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Main events and background events in a story

In a story which is told in the past tense, the main events (the ones that happen in the foreground and carry the story forward) are expressed with the past simple, while the past continuous is used for background events:

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The difference between WILL, BE GOING TO and the present continuous for future events

WILL and BE GOING TO for future intentions

Will (future simple) is used to express future intentions that are decided at the time of speaking (spontaneous offers, promises and decisions):

Come on, I'll help you with those bags. (seeing that someone is struggling with their shopping bags)

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The forms of the infinitive

An infinitive can be a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive (without to). There is no difference in meaning between them; some structures require a to-infinitive, while others call for a bare infinitive: