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February 26, 2022

Unit 6 – LIFE PLANS

Sometimes, we think we have our lives planned out; then we discover that is not the
case. We find that we want (or need) to make changes to our plans.
As humans, we are growing and evolving every day. We find that our priorities change
as a result of life circumstances, new ideas, or opportunities.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of how life circumstances have influenced
people’s thinking about work and careers. According to a poll, “Nearly 1 in 3 U.S.
workers under 40 have thought about changing their occupation or field of work
since the pandemic…” (Washington Post)
When people think about changing careers and don’t know where to start, they are
often counseled to do a career preference inventory -such as the one that appears on
Top Notch 3, page 62. Another career inventory may be found on line at
EducationPlanner.org
The reason for the aforementioned recommendation is that career success tends to
happen when we choose a career that matches our personality and our interests
(thebalancecareers.com)
Once the career choices have been narrowed to two or three, it’s a
good idea to make a list of the “PROS and CONS” (the positives
and the negatives) of each. Having the list in front of us will very
likely help us make up our minds.

When changing careers, it is very likely that we will need to learn new Hard Skills.
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?
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What made you change your mind?
I changed my mind because…
I had a change of heart because…
If you have a change of heart, you change your opinion or the way
you feel about something (Cambridge.org)
• She was going to sell her house but had a change of heart at the
last minute.
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Lesson 1: Explain a change of intentions or Plans

GRAMMAR Page 64

Express and ask about past intentions and plans that changed with
was / were going to + verb base
I was going to get married (but I didn’t).
Was she going to travel to Europe?
They were going to study art (but they didn’t).
Weren’t you going to study medicine?
Where were they going to work?
Who was going to teach this class?

Another way to express plans and intentions that changed

thought, believed, OR said
following verbs such as
use would + verb base only in a NOUN CLAUSE
She thought she would be a doctor (but she changed her mind).
We always believed they would get married (but they never did).
They said they would pay for their daughter’s studies (but they didn’t).

In a NOUN CLAUSE, you can also use

was / were going to + verb base
following verbs such as thought, believed, OR said
He said he was going to stop smoking.
He said he would stop smoking.

She said she was going to apply to law school.

She said she would apply to law school.

He said he was going to marry Sylvia.

He said he would marry Sylvia.
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Lesson 2: Express regrets about past actions

GRAMMAR Page 64 PERFECT MODALS

A perfect modal is…

a modal followed by have and the past participle.

should
been
may / might
have gone
could
walked
would

Use Perfect Modals to express beliefs about past actions and events.

• Regrets or judgments, use…

should have + Past Participle
o I should have brought my umbrella.

• Possibility, use…
may have / might have + Past Participle
o I’m sorry I didn’t study nursing. I might have been a
good nurse.

• Ability or possibility, use…

could have + Past Participle
o He was the driver. He could have prevented the
accident.
o The museum was closed, but she couldn’t have known
that. It’s usually open on Tuesdays.
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• Certainty, use…
would have + Past Participle
o You should have gone to Rio de Janeiro. You would have
loved it.

• Conclusions, use…
must have + Past Participle
o Betty is not at her desk and her computer is turned off.
She must have gone home early.

Express regrets about past actions

GRAMMAR Page 136
Express regrets using WISH + the Past Perfect
• I wish I had studied medicine.

should have + the Past Participle

Both have the
Express regrets using
same meaning
ought to have + the Past Participle

• I should have studied medicine.

• I ought to have studied medicine.
NOTE: Use ‘should have’ in negative statements and in questions.