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Chapter 9 – I Need Help!
Situation: Henry is having problems with his homework. His friend Tim is having problems with building a doll house. They are seeking each other’s help.
Tim: Henry, what are you doing?
Henry: I have been trying to solve this physics problem for the last half hour, and I still have no idea how to do it.
Tim: When do you have to turn it in?
Henry: It is due at the end of this week.
Tim: Well, it is only Monday. Why don’t you get some after-school-tutoring tomorrow?
Henry: I have to sign up for it first. I guess I will go sign up for the Wednesday session tomorrow.
Tim: You should reread the chapter before you show up for the session. It will help you understand the subject matter better.
Henry: OK, I will do that.
Tim: Now that your problem is solved, I need you to lend me a hand with my problem.
Henry: What is up?
Tim: I need to build a new doll house for Nancy. I was putting her doll house away, and somehow I accidentally dropped it. It was broken into pieces.
Henry: How clumsy of you! Does she know?
Tim: I told her about it. I could not lie to her.
Henry: How did she take it?
Tim: My sister really liked that doll house, and obviously she was not very happy. But, I told her that I would build a better one for her. So, I need your help.
Henry: Me? Help you? I have never built anything in my life.
Tim: Me neither. But, don’t worry. Putting together pieces of wood is not going to be difficult.
Henry: It is more than just putting pieces of wood together. You need to put in windows and doors. Have you thought about how you would do that?
Tim: Who says houses need to have windows and doors?
Henry: So, you are going to build a doll house with no windows and no doors?
Tim: Yes, I do not see anything wrong with that. Do you?
Henry: No. It makes the project easier to handle now. But, are you sure that Nancy will not mind having a doll house with no doors and no windows?
Tim: Yes, I am sure.
Henry: Are you sure that Nancy will find this doll house with no doors and no windows prettier than the one you broke?
Tim: No, I am not sure. Why do you have to make things so complicated?
Henry: I am not trying to complicate things. You did tell Nancy that the new doll house would be better than the one you broke. I just want to remind you of your promise.
Tim: Ah, I wish I have not touched her doll house! What should I do then?
Henry: Get help from somebody who knows how to build a doll house. I would not be of any help to you in this project.
Tim: Who do you suggest I ask?
Henry: Mr. Brown used to be a carpenter. He will be glad to help you out. Why don’t you give him a call, and see whether he has some free time.
Tim: You are right. It will take us forever to build this doll house. With Mr. Brown’s help, I can finish it in no time.
Henry: OK, now that your problem is solved, can you help me trim the trees in the back yard?
Tim: Who? Me? Trim the trees in your back yard? It will take us ages to trim those trees. Let’s see who is good at trimming trees. Ah, you can ask Mr. Brown. He is also good at trimming trees. And, when you ask for his help, please ask him to help me build a doll house also.
Questions/Answers Practice
| Q: Why did it take you so long to finish your homework this afternoon? | A: I had difficulties understanding the problem. |
| Q: What are after-school-tutoring sessions for? | A: They are set up to provide additional help to students outside of school hours. |
| Q: What subject matter do you need help with? | A: I need help with English. |
| Q: What can I do to help? | A You can go over the chapter with me, and then help me solve the problem. |
| Q: Did you at least try to solve it on your own? | A: Yes, I have been trying to solve it for the last two hours. |
| Q: Why should I help you with building the doll house? | A: Because you are better at it than I am. |
| Q: Why do you think so? | A: Because you are always good at carpentry. |
| Q: By the way, what are you good at? | A: To tell you the truth, I am not really sure |
3) Comprehension test
- What kind of problem does Henry have?
- When should Henry turn in his physics homework?
- What is Tim’s suggestion to Henry?
- When does Henry want to be tutored in physics?
- What should Henry do in order to understand the subject matter better?
- Why does Tim need Henry’s help?
- Do Henry and Tim have any experiences in building doll houses?
- What does Tim think about building doll houses?
- Why does Henry keep on asking Tim questions about building the doll house?
- Is Henry trying to complicate things?
- Is there anybody else that Tim can ask for help with his project?
- What can Mr. Brown do?
4) Discussion
- When was the last time you had problems with a project? Describe the problem.
- How did you solve the problem in question (a)?
- Does your school have a program to help students with their homework or their understanding of academic subject matters? If not, where did you get help?
GRAMMAR REVIEW
VERBS
Future tense
The future tense is used to indicate that an action will happen at a particular time in the future. The future tense is formed by adding shall or will in front of the verb.
SHALL/WILL + VERB
I will build a better doll house for her later on. The results will be available in two weeks.
Note:
Shall and Will: Shall is used with the first person personal pronouns I and we, while will is used with the second and third person personal pronouns you, he/she/it, they. However, recently people tend to use will with all three persons. Still, in questions and requests, shall is used with the first persons and will with the second and third persons.
I shall do it tomorrow.
I will do it tomorrow.
Shall I call you at nine o’clock tomorrow?
Will you call me tomorrow?
We can also express the future with verb be + going to instead of shall or will.
He will build a doll house with no windows.
He is going to build a doll house with no windows.
We use might to express possibility in the future when we are not sure.
They might go to Mary’s party tonight.
Future progressive tense
The future progressive is used to indicate that an action will be ongoing at a particular time in the future.
WILL BE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Peter will be eating his dinner at 7:00PM tomorrow.
Janet will be taking dancing lesson at 5:00PM on Thursday.
Future perfect tense
The future perfect tense is used to indicate that an action will happen in the future before another action.
WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
When you finish your homework, your father will have left. (Tonight, your father will leave before you finish your homework) I will have finished my homework before noon.
Future perfect progressive tense
The future perfect progressive is used to indicate that an action will be ongoing in the future when another action happens. This tense is used to express the duration of the action and is formed by adding will have been to a present participle.
WILL HAVE BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Paul will have been exercising for two hours when we go to the airport.
Questions/Answers Practice
similar questions and answers.
Q: What will you do tomorrow?
A: I will leave for Texas tomorrow.
Q: What will your mother do when she gets home? A: She will cook dinner when she gets home
| Q: What is your plan for tonight? | A I might go to the movies tonight. |
| Q: What will you be doing at 5PM tomorrow? | A: I will be exercising at the gym at that time. |
| Q: What will he be doing when his mom gets home tomorrow. | A: He will be watering the front yard. |
| Q: When will your mother leave for work tomorrow? | A: She will have left before the school bus comes to pick me up. |
| Q: Will you still be home when your son wakes up tomorrow? | A: I will have left for work when my son wakes up tomorrow. |
| Q: How long will you be exercising when your wife takes the kids to school? | A: I will have been exercising for two hours. |
| Q: How long will you have been back from Hawaii when school starts next month? | A: I will have been back for a week when school starts next month. |