Lesson 29
Speaking Intensive: Past and Future
Roleplay passado e futuro
Why Tense Blending Matters
In natural English, speakers shift between past and future within one story — e.g., ‘I went to Rio last year; I will go back next summer.’
️
Common mistake: Portuguese speakers often say *‘Went to Rio and will go back’* — they drop the subject pronoun. Native English speakers need it: *‘I went to Rio and I will go back next summer.’*
Key Past-Future Linking Phrases
| Phrase | Function | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| After that, | Depois disso, | [af-ter dat] |
| Next year, | No ano que vem, | [nekst yiir] |
| I’ve done this before, but... | Já fiz isso antes, mas... | [aiv dan dis be-for, bat] |
| In two months, | Daqui a dois meses, | [in tu manths] |
Tense Shift Drill: One Story, Two Times
Past anchor
→
Future pivot
‘I started my cooking class in January.’
‘Next month, I am going to take my first practical test.’
‘I moved to São Paulo three years ago.’
‘In 2025, I am going to move abroad.’
Grammar Spotlight: Simple vs. Compound Future
1
I will take the exam
Farei o exame
2
I am going to take the exam
Vou fazer o exame
will (Simple future)
More formal, planned certainty
going to (Near future)
More common in speech, implies intention/immediacy
Past Tense Review: Which One?
| Context | English Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Completed action, definite time | Simple Past | ‘Yesterday I finished the report.’ |
| Background/habit in past | Used to / Past Continuous | ‘When I lived in Recife, I would drink coffee on the beach.’ |
| Past action interrupted by another | Past Continuous + Simple Past | ‘I was studying when the doorbell rang.’ |
Roleplay Prep: Situation Cards
A
You moved to a new city two years ago. Tell your new coworker how the move was and what you plan for next year.
B
You did an exchange program last year. Explain your experience and what you will do on your next exchange.
Language Boost: Natural Fillers & Corrections
✓
‘Oh, right! I had already done that... but now I am going to try again.’
(past perfect + near future)
✓
‘Actually, I haven't gone yet — but I want to go next month.’
(pretérito + present + near future)
‘Actually’, ‘Oh, right’, ‘Let me think’ (Na verdade, ah, certo, deixa eu pensar) make speech sound fluent—not hesitant.
Roleplay Round 1: Structured Exchange
Speaker A
→
Speaker B
1. Talk about your move: where, when, how it was.
2. Say 1 thing you already did there and 1 you will do.
2. Say 1 thing you already did there and 1 you will do.
1. Reply with a question about the past.
2. Share your own related future plan.
2. Share your own related future plan.
Error Spotlight: L1 Interference
️
✗ ‘Went to São Paulo and will stay there.’
✓ ‘I went to São Paulo and I will stay there.’
(Subject pronoun omitted — common in Brazilian Portuguese, but required in English)
✓ ‘I went to São Paulo and I will stay there.’
(Subject pronoun omitted — common in Brazilian Portuguese, but required in English)
️
✗ ‘Was studying when saw the email.’
✓ ‘I was studying when I saw the email.’
(Subject is required in English after conjunctions like "when")
✓ ‘I was studying when I saw the email.’
(Subject is required in English after conjunctions like "when")
Roleplay Round 2: Freer Flow
O
Each speaker: 2 minutes
Goal: Use at least 3 tense shifts (past → future → past, etc.)
Respond to your partner’s ideas — don’t just list facts!
Peer Feedback Protocol
| What I noticed | Feedback phrase |
|---|---|
| Strong tense shift | “I liked when you used ‘after that’ to connect past and future.” |
| Natural filler | “It was great to hear ‘actually’ — it sounds very natural!” |
| Clear future plan | “Your phrase ‘I am going to sign up’ made your plan very clear.” |
Fluency Challenge: The 30-Second Story
O
Tell a true 30-second story:
• Start with a past event
• Include 2 future plans
• Use at least one linking phrase
• Start with a past event
• Include 2 future plans
• Use at least one linking phrase
Listen and count tense shifts.
Did your partner use:
✓ Simple Past?
✓ Near future?
✓ Linking phrase?
Did your partner use:
✓ Simple Past?
✓ Near future?
✓ Linking phrase?
Real-World Connection
In job interviews, Brazilians often describe past experience (‘I worked in marketing for five years’ (Trabalhei em marketing por cinco anos)) and immediately pivot to future contribution (‘I can apply this experience to your new project.’ (Posso aplicar essa...))
At social gatherings, people link past trips to future plans: ‘I went to Bahia twice — in three months, I will explore the whole Northeast!’
Self-Check: My Progress Today
✓
I used at least two different past tenses correctly
✓
I shifted smoothly from past to future (or vice versa)
✓
I used a natural filler or linking phrase
✓
I understood my partner’s tense shifts
Homework Preview
Record a 60-second voice memo:
• Describe one past achievement
• Name two concrete future steps
• Use ‘after that’ or ‘in’ (e.g. in two weeks)
• Describe one past achievement
• Name two concrete future steps
• Use ‘after that’ or ‘in’ (e.g. in two weeks)
Listen to Podcast ‘English in Context’ Ep. 42:
Track 3 past→future shifts. Bring notes.
Track 3 past→future shifts. Bring notes.
Wrap-Up & Reflection
Tense blending isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection.
You’re not just speaking grammar.
You’re telling your story across time.
You’re not just speaking grammar.
You’re telling your story across time.
One word to describe how you feel about speaking past/future now:
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