I feel a lot healthier since I stopped ___

KEY: 1.to borrow 2.to take 3.opening 4.to go 5.smoking

Exercise 3: Write the verb given in the right form
1. I forgot ___ her we were meeting at 3 oclock. (tell)
2. I dont remember ___ the car there. (park)
3. I like ___ early so I avoid the traffic. (get up)
4. I regret ___ so badly. (behave)
5. I tried ___ the computer by myself but the it was worse. (fix)

KEY: 1.to tell 2.parking 3.to get up 4.behaving 5.to fix

3. Grammar: Future tenses

3.1 Expressing the future
There are several ways of speaking about the future in English:

1) Future simple
-

When we are not certain, especially with verbs like think, hope, expect and
words like probably and maybe
Ex: I think this summer will be warmer.

For predictions for the future

Ex: Mary will be taller than her mother

For situations which dont depend on the speaker

28

Ex: Therell be a storm tonight.

-

To make requests: Will you help me with the bags?

To make promises: Ill be back

To make offers: Ill buy you a coffee

To express a decision taken while speaking: Thats the door, Ill open

2) Future continuous
- For actions happening or in progress at a specific time in the future or over
a period of time in the future
Ex: Dont wait for me; Ill be working all night

3) Future perfect
- For actions completed before a time mentioned in the future
Ex: Ill be able to go out on Saturday I will have finished the project by then

4) Going to future
- For predictions about the future based on present evidence
Ex: If you keep working so hard you are going to pass all your subjects.
- For future plans and intentions
Ex: Im going to study medicine.

5) Present continuous
- For plans arranged between people for the future
Ex: We are meeting her at the airport

29

6) Present simple
- For events fixed in an schedule, timetables, programmes, etc
Ex: The train leaves at 9 oclock

7) Future perfect simple and future perfect continuous

- Future perfect simple is used for actions which will be complete at a point
of time in the future
Ex: By the end of the week Ill have finished my exams.
We use the future perfect continuous to emphasise how long an action will
have lasted up to a point in the future.
Ex: By the end of this week Ill have been living in Spain for one month.

8) To be about to
We use to be about to talk about something which is going to happen very
soon and for which we are ready
Ex: Can we speak later? Im about to have a bath.

Exercise 1: Choose the right option

1. If you arrive late to the party, the best food ___

a) is going to go
b) will go
c) will be gone

30

2. Peter ___ fifty next Friday

a) will be
b) is
c) is going to be

3. Jack ___ a party next Sunday.

a) is having
b) will have
c) is about to have

4. I ___ at 11 am tomorrow.
a) will have worked
b) will be working
c) am working

5. Lessons ___ at 5 p.m. next month

a) are starting
b) will start
c) start

KEY: 1.c 2.a 3.a 4.b 5.c

31

Exercise 2: Choose the right option

1. Mary wants to speak with you. Please tell her that I ___ her as soon as I'm
free.
a) will call
b) will have called
c) will have been calling

2. Let's meet at three o'clock tomorrow. Sorry, I ___ at three oclock

a) will be working
b) will have worked
c) will have been working

3. Say goodbye to Lisa now. By the time you return, she ___ for Paris
a) will be leaving
b) will have left
c) will have been leaving

4. By 2020, he ___ as the director of this company for thirty years.

a) will work
b) will be working
c) will have been working

32

5. Why don't you ask Tom for help? I'm sure that he ___ you
a) will help
b) will have helped
c) will have been helping

6. Please don't ring the doorbell when you get here. My baby ___
a) will be sleeping
b) will have slept
c) will have been sleeping

7. Where are you going to spend your vacation? I don't know yet. Maybe we ___
to Italy next summer.
a) will go
b) will have gone
c) will have been going

8. Oh, you'll recognize him. He ___ a brown leather jacket and a red scarf.
a) will be wearing
b) will have worn
c) will have been wearing
9. She buys too many things. She ___ all her money long before her next pay.
a) will be spending
b) will have spent
c) will have been spending

33

10. By the end of the week I ___ home.

a) will arrive
b) will have arrived
c) will have been arriving

KEY: 1.a 2.a 3.b 4.c 5.a 6.a 7.a 8. a 9.b 10.b

Exercise 3: Fill the gaps with the words given:

Will live will still be looking will have finished will have found will
have run will certainly be will have changed will be driving will be travelling
will finally be

It's hard to make predictions too far into the future but I suppose in 20
years' time I ___ my studies and I ___ a good job. I ___ independent and I ___ all
the time. The world ___ different: people ___ electric cars and we out of petrol. I
expect everyone ___ their habits, but scientists ___ for a way to control global
warming. I hope I ___ long enough to see it all happen!

KEY: 1. will have finished 2. will have found 3. will finally be 4. will be
travelling 5. will certainly be 6. will be driving 7. will have run 8. will have changed
9. will still be looking 10. will live

34

Exercise 4: Use the verbs in brackets in the correct future tenses. Use willfuture, going to-future, simple present or present progressive.

1. The train ___ at 13.23. (leave)

2. We ___ Sarahs birthday on Saturday. (celebrate)
3. Look at the clouds! It ___ (rain)
4. Wait! I ___ you to school. (drive)
5. I ___ Thomas at 8 in the evening. (meet)
6. Ive decided I ___ Chemistry. (study)
7. Thats the phone ringing, I __ it. (answer)
8. If he keeps behaving like that he ___ his friends. (lose)
9. The bill, please! I ___ (pay)
10. The meeting ___ at 9 oclock. (start)

KEY: 1.leaves 2.are celebrating 3.is going to 4.will drive 5.am meeting 6.am
going to study 7.will answer 8.is going to lose 9.will pay 10.starts

35

Exercise 5: Fill the gaps with the right verb form

1. This time tomorrow, Maria ___ on a beach in Majorca. (sunbathe)

2. Wake me up by nine o'clock - I ___ long enough by then. (sleep)
3. Look, I can give you a lift to the station - I ___ that way anyway. (drive)
4. It's strange that when we get to Sydney, we ___ half way round the
world. (fly)
5. Don't phone me between 7 and 8. We ___ dinner then. (have)
6. Phone me after 8 o'clock. We ___ dinner by then. (finish)
7. Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30.
So at 4 o'clock, we ___ tennis. (play)
8. Do you think you ___ the same job in ten years' time? (still/do)
9. By the time you get home I ___ the house from top to bottom. (clean)
10. Tom is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he
continues like this, he ___ all his money before the end of his holiday. (spend)

KEY: 1. will be sunbathing 2. will have slept 3. will be driving 4. will have flown 5.
will be having 6. will have finished 7. will be playing 8. will still be doing 9. will have
cleaned 10. will have spent

36

RECUERDA

Countable nouns are things that we can count.

Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into
separate elements. We do not use the indefinite article a/an with
uncountable nouns but we can use some, any, a little and much.

Sometimes a noun can be countable or uncountable, but with a difference

in meaning.

The indefinite article a (or an before a vowel sound) means one and it is
used with singular countable nouns.

The definite article the means the only and it is used with countable and
uncountable nouns.

We use no article when we speak about all or when the quantity is not
important.

When two verbs appear together in a sentence, the first verb determines if
the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form) or the infinitive
form (to+base form).

To express future actions we use future simple when we are not certain,
especially with verbs like think, hope, expect and words like probably.

Future continuous for actions happening or in progress at a specific time in

the future or over a period of time in the future

Future perfect for actions completed before a time in the future.

Going to future for predictions about the future based on evidence.

Present continuous for plans arranged between people for the future.

Present simple for events fixed in an schedule, timetables or programmes.

Future perfect simple is used for actions which will be complete at a point
of time in the future.

Future perfect continuous to emphasise how long an action will have lasted
up to a point in the future.

We use to be about to to talk about something which is going to happen

very soon and for which we are ready.

37

38