will (predictions and promises)

The crystal-ball verb: it will rain, I will help you, robots will do homework. Guesses, promises and the whole future in one little word.

From age 9Cambridge level: A2 Flyers

Age: Ages 9–11
Level: A2
Skill: Grammar
Format: Teacher guide

The pattern

Saying it: I will help. It will rain.
Saying no: It won't hurt.
Asking: Will it snow?
Short answer: Yes, it will. / No, it won't.

Printable worksheet Presentation (PPT)

Sentences a child can say

Tap any sentence to hear it. Every one uses words from a topic pack you already have.

Mini exercise: choose the right word

Five sentences from this page, each with a word missing. A child taps the word that fits and, once it is right, hears the whole sentence.

I will blank you.
It will blank tomorrow.
You will blank this book.
Robots will blank our rooms.
One day I will blank to the moon.

What you will actually hear

The mistakes that come up in every class, and what is behind each one, with a tag on those a first language makes typical.

I will to help.I will help.

Will is a modal like can and must — straight to the bare verb, no to.

He wills come.He will come.

Modals never bend for he and she. Will is the same for every subject — that is half its charm.

How to teach it

1
Predictions first, plans never: 'Look at the clouds — it will rain!' Will's home turf is the guess, and weather delivers a fresh guess daily.
2
The year-3000 game: children draw the future and present it — 'Cars will fly. School will be on the moon.' Big dreams, identical grammar every sentence.
3
Make promises real: end the week with 'Next week I will…' — one promise per child, checked the following Friday. Kept promises make will unforgettable.

Topic packs that pair with this

Same structure, words your class already knows — no new vocabulary needed.

Space Weather & sky Jobs Transport Birthday party

Questions teachers ask

How do I keep will and going to apart?

By job, not by rule: going to reports a plan already made ('We're going to have a picnic'), will guesses or promises on the spot ('It will rain! I'll bring the cake!'). Children sort them by situation faster than by explanation.

Won't confuses them — it doesn't sound like will not.

Introduce it as a character: won't is will's grumpy twin. Say the pair aloud daily for a week — will/won't, will/won't — and the strange vowel settles in.