Formation
We make the past perfect continuous by using hadbeen and present participle.
Example: Ben had been working for three hours when Rachel came home.
By the time Sam found his umbrella, it had been raining for ten minutes.
Questions are made by putting the auxiliary verb had before the subject.
Example: Had the house been standing empty for a long time when you bought it?
Had you been jogging a long time when you fainted?
Negatives are made by putting not after the auxiliary verb had.
Example: The hikers hadnt been walking long before they got lost.
You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.
| Affirmative I had been doing you had been doing he/she/it had been doing we had been doing you had been doing they had been doing | Questions had I been doing? had you been doing? had he/she/it been doing? had we been doing? had you been doing? had they been doing? | Negative I had not been doing you had not been doing he/she/it had not been doing we had not been doing you had not been doing they had not been doing |
Use of the past perfect continuous
1. We use the past perfect continuous to describe an action or situation which began before a past moment and continued into it or up to it.
My legs were stiff because I had been standing still for a long time. , .
We had only been driving for an hour when the car ran out of petrol. , .
NB
Sometimes the period of time can be implied.
When I saw the vase in the shop window, I realized it was exactly what I had been looking for (all this time). , , , .
NB
We use this tense when we focus on duration, sometimes the moment can be implied. These sentences are often emotional.
For years they had been betraying state secrets to France. .
2.We use the past perfect continuous to explain a past result, e.g. a situation or an appearance.
Jason was tired because he had been jogging. , .
By the smell in the room and his guilty expression I could tell Alex had been smoking. , , .
Exercise 1. Translate into English and comment on the use of the present simple, the present continuous, the present perfect, the present perfect continuous, the past simple, the past continuous, the past perfect, the past perfect continuous.
1. (hurricane) (to strike) . 2. , . 3. . 4. . 5. , , . 6. ̳ . ³ . 7. , . 8. , . 9. , . 10. , . 11. , . 12. ҳ , , . 13. , . 14. 1981 1984 . 15. (to give novocaine) , . 16. (Martha) , (Joe) . . 17. . (to be sore). 18. , . 19. 15 . 20. , , , . 21. . 䳿 (to fade). 22. (to hiccup). 23. , . 24. . , . 25. . 26. (to dump) . 27. ? 28. , 10 . 29. . 30. .
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THE FUTURE SIMPLE
Formation
We make the future simple by using the auxiliaty verb will.
Example: Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg.
This is our new office Kay will show you around.
Questions are made by putting will before the subject.
Example: When will I see you again?
What time will you get here?
Negatives are made by putting not after the auxiliaty verb will.
Example: We wont charge you for delivery.
The conference wont be held in San Antonio.
| Affirmative I will work you will work he/she/it will work we will work you will work they will work | Questions will I work? will you work? will he/she/it work? will we work? will you work? will they work? | Negative I will not work you will not work he/she/it will not work we will not work you will not work they will not work |
Passive forms
The future simple passive has the following structure:
| will + be + past participle |
Active: Will the manager sign the contract tomorrow?
Passive: Will the contract be signed by the manager tomorrow?
Active: We will fix the salary according to qualifications and experience.
Passive: The salary will be fixed according to qualifications and experience.
Use of the future simple
1. We use the future simple to state a fact about the future (more commonly a new fact).
I will need £50 on Friday. .
All the family will be at the wedding. .
Cf
The academic year begins on September, the 1st. (for regular things) () .
The semester ends on May, the 15th, but due to the football championship it will be over by May, the 11th. (a new fact) , .
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2. We use the future simple to make a prediction about the future. The prediction is made based on our beliefs, guesses.
I hope they will not (wont) be late. , .
I dont think she will pass the exam. , .
Cf
Look at those black clouds. Its going to rain. . . (We use be going to + infinitive to make a prediction if there is some present evidence.)
We often use will to predict an event which we think will happen because similar events have happened in the past.
He will be in prison for a long time. ³ . (Similar crimes have attracted long sentences.)
The laptop battery will give you about two hours continuous use. . (This is what previous batteries have done.)
3. We use the future simple to make a decision at the moment of speaking.
Oh, our guests are here. I will go and serve some drinks to them. . .
You look tired. I will cook dinner tonight. . .
4. We use the future simple in the main clause of a complex sentence.
I will call you when I have time. , .
Well stay at home if it rains. , .
5. We use the future simple when the action is decided or the determination is strengthened.
I will stop smoking! I really will! ! !
Mummy, Im going to the disco tonight.
No, you are not going. Its too late. And you feel unwell.
But I will go. I have promised my friends.
, .
ͳ, . . .
ͳ, . .
Exercise 1. Translate into English and comment on the use of the present simple, the present continuous, the present perfect, the present perfect continuous, the past simple, the past continuous, the past perfect, the past perfect continuous, the future simple.
1. . 2. ³ . ? 3. , . 4. , ? 5. . 6. , . 7. ? . 8. , (Devon). 9. . 10. ϳ , , ! 11. . 12. ֳ . 13. . 14. , ! 15. , . 16. , . 17. ³ , . 18. . ? . 19. ³ ! 20. , . 21. . . 22. ̳ . 23. , . 24. , . 25. . . 26. . 27. . , . 28. . 29. , . 30. . .
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS
Formation
We make the future continuous by using will be and the ing form of the verb.
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Example: Next month he will be appearing as Bush in a new play on Broadway.
She will be defending her title at next months championships.
Questions are made by putting will before the subject.
Example: Will they be catering the wedding?
Will he be commentating on the game?
Negatives are made by putting not after the auxiliaty verb will.
Example: She wont be coming. So I gather.
I wont be going there again the food was terrible.
| Affirmative I will be working you will be working he/she/it will be working we will be working you will be working they will be working | Questions will I be working? will you be working? will he/she/it be working? will we be working? will you be working? will they be working? | Negative I will not be working you will not be working he/she/it will not be working we will not be working you will not be working they will not be working |
