DecisionsMade Now
will for spontaneous decisions, offers & promises
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Mime: phone rings on the table — respond in one sentence starting 'I'll…'
Your partner looks tired. Make three different offers using 'I'll…'
Make a fast promise to your partner for this week using 'I'll…'
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minwill for spontaneous decisions, offers & promises
Use WILL when you decide RIGHT NOW, not before.
→ That looks heavy — I'll carry it for you.
→ I'll have the soup, please.
→ I'll send you the link as soon as I get home.
→ Don't worry — I won't be late.
More detail
Three big uses: 1) SPONTANEOUS DECISION — 'I'll have the pasta.' (deciding at the menu). 2) OFFER — 'I'll get this round.' / 'I'll help you.' 3) PROMISE — 'I'll call you tomorrow, I promise.' Contrast with 'going to' (already planned): 'I'm going to have the pasta — I checked the menu earlier.' Quick refusal: 'I won't tell anyone.' Native speakers almost always contract: I'll, you'll, won't.
Question 1.(phone rings) — 'I ____ get it.'
Question 2.(menu) — 'I ____ have the steak.'
Question 3.(bag drops) — 'I ____ help you!'
Question 4.A: 'My laptop's dead.' B: 'I ____ lend you mine.'
Question 5.'Promise you ____ call?' 'I ____.'
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
Hang on a sec
wait a second (informal)
"Hang on a sec — I'll grab my keys."
When did you last say this today?
Leave it to me
I'll handle it
"Leave it to me — I'll book the table."
Offer to handle one thing for your partner.
to be on it
to be already starting
"I'm on it — give me 5 minutes."
Reply 'I'm on it' to a task.
no worries
it's fine, don't apologise
"Late? No worries — I'll wait."
Use no worries in a reply.
fair enough
OK, I accept your point
"Fair enough — I'll do it tomorrow."
Use 'fair enough' to accept a refusal.
to keep someone posted
give updates
"I'll keep you posted on the meeting."
Promise to keep someone posted about something.
to give someone a hand
help
"I'll give you a hand with the boxes."
Offer a hand for a real task today.
to figure out
work out / solve
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out."
Reply with 'we'll figure it out' to a small problem.
Discuss with a partner
- →Partner names a problem; you respond with 'leave it to me' + an 'I'll…' offer.
- →Promise three real things to your partner using 'I'll' and 'I won't'.
Finish the sentence about you
- Leave it to me — I'll… …
- No worries, I'll… …
- I'll keep you posted on… …
60-second write
Write 5 fast text replies, each starting with 'I'll…'
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minStrong stress on the verb after 'I'll'
- • I'll CARry that for you. (offer)
- • I'll CALL you tomorrow. (promise)
- • I'll PAY this time. (decision)
- • I won't FORget. (firm promise)
How to say it
When making an offer or promise, the 'I'll' is fast and light, but the action verb is strongly stressed: 'I'll CARry it.' 'I'll CALL you.' 'I'll FIX it.' This makes the offer sound sincere. A flat 'I'll carry it' sounds reluctant. Practise with a small forward gesture on the verb.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minSaturday morning at the café
Marta walked into her favourite café and saw the queue snaking out the door. The barista smiled. 'I'll be with you in just a sec — promise.' Marta nodded — no worries. When her turn came, she looked at the board, paused, then decided: 'I'll have a flat white and one of those cinnamon buns.' The barista grinned. 'Leave it to me — I'll bring it over.' Marta found a table near the window. Her phone buzzed: a message from Tom — 'Running 10 min late, sorry!' She typed back: 'No worries, I'll grab a seat by the window.' When her flat white arrived, the foam had a tiny heart on it. She smiled and texted Tom: 'I'll keep you posted — but you owe me one for being late.'
Question 1.What did Marta order?
Question 2.Why is Tom late?
Question 3.Marta's tone in her text?
Q1.Marta was first in the queue.
Q2.She made her order decision before arriving.
Q3.Tom apologised for being late.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA small kitchen emergency
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Sam:Oh no — the milk's exploded all over the counter.
Nic:Hang on a sec — I'll grab a cloth.
Sam:Thanks. I'm on the phone to my boss.
Nic:Leave it to me. I'll clean it up.
Sam:You're a lifesaver. I'll make you a coffee in a minute.
Nic:Fair enough. I'll have an oat latte.
Sam:Deal. I'll keep you posted on the boss thing too.
Nic:No worries — we'll figure it out either way.
Question 1.What happened?
Question 2.Who cleaned it?
Question 3.What does Nic want?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 1 (social interaction)
Task
Respond naturally to 6 short prompts from the examiner using 'will' for offers, promises and decisions.
Strategy
Don't pre-plan — react. The whole point of 'will' is the SPONTANEOUS feel. Open offers with 'I'll…', soften them with 'don't worry' or 'leave it to me', close with a friendly tag ('OK?' / 'how's that?'). Avoid 'I'm going to' here — it sounds pre-planned.
Example
(Examiner: 'I've forgotten my pen.') 'Oh no worries — I'll lend you one.' (Examiner: 'Will you come to the party?') 'Yeah, I'll definitely be there.' (Examiner: 'I need help moving on Saturday.') 'Leave it to me — I'll give you a hand.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.Phone's ringing — I ____ get it.
Question 2.Don't worry, I ____ tell anyone.
Question 3.Leave it ____ me — I'll handle it.
Question 4.Hang ____ a sec.
Question 5.I ____ keep you posted.
Q1.Offer for a heavy bag: 'I…'
Q2.Promise to call: 'I…'
Q3.Decision at the menu: 'I…'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 100-word group chat between 3 friends planning a small dinner. At least 6 'I'll' sentences (offers / decisions / promises) and 2 vocab phrases from today.
Show model answer
ANA: Anyone free Friday for pizza at mine? — TOM: I'm in! I'll bring drinks. — LIV: Leave the dessert to me, I'll make tiramisu. — ANA: Amazing. I'll get the pizzas from that new place. — TOM: What time? I'll come straight from work. — ANA: 8? — LIV: 8 works. I'll bring my speaker too. — TOM: I'll keep you posted if I'm running late. — ANA: No worries, we'll figure it out. — LIV: I'll text you both Friday morning. — TOM: Perfect — can't wait. — ANA: Same. I'll send the address tomorrow.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
REAL-TIME REACTIONS · Pairs. Teacher fires 10 surprise scenarios ('your phone died', 'I'm thirsty', 'this bag is heavy', 'you're late for the train'). Partner must respond with an 'I'll…' offer / decision / promise within 2 seconds. Score 1 point per natural reply. Swap roles.
Useful phrases
- • I'll handle it.
- • Leave it to me.
- • I'm on it.
- • I'll keep you posted.
- • Don't worry, I won't…
- • I'll give you a hand.
- AUgh, my laptop just died.
- B_______________
- AThanks. Promise you'll come to dinner Friday?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Force speed of response — that's the heart of 'will'. ~26 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Reply to 8 imagined texts using only 'I'll…' / 'I won't…'.
Record a 60-second voice note offering help for 5 problems your friend has.
Watch a 3-minute YouTube clip; note 5 'I'll' uses and label decision / offer / promise.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Use will for decisions made RIGHT NOW.
- Use will for offers (I'll help) and promises (I'll call).
- Always contract: I'll, you'll, won't.
- Stress the action verb, not 'will'.
- Avoid 'going to' for spontaneous moments — it sounds pre-planned.