Like all future tenses, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Continuous, Present Continuous is used.
Examples:
- While I am going to be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct
- While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct
AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.
Examples:
- Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct
- Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You will still be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
- Will you still be waiting for her when her plane arrives?
- You are still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
- Are you still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives?
A. Paraphrase using the Future Continuous:
e.g.: We are going to London tomorrow.
We will be going to London tomorrow.
1. We’re catching the 8 o’clock train. 2. My brother is meeting me at the station. 3. Our wives aren’t coming with us. 4. They are staying at home. 5. We’re arriving at Paddington Station at ten o’clock. 6. My brother’s staying overnight in London, but I’m not. 7. I’m returning on the 9 o’clock express. 8. My wife’s picking me up at the station. 9. Jack is going to the mountains next Sunday. 10. She is writing a letter to her friend in France.
B. Respond to the following statements:
e.g.: Look, it’s getting dark. (it’s rain, in a few minutes)
It’ll be raining in a few minutes.
1. I don’t think they will come. (move to a new flat). 2. What are your plans for tonight? (take a friend to a concert). 3. My vacation is coming to an end. (return to the University, in two days). 4. Stay a little longer. (we, have supper, in a few minutes). 5. You are looking tired. (I, get a holiday soon). 6. I’m going to speak to Mr. Smith about it. (see him tonight).My mother is coming by the 6 o’clock train. (meet her at the station). 7. Jane is packing her things. (leave tonight). 8. Gorge is arriving in Moscow. (I, phone him). 9. His mother is cooking the dinner (he, help to her).
DEGREES OF COMPARISON (ADVERBS)
Adverbs, like adjectives, have three degrees of comparison – the positive, the comparative and the superlative. The different degrees of comparison are formed in different ways:
Short adverbs having just one syllable form the comparative and the superlative by the addition of –er and –est to the positive.
Hard (positive), harder (comparative), hardest (superlative)
Soon, sooner, soonest
Fast, faster, fastest
Late, later, latest
Loud, louder, loudest
Clean, cleaner, cleanest
Clear, clearer, clearest
Low, lower, lowest
High, higher, highest
Note that almost all adverbs which are also used as adjectives belong to this class.
Adverbs ending in –ly
Adverbs which end in –ly take more for the comparative and most for the superlative.
Softly (positive), more softly (comparative), most softly (superlative)
Happily, more happily, most happily
Swiftly, more swiftly, most swiftly
Ably, more ably, most ably
Truly, more truly, most truly
Greedily, more greedily, most greedily
Efficiently, more efficiently, most efficiently
Certainly, more certainly, most certainly
Painfully, more painfully, most painfully
Joyfully, more joyfully, most joyfully
Exception
The adverb early is an exception to this rule.
Early (positive), earlier (comparative), earliest (superlative)
Some adverbs form their comparative and superlative degrees in an irregular manner:
Far (positive), farther, further (comparative), farthest, furthest (superlative)
Late (positive), later (comparative), last, latest (superlative)
Well (positive), better (comparative), best (superlative)
Badly, worse, worst
Little, less, least
Much, more, most
Notes
It should be noted that only adverbs of time, degree and manner have three degrees of comparison.
Adverbs such as now, then, once, there, where, why, how, not, never, ever etc., cannot be compared and hence they do not have the three degrees of comparison.
As … as (Not as … as/ not so…as)
We use as + adjective/adverb + as to make comparisons when the things we are comparing are equal in some way:
The world’s biggest bull is as big as a small elephant.
The weather this summer is as bad as last year. It hasn’t stopped raining for weeks.
You have to unwrap it as carefully as you can. It’s quite fragile.
See also:
· Comparison: adjectives (bigger, biggest, more interesting)
Not as … as
We use not as … as to make comparisons between things which aren’t equal:
It’s not as heavy as I thought it would be, actually.
Rory has n’t grown as tall as Tommy yet.
She’s not singing as loudly as she can.
They did n’t play as well as they usually do.
We can modify not as … as by using not quite as or not nearly as:
The second race was not quite as easy as the first one. (The second race was easy but the first one was easier.)
These new shoes are not nearly as comfortable as my old ones. (My old shoes are a lot more comfortable than these new shoes.)
We can also use not so … as. Not so … as is less common than not as … as:
The cycling was good but not so hard as the cross country skiing we did.
GRAMMAR EXERCISES
