In 2021, Intel decided to make computer chips for other companies, not only for itself. It spent billions of dollars on new factories. Will other companies come?
Harder version: read this lesson at C1 level →
Look at each word. Say what you think it means. Then tap the card.
Tap a card to see the meaning.
Write one word from the cards in each gap.
1. The train was twenty minutes , so I missed my meeting.
2. Our shop has a lot of happy s. They come back every week.
3. It rained, so they had to the football match.
4. My cousin works in a that makes chocolate.
5. What's your for the weekend?
6. Swimming alone in the sea at night is a big .
1. late · 2. customer · 3. cancel · 4. factory · 5. plan · 6. risk
Read each part. Then answer the questions before you read the next part.
Intel is an American company that makes chips for computers. For many years, it designed its chips and made them in its own factories.
But many other chip companies do not have factories. They pay a company in Taiwan, TSMC, or in South Korea, Samsung, to make their chips.
In 2021, Intel had a new boss, Pat Gelsinger. In March 2021, he told the world about a big plan: Intel was going to make chips for other companies too.
First, Intel said it was going to spend about 20 billion dollars on two new factories in Arizona. Then it promised new factories in Ohio, in Germany and in Poland.
True or false? Click your answer.
1. Before 2021, Intel only made chips for itself.
2. TSMC is a company in Germany.
3. Intel planned new factories in four places.
The US government liked the plan. In 2024, it agreed to give Intel up to 7.9 billion dollars to help build factories in America.
But the new factory business lost money — about 13 billion dollars in 2024 alone. There were not enough customers yet.
The factories were late too. In 2025, Intel said its first factory in Ohio would only be ready in 2030. The first plan was 2025.
In December 2024, Pat Gelsinger left the company.
True or false? Click your answer.
1. The US government did not want to help Intel.
2. The factory business lost about 13 billion dollars in 2024.
3. The Ohio factory will be ready five years later than the first plan.
In March 2025, Intel got a new boss, Lip-Bu Tan. He made a new rule: first find the customers, then build the factory.
In July 2025, Intel cancelled the factories in Germany and Poland, and it slowed down the work in Ohio.
In August 2025, the US government bought about 10% of Intel’s shares for 8.9 billion dollars. Two big companies, SoftBank and Nvidia, also put billions of dollars into Intel.
Now the new factory in Arizona is making Intel’s newest chips, and in 2026 Intel’s sales grew fast. But Intel still needs big customers for its next chips. Will they come? Nobody knows yet.
True or false? Click your answer.
1. Lip-Bu Tan wants to build factories before finding customers.
2. The US government now owns part of Intel.
3. Intel has all the customers it needs.
Nobody knows how Intel’s story will end. When we talk about the future, we show how sure we are.
will / won't — we are sure (or very sure):
Intel will need more customers. · The factory won’t open this year.
will probably / probably won't — we think so, but we are not sure:
Intel will probably make money one day. · It probably won’t be easy.
Word order: will probably, but probably won’t.
might / might not — it is possible (50/50):
A big customer might sign next year. · The Ohio factory might not open in 2030.
going to — a plan, or something we can see coming now:
Intel is going to build a new factory. (a plan) · Look at those numbers — they’re going to lose money this year. (we can see it)
| How sure? | Say | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | will / won't | The factory will be big. |
| about 70–80% | will probably / probably won't | It will probably be late. |
| about 50% | might / might not | A customer might come. |
| a plan | am / is / are going to | We’re going to wait. |
Use the words in brackets.
1. I’m not sure, but it rain later. (might)
2. Next year we open a new office in Madrid — it's our plan. (going to)
3. Intel find a customer — I think so, but I’m not sure. (will probably)
4. Don’t worry, I forget your birthday. I promise! (won’t)
5. The new chips be cheap, because factories are very expensive. (probably won’t)
1. might · 2. are going to · 3. will probably · 4. won't · 5. probably won't
Each sentence has one mistake. Say the correct sentence out loud, then check.
1. Intel will to build a new factory.
2. A customer mights sign next year.
3. The factory won’t probably open in 2026.
4. We going to wait for customers.
5. I think it will raining tomorrow.
1. Intel will build a new factory. (no to after will)
2. A customer might sign next year. (no -s after might)
3. It probably won’t open in 2026. (probably before won’t)
4. We are going to wait for customers. (you need am / is / are)
5. I think it will rain tomorrow. (will + base verb)
Take your time. Short sentences are fine.
Tell me the story in your own words. Six or seven sentences is enough.
Make four guesses about Intel in 2030: one with will, one with will probably, one with might, one with probably won’t.
Talk about your next year at work or at home. What are you going to do (plans)? What might happen? What will probably happen?
You are the boss of a company. Your new factory is ready, but you have only one customer. Your workers are worried.
What do you tell them? What is going to happen? What might happen?