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Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? Will have to, will be able to and won't be allowed to

This B1 ESL lesson plan teaches will have to, will be able to and won't be allowed to through the mail jumpers of Geneva Lake, Wisconsin.

Grammar
Will have to, will need to, will be able to and will be allowed to + verb for future duties, possibilities and rules (You'll have to leap.), with questions and short answers.
Topic
The mailboat on Geneva Lake, where jumpers deliver mail without the boat stopping, with job words such as hire, tryout, applicant and duties.
Activities
Episode notes to read, a practice jump and a listener's message to hear, five self-checking drills, a job interview chat and open boxes about future jobs.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Would you take this job?

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: jobs and the lakeVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and chooseChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: the mail jumpers

    • Look at the photo: a boat on Geneva LakePictureUnlock
    • Read the episode notes: the mail jumpersArticleUnlock
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: will Darius stay dry?

    • Listen to Darius and PatriceListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to the Listener's TakeListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: You'll have to leap!

    • Study the scheme: rules and duties in the futureGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct optionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: use will or won'tFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the table: a school trip to the lakeFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: the job interview

    • Choose the right replies: a job interviewChatTry it
    • Open a box and answer: jobs in the futureOpen the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with the lesson's wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: words and meaningsMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the correct optionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: make sentences with willFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the table: a new summer job at the caféFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: questions and short answersQuizUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: our job adDrag and dropUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: Darius's answer to RaquelChoose the optionUnlock

32 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Vocabulary

12 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+9 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • applicant
  • duties
  • life jacket
  • timing
  • slippery
  • enthusiasm
  • athletic
  • coordinator
  • observatory

Grammar: will have to, will be able to and will be allowed to

Will can't go before must or can, so English uses longer forms for duties, abilities and rules in the future: will have to, will need to, will be able to and will be allowed to. With a job on a moving mailboat, learners move the A2 forms one step into the future, ask Will I have to…? and tell three negatives apart.

You'll have to… You won't be allowed to…

Talk about rules, duties and possibilities in the future, for example in a job ad: will have to, will need to, will be able to, will be allowed to.

From now to the future

Each A2 form has a future partner: have to and must become will have to, can becomes will be able to, and be allowed to becomes will be allowed to. Only the start changes: I need to be quick → I'll need to be quick.

Now and in the past (A2)

  • I have to / must leap onto the pier.
  • I need to be quick.
  • I can see the lake.
  • I'm allowed to use the microphones.
  • I don't have to work today.
  • Yesterday I had to get up early.

In the future (B1)

  • I'll have to leap onto the pier.
  • I'll need to be quick.
  • I'll be able to see the lake.
  • I'll be allowed to use the microphones.
  • I won't have to work tomorrow.
  • Tomorrow I'll have to get up early.

Every person: I'll, you'll, he'll…

Will is the same for every person, and in speech it is usually short: I'll, you'll, he'll, it'll, they'll. The negative is won't, before the rest of the form: She won't have to bring a laptop. We won't be allowed to talk during the test.

Whowill have to / need to ✅won't have towill be able towon't be allowed to ⛔
II'll have to get up early.I won't have to work in winter.I'll be able to see the lake.I won't be allowed to eat at the desk.
youYou'll have to leap onto the pier.You won't have to drive.You'll be able to use the microphones.You won't be allowed to use your phone.
heHe'll have to wear a life jacket.He won't have to swim (we hope!).He'll be able to talk about the lake.He won't be allowed to park here.
sheShe'll have to try out in June.She won't have to bring a laptop.She'll be able to work all summer.She won't be allowed to be late.
it (the dog)It'll have to wait outside.It won't have to walk far.It'll be able to see us.It won't be allowed to come in.
weWe'll need to hire a helper.We won't have to record on Sunday.We'll be able to visit the observatory.We won't be allowed to talk during the test.
theyThey'll have to tell the passengers about the lake.They won't have to work in winter.They'll be able to see the shore.They won't be allowed to eat on the bus.

Will I have to…? Questions and short answers

Put will before the subject: Will I have to swim? What will I have to do? The short answer uses will or won't alone: Yes, she will. No, they won't. A short answer never ends in 'll, so Yes, I'll is wrong.

QuestionShort answer
Will I / you / he / she / it / we / they have to …?Yes, … will. / No, … won't.
Will I have to swim?No, you won't. (We hope!)
Will she need to try out?Yes, she will.
Will we be able to use the microphones?Yes, you will.
Will they be allowed to eat at the desk?No, they won't.
What will I have to do?You'll have to leap onto the pier.
Short answers: no 'll at the endYes, I will. (Not: Yes, I'll.)

No will must, no will can

Will never sits next to must or can: say You'll have to jump, not You will must jump, and You'll be able to swim, not You'll can swim. The verb after the form is the base form: Will I have to swim?, not swimming.

will + have to / be able to + the base form

will never goes with must or can. Say will have to (not: will must) and will be able to (not: will can). After them, use the base form: You'll have to jump. Will I have to swim? (Not: You'll have jump. Not: Will I have to swimming?) 'll = will: I'll, you'll, he'll, she'll, it'll, we'll, they'll. won't = will not.

Won't have to, won't be able to or won't be allowed to?

Won't have to: not necessary (Jumpers won't have to work in winter.). Won't be able to: not possible (You won't be able to stop the boat.). Won't be allowed to: a rule says no (You won't be allowed to eat at the mixing desk.).

won't have to, won't be able to or won't be allowed to?

won't have to (or won't need to) = it won't be necessary: Jumpers won't have to work in winter. won't be able to = it won't be possible: The boat never stops, so you won't be able to stop it. won't be allowed to = the rules will say no: In our studio, you won't be allowed to eat at the mixing desk.

On the mailboat and in our studio

  • If you get the job, you'll have to leap onto piers from a moving boat.
  • You'll need to be quick: the boat never stops.
  • Jumpers won't have to work in winter.
  • Will I have to swim? – Only if your timing is wrong!
  • Will I be able to use the microphones? – Yes, you will.
  • In our studio, you won't be allowed to eat at the mixing desk.

Common mistakes

  • You will must jump.

    You'll have to jump.

    no will + must

  • You'll can swim.

    You'll be able to swim.

    no will + can

  • You won't allowed to eat here.

    You won't be allowed to eat here.

    won't + be + allowed to

  • Will I must swim?

    Will I have to swim?

    questions: Will … have to …?

More lessons on this grammar: Modal verbs lessons and exercises

Try the will have to exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 18 auto-checked exercises
  • 5 games
  • 1 article
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • describe future duties with will have to and will need to + verb: You'll have to leap onto the pier. You'll need to be quick.
  • say what will and won't be possible or allowed: You'll be able to watch our recordings. You won't be allowed to eat at the mixing desk.
  • tell won't have to (not necessary) from won't be able to (not possible) and won't be allowed to (against the rules)
  • ask and answer about a job: Will I have to work on the weekend? – No, you won't., never Yes, I'll
  • avoid will must and will can: You'll have to jump. You'll be able to swim.

Lesson 5 opens Dream jobs, new jobs, unit 2 of English B1.1 · Stories That Travel. It takes the A2 forms of A2.2 lessons 21 to 24 (have to, must, be allowed to and had to) into the future with the will of A2.2 lesson 13. Lesson 6 turns to the present perfect continuous and remote work. A job ad lists what a new worker will have to do and won't be allowed to do, so the forms come up naturally.

Students spin a wheel of questions about jobs, then learn twelve words, from hire and leap to slippery and observatory, with pictures and audio. The episode notes on Geneva Lake's mail jumpers come with true-or-false statements and a quiz. In two AI-voiced listenings, Darius makes a practice jump with Patrice, the tryout coordinator, and Raquel, 17, asks if he got wet. Five self-checking drills follow the scheme, among them a quiz on not necessary, not possible and not allowed. Then Riley interviews the student for a summer job at the studio in a chat, and open boxes ask about future jobs.

All ten homework tasks check themselves: a word match, an anagram, a word gap-fill and a memory game, then a choice of forms, gaps that build sentences with will, a table for a summer job at a café, a quiz on questions and short answers, the hosts' job ad and Darius's answer to Raquel.

Grammar:
will have to / won't have to · will need to · will be able to · will be allowed to / won't be allowed to · Will I have to…? · short answers with will
Topic:
mail jumpers · Geneva Lake · Wisconsin · summer jobs · tryouts · job interviews · Yerkes Observatory · Stories That Travel

Teaching tips

  • Write a job ad together before the reading: pick a funny job, such as Footnote's cat sitter, and let students add one line each with You'll have to…, You'll be able to… or You won't be allowed to…
  • Show a pier and a moving boat on the board and ask how mail could get from one to the other. Students guess, then read the episode notes to check.
  • Stop the practice jump before the last line and let students vote: will Darius stay dry? His answer to Raquel in the homework tells them who was right.
  • Run the interview as a role-play after the chat: one student is Riley with the studio ad, the other asks Will I have to…? and Will I be able to…? and gets short answers.

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The whole course: English B1.1 · Stories That Travel

32 lessons for adults at B1 in American English, each built around a true story. Riley, Jade and Darius make a podcast in Kansas City about true American stories, and each lesson tells one, from a seaplane airport in Alaska to the Marfa Lights of West Texas. Learners compare the present perfect with the past simple, use future forms, modals and quantifiers, and give their own opinions. The practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 Travel smart

    the present perfect vs the past simple, for and since, indirect questions, be used to and get used to

    1. Lesson 1Would you visit an airport just for fun?Present perfect vs past simple
    2. Lesson 2Would you sleep in a 300-year-old inn?For and since with the present perfect
    3. Lesson 3My suitcase has gone to Honolulu!Indirect questions for polite requests
    4. Lesson 4Can you practice a flight?Be used to and get used to

  2. Unit 2 Dream jobs, new jobs

    will have to and won't be allowed to, the present perfect continuous, simple vs continuous, would vs used to

    1. Lesson 5 · you're hereWould you jump off a moving boat for a job?Will have to, will be able to and will be allowed to
    2. Lesson 6Working from anywherePresent perfect continuous
    3. Lesson 7Could you be a camp counselor?Present perfect simple vs continuous
    4. Lesson 8Would you live in a lighthouse?Would vs used to for the past

  3. Unit 3 Space and discovery

    it's + adjective + to, What's it like to…?, future forms compared, future time clauses, too and enough + to

    1. Lesson 9What's it like to work in space?It's + adjective + to and What's it like to…?
    2. Lesson 10Who will walk on the Moon next?Future forms compared by meaning
    3. Lesson 11A message for the starsFuture time clauses
    4. Lesson 12A helicopter on Mars?Too and enough + to-infinitive

  4. Unit 4 Life online

    the more…, the more…, be supposed to, ought to and had better, let, make and allow

    1. Lesson 13The internet's first word was “LO”Comparative and comparative; the more…, the more…
    2. Lesson 14Who sent the first spam?Be supposed to for rules, expectations and plans
    3. Lesson 15Is your password really safe?Ought to and had better for advice and warnings
    4. Lesson 16Who writes Wikipedia?Let, make and allow + someone

  5. Unit 5 Screen and page

    -ed and -ing adjectives, gradable and extreme adjectives, present tenses for a plot, articles for things in general

    1. Lesson 17Why do readers still love Nancy Drew?-ed and -ing adjectives for feelings
    2. Lesson 18Movie night in your carGradable and extreme adjectives
    3. Lesson 19Would you review a book on TV?Present tenses to tell a plot
    4. Lesson 20Where are the books about girls like me?Articles for things in general and specific things

  6. Unit 6 Green living

    few and a few, little and a little, all, most, some and none, each and every, fewer and less

    1. Lesson 21A year's trash in one jar?Few, a few, little and a little
    2. Lesson 22No food in the trash!All, most, some and none (of)
    3. Lesson 23A farm in the middle of DetroitEach and every
    4. Lesson 24A trash collector with googly eyesFewer and less

  7. Unit 7 Sporting moments

    could, was able to and managed to, for, during and while, present tenses for live commentary, question tags

    1. Lesson 25From a leg brace to three goldsCould, was able to and managed to
    2. Lesson 26A doctor and an Olympic champion?For, during and while
    3. Lesson 27Who's that runner coming from behind?Present simple and continuous for live commentary
    4. Lesson 28Why do high jumpers go backward?Question tags

  8. Unit 8 Mysteries and lost worlds

    both… and, either… or and neither… nor, uncountable nouns, how sure we are about the future, unless, as long as and in case

    1. Lesson 29A calendar made of posts?Both… and, either… or, neither… nor
    2. Lesson 30What was the Great House for?Uncountable abstract nouns
    3. Lesson 31What does Newspaper Rock say?Certainty about the future
    4. Lesson 32What are the Marfa Lights?Unless, as long as and in case

Questions about this lesson

What does will have to mean?
Will have to means something will be necessary in the future: If you get the job, you'll have to leap onto piers from a moving boat. It is the future of have to and must, which can't follow will. Its negative, won't have to, means it won't be necessary: Jumpers won't have to work in winter. The B1 lesson Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? on edio.ai teaches it.
Can you say "will must" in English?
No. Must has no future form, so it can't follow will: say You'll have to jump, not You will must jump. The same goes for can: You'll be able to swim, not You'll can swim. Questions work the same way: Will I have to swim?, not Will I must swim? The sentence quiz in Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? on edio.ai sets these traps.
What's the difference between won't have to and won't be allowed to?
Won't have to means it won't be necessary; won't be allowed to means a rule will say no. You won't have to bring a laptop: you can, but there's one for you. You won't be allowed to use your phone: the rules will forbid it. A third form, won't be able to, means it won't be possible: You won't be able to stop the boat.
What are some examples of will have to?
These come from the mailboat job and the studio ad in Would you jump off a moving boat for a job?, a B1 lesson on edio.ai: You'll have to leap onto the pier. In the rain, you'll have to watch your feet. You'll have to feed Footnote at noon. Then you'll have to give part of the tour. Questions put will first: What will I have to do?
Is it "Yes, I will" or "Yes, I'll"?
It's Yes, I will: a short answer can't end in 'll. So Will Darius have to wear a life jacket? – Yes, he will, and Will I have to work on the weekend? – No, you won't. The short form is fine inside a sentence: I'll be able to start on June 1. The homework quiz in Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? drills both.
What are the mail jumpers of Geneva Lake?
Mail jumpers deliver mail from a boat that never stops. Every summer, a mailboat goes around Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin, and a jumper leaps onto each pier, puts the mail in the mailbox, takes the outgoing mail and jumps back on. Jumpers are usually of high school or college age and also guide the lake tour. The company that runs the boat says mail has come to lakeside homes by boat since 1916.
How do you become a mail jumper?
You try out in early June: applicants make several jumps and give part of the tour, and the judges look at athletic skill, the delivery, the tour and enthusiasm. Only a few jobs are open, and the boat company hires the jumpers, not the Post Office. An applicant whose timing is wrong ends up in the lake, and a 2009 travel writer's story says a typical jumper misses the jump back at least once.
How do I teach will have to to B1 students?
Start from a job the class would love or hate, and list its duties, perks and rules in the present: You have to…, You can…, You aren't allowed to…. Then move every line to a job that starts next month. Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? on edio.ai does the same in its scheme, then drills the forms in five exercises and a job interview chat.
What's a good game for practicing will have to?
A dream-job guessing game works well: one student thinks of a job, and the others may ask only Will I have to…?, Will I be able to…? and Will I be allowed to…? until they guess it. For more speaking, open boxes give prompts such as Your dream job: say three things you'll have to do in it.
What's good homework for will have to?
Good homework puts the forms into a real text, such as a job ad: You'll have to answer listener emails. You won't be allowed to eat at the mixing desk. In Would you jump off a moving boat for a job? on edio.ai, all ten homework tasks check themselves, from a table for a café job to the hosts' studio ad and Darius's answer to a listener.
How do you practice will have to one-to-one?
Hold a mock job interview: the teacher describes a job with You'll have to… and You won't be allowed to…, and the student asks at least three Will I…? questions, then the roles swap. The interview chat in Would you jump off a moving boat for a job?, a B1 lesson on edio.ai, works alone: Riley interviews the student for a summer job at the studio.
Are there interactive exercises for will have to?
Yes. Without an account, this page plays three parts of Would you jump off a moving boat for a job?, a B1 lesson on edio.ai: Darius's practice jump with Patrice, the tryout coordinator, a gap-fill that builds forms with will and won't from prompts, and Riley's job interview chat. Each answer is checked the moment it's entered. The rest needs an account.
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