Exercise I Future Tense

Exercise I

A. Choose the words from the list to complete in the correct gaps.

Is about to                  plans to           is likely to       is sure to         should            

expect                         hopes to          anticipate        guarantee to   are on the point of

Mary: When do Brian's exams start?

Anna: Well he ____________________ start them. The first one is tomorrow, in fact.

Mary: Do you ____________________ him to do well?

Anna: We think he will. He's taking nine subjects, and he's quite optimistic. He __________ __________ pass at least six of them - he's very good at those six subjects. We think that he ____________________ pass two of the others: French and art - he's studied very hard, but he's not naturally gifted in those subjects. We've got no hopes at all for music. He ____________________ to fail it. I don't know why the school entered him for it.

Mary: What does he want to do next year?

Anna: That depends. If he does well, he ____________________ stay on at school for two years and study sciences.

Mary: Can he stay at the same school?

Anna: Well, that's the problem. No, he can't, because his school only takes pupils up to sixteen. But we've just heard that they ____________________ opening the new six-form college in Fareham. We ____________________ being able to send him there, but we don't know for certain.

Mary: And if he doesn't pass enough exams?

Anna: Well, he might leave and look for a job. My elder sister says she _________________ have a vacancy for a trainee in her business, but obviously she can't ______________ ______ take him.

B. Underline the word or expression which best completes the sentence.

1. Here in Augusta the final day of the US Golf Masters is on the verge of/ is sure to/ is about to begin and we could be on the verge of/ bound to/ likely to a historic win. Tiger Woods, who is on the point of/ is due to/ is unlikely to start his bid for a place in the history books in forty minutes, could complete the grand slam – winning all four golf masters tournaments in one year. Woods starts today in the lead and he is on the verge of/ unlikely to/ certain to give up that lead easily. This is going to be an exciting day, folks, so be sure to/ due to/ bound to book you place in front of the TV and settle down for a thrilling day’s viewing!

2. Hollywood’s king and queen – Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts – are on the point of/ are to/ are bound to star opposite each other in Ridley Scott’s new blockbuster. N interviews of press releases are are unlikely imminent/ bound, but rumour has it that the film. Filming is on the point of/ is due to/ is on the verge of start in September, but because of other commitments the two stars are sure not to/ unlikely to/ not about to join the set until next year. One thing is certain: with that combination of director and stars, the film is bound to/ due to/ on the verge of be a success!