OXFORD LEARNER''''S GRAMMAR 3 doc

C Past simple and past perfect To talk about a single action in he past we use the past simple.. 50 The past perfect continuous A Form The past perfect continuous is had been + ing-fo

"Vhen \VC say how many actions, we

do nor use the continuous

I've tried (0 phone the hotline at

least twenty times

We use the present perfect for a

state up to the present

My friend has been in a

wheelchair for two years now

I've always hated hospItaL<;

-NoW look at these examples

49 The past perfect

V·le can use the continuous for repeated actions

I've been trying to pr10ne the hotline all day

We do not use the continuous fOl a state

(NO T -f'-w tl-lttftiyS -been-hating fwspitafs.)

We've been living here since May / We've lived here since May

rue been working there for six weeks / I've worked [here for six weeks

With live and work, either form is possible, but the continuous is more usual

~

t 49 The past perfect

4- _

A Form

The past perfect is had + past participle

James apologized for the trouble he had caused

I didn't [rauel to the match because I hadn't hought a ticket

How long had the animals been without food or warer?

We use had in all persons

someone had played

someone had not pLayed

had someone played?

B Use of the past perfect

Short forms

they'd played they hadn't played

We use the past perfect for an action or a state before a past time

Miranda lay on her bed and slUred at the ceiling She was depressed Her boyfriend Max had gone on holiday with his brother the day before He hadn't invited Miranda to go with hun ffe hadn't eIJen said goodbye properly They had been friends for six monlhs, and everything had seemed fine Vt/hat had she done wrong?

This paragraph begins in the past simple The situation is that Miranda lay on

her bed The vvritcr looks back from this situation to a time before

Compare the present perfect and past perfect

Present perfect: lhe floor is clean 1 have just washed it

Pa<;t perfect: Ihe floor was clean Iliad just washed it

Verh tenses

NOTE

For Ihe past pe rfect in if-clauses, > 247

C Past simple and past perfect

To talk about a single action in (he past we use the past simple

'/1,is lamp is new I bought it last week

(N 0 I' f-hati {,Bttght-it last weefc.)

We also use the past simple when one acton comes immediately

after another

When the shot rang out, elJ eryone threw themselves to th e floor

To say that someone finished one action and then did something else, we use

either when had dune or afler did/had dun e

When Miranda had typed the message, sh.e mailed it to Max

After Miranda typed/had typed the message, she mailed it to Max

( N OT Whw AfifflTtda f}1'etJ the message, fflt: mttiled it ttl Mft.'C.)

Sometimes the choice of past simple or past perfect makes a difference to the meaning_

When the boss arrived, the meeting began

( = The boss arrived and then the meeting began.)

When the bOss arrived, che meeting had begun

(= The meeting began before the boss arrived.)

When Max spoke, Miranda pUllhe phone down

(= When Max started speaking, )

Wh en Max had spoken, Miranda P'" the phone down

(= When Max finished speaking, )

We can use rhe past perfecr afrer before or until

The printer went wrong before it prime d I it had printed a single sheet

We didn ' t wallt to sto p /In til we finished / we had finished 'he job

50 The past perfect continuous

A Form

The past perfect continuous is had been + ing-form

Someo ne had been u.sing my office

Thi'lgS hadn't been going very well/or some [(me

Had Ihe police alre ady been investigating the matter?

We use had in all persons

Positive:

Negative:

Questions:

Past perfect cOlllinuous

som eone had been playing

so m eone had not been playing hatl som eone been playing?

Short forms

'hey'd been playing they hadn't been playin!

~ 1 Action verb! and state verbs

B Use of the past perfect continuous

We lise rhe past pcrfl'ct continuous for an ':1((lOn that w('n! 011 over;:1 pl.!riod before n past fIIn e

I was dehghlecJ when I found (J second-Iulfu/ copy of til!' hook I'd heen looking for ONe ]C)r some time

Tile dru:cr who died ill the accident had been drinkillg

In the second example, the actiull (drinkil1g) w('nt on O\'er C1 period before Ihe driver'S death

C The past perfect continuous and other tenses

Compale the pr c~(! nt and past perfect continllOw,

Present perfect continuous: My hond , ore /IIt~{ I luw f! hee/l umshillg

the fl oor

Past perfect contmuous: My hands were wet J had heen washiliK

fhe floor

Compare the pasl perfect and past perfect cont1l1110US

Past perfect: The l o/IJ.1lleers had coUecled hundreds of'

Compare tilt! past cont inuou s and past perfect cOl1 liIlUOll~

Past continuous: H'//('/1 I saw A.hce sl l e? was playing holf

(l bC!W her in the middle of the game.) Past perfect COntl1lUOllS: When f \liW Alice, sh(~' d been playing gD~r

(1 saw her after the game.)

A Actions and states

Actions

jane went 10 b e d

J'm buyillg a new /)l'iej(;rJ.se

J lent j er!.' II'IY l e n pound.,

An action i" 'iotnl'thing hilppening

Action verbs ;lre velhs llke do, go,

hllY , play, SlOp, rake, d(>c ,' rJf(ile, rell,

ask, realize , ele ,1\1051 refer to

physical actions, but sump are \·crbs

t\ ~late i<., !-.ollH'thlllg that stay!) the

!-.<Jllle Stale\ eri)sareverbs l kt'IN exi.\t

s {'em, dep e ru/ C0I1S1Sr, include, COII[(IlI/

"elong, aii'll "eed , maUer, III/end , CO \I (Jwe, know, 1 1IUlentalld , IwiIl've , Love, like, hate wonl etc They ('xprc!-.s meanings ~Udl as exblJng h,l\ing;]11 opinion and tlllnklllg

Verb tenses

We can lise a tion verbs in the continuous, but stare verbs are not uSU<llIy

continuolls

We ar e de co ratin g th e fl at (NOT V i e are 8 w " in~fhe-flaf )

Th ey u le r e gu ess in g the an swe r , (NOT ~I! () we e Jm(tttting the-amweFS }

B Verbs with more than one meaning

Some verbs have more than one meaning One meaning can be an action, and another meaning can be a state

Actions I:can be continuous}

We're having lun c h now

(a tion - 'eating')

W e 're thinking about th e offer

(a tion - 'deciding')

Th e y're expecting troubl e

(action - 'waiting for it')

C an you imagine th e r es ult?

(a tion - 'picture in your head')

N ur ses care for the s i c

(aclion - 'look aftcr')

W e s topp ed to admire th e view

(a tion - 'look at with ple sure')

He was looking al a pi c tur e

(action - 'directing his eyes at')

Would you like to taste th e soup?

(action - 'eat a little')

Smell th es e flow e r !

(action - 'sniff 'use your nose')

She's appearing in a film

(action - 'playing a part')

He n ee d s to measure the door

(action - 'find out the size')

We mu s t weigh th e luggag e

{action - 'find OUI (he weight')

S om eo n e h as to cost the pr o j ec t

(action - 'find ou( the cost')

1 was fitting a n w s witch

(action - 'puning in place')

C State verbs in the continuous

States (cannot be continuous)

W e have a big kite/len

[ don '[ care what happ e s

(state - 'have no feelings about it')

I admire y our c ou.rag e

(state - 'approve or)

I t looks lovely

(state - 'has a lovely appearance')

It tasted lik e water

(state - 'had a Oavour')

Il smells very st rang e

(state - 'has a strange smell')

He app e ared perfe c tly c alm

(Slate - 'seemed')

I t measured t w o m e tr es

(state - 'was two metres long')

It weighed t e n kil os

(state - '\\las ten kilos in weight')

A t c e t e mits t e n p o und s

(state - 'has a price of ten pounds')

Th e j a c ket fits pelf ee ll y

(state.- 'is the right size')

With some state verbs, we can use the continuolls when we are talking about feelings at a particular time, rather than a permanent attitude

I love holida ys (permanent anitude)

J ' m loving eve ry minut e of thi s holiday (around the present time)

51 Action verbs and state verbs

Here are some more examples of conlinuous verb forms referring to a particular rime

flow are you liking the play?.- Well, it's all right so Jar

This trip is costing me a lot of money

Enjoy IS an action verb

I'm enjoying this parey J always enjoy parties

( NOT I-enjO') this pa, l).)

N OTE

a Be can be an action verb meaning 'behave ' , > 6 S C

The dog was being a nuisance, so we s lnll him out

b Know IS a state verb , but get 10 know expresses an action

I know the low" quite well nOlu

I'm gClling to know the town quil c well

o Verbs which can be simple or continuous

There are some verbs which can be either simple or continuous when referring to a temporary state There is almost no difference in meaning

I feel depressed I I'm fee/ing depressed

She hopes to get a job IShe's hoping to get a job

My arm hurt / My arm was hurting

These verbs include feel, hope, hurt, lie, look (= appear), stand, wear, and

wonder

But feel meaning 'believe' is a state verb

I feel it's the right thing to do

And for other meanings of feel, > E

E Verbs of perception

When we are talking about perception (seeing, hearing, etc), we often use can

(present) and could (past) rather than a present or past (ense

I can see something under the sofa

We could hear music

r can smell something burning

Sam could feel the weight of the rucksack

We do not normally use the continuous

We can use the past simple when what we saw, heard, or felt was a complete action

We saw a magnificent sunset

Tom lleard the whole s tory

They felt the building shake

See (= meet) is an action verb

J'm seeing the doctor this aflernoon

See (= understand) is a state verb

You put the CD ;1'1 her e , like this Oh, [see Thank YOll

Verb tenses

Loo k (at something), watch, and listen are action verbs

We l ooked atl ~Ve were looking at the s unse t

Sme ll , c as t e , and feel as action verbs mean a deliberate action, > B

I picked up th e ca rlon and smelled the milk

When we arrived, people were alr eady tasting th e wine

Jud y was feeling h e r way ill the dark

52 Overv iew : t he main uses of the tenses

- _

> 41

Past An action in the past I wrote th e l e ll er yesterday

simple: A series of past actions I played basketball

Prescnt An action in the period up I've written tlt e letter

> 44 A series of actions up to the I' e played basketball

A state up {Q the present I've been h e re for a week

Past An action over a period of It was raining when I got I

Past An action before a past By (hat t i m e th e rain

> 49 A stale before a past time The wea ther had been a wft

f o r days

Past perfect An action o er a period up By th a t lim e it had been

> 50

The future

53 Introduction

A This news ilem is abotl! 11 tt't1cher who is going to run Ihe /englh of Britain BOIr !-> Il E COH I) (J I / UI: '\Gl

32- Yf!ar-uld Hoh Brown , u ,'eacher from Comu l tllI is about (0 set o j! 011 a fili i

of more that! BOO mile ,~ ' /'omorrow moming at lour o ' e/o c k he Inwl's John

o 'C roats , tile most no r th e rly paim if! Scoll and, 011 a Jo urney to L lHui' s F:ruj,

the so uth -western lip of Ellgland He i s hoping to heat the record ojll!fI da J'.\

an d two hOllrs /1 won '( be pasy Each day he will run 84 mil es - 28 Iniles

be fore breakf cH / 28 mil es heJore l/.lnd, and 28 miles h l10re dinner

But Mr Brown has had IO/ s of prueti re: he o nce rail 3 ,000 miles across Ausrralia in ()O da.ys Hi ~ penonal clJe) is tmpelling w illi him in a Cflmper

va n and will be cooking lOiS a/prls((J rice and I JoIa toes In SpIl l' of fl lwgf' mlflke of h ig h - ene rgy [ood ", i Ur Brown will probably have lost len kilos h y

lhe end of {he run, '['ve put on a j(n v kilos in p n' pa ra t io ll , ' he say s, 'hut 1'", going to burn it off pr (>{{y ({/li ckly ' Mr Br ow n al s o expect s co w e ar Ollt fOil r

pai r s o f run111nx , hoe s,

In the !<lSI chapler we looked at verh rorms referring to the present and the past For example we use the past simple for an anion in the J KISt

Mr Brown onc e ran across Auslralia,

But we ca nnol be as definite ahout the future as we CUll about the pr C' c n[ or {he past There are difkrenr W; l Y S of talking about the ftllu re (kpendlJ1g Oil how we see \l futlllC event We may see sUIlIt:!thing it S certain [n happen or Lt Illay be a plan or an intentIOn, or it may he something \\'c lhink \\'111 happl'lI but can't bc sure about

B There is no !>inglc 'fulUre tense' in English, Here arc '>OJ11C example<; of [lic' different ways of talking about the future

wif/ lJe doing:

will huve d one:

may, n'llghr , could :

/:"a.ch day h e will run 84 mil( !s

fie is goinK l{) burn olf the exI ra weight

His personal c h ef is tra ve lling will, II im

I-Je Leaves john U ' ( irutu s at [uur l omorrow mOfllill~

Mr Bro w n i s to appeal' 011 a cl'Jat s l ww /l ex { Salwc.iuy

He is abnutlO set oJ/un his nw

llis chef will be couking lOI S of pa sfll /'I ce , (l1If1 polr/l f li' "

Mr Braum will hml e lost f en kil os by th e e ud oj {Iii' 1"/11/

II all might go horribly wrong, lit' COUlll get i llJured

Often there is more than one possible form ;n a particular context

Each day he will r un 84 miles

Each day he's going to run 84 miles

Each day h e will be running 84 miles

C To show how sure or unsure we are about the future, we can use an adverb

like definitely, c r tainly, probably, perhap s, maybe, or poss ibly

H e' ll probably lose about ten kilo s

Or we can use [ know, I'm s ure , [think, { expect, or { suppose

[think he's going to break th e record

54 W i ll and shall

A F or m

After will we pur an infinitive without to Wi ll has a short form ' II , and will not

has a ShOft form won ' t l wau nt /

Thi s book will change you r Life

I ' ll know soon if I've got th e job

Will you s rilliove me tomorrow?

We will not get anol fi r c h ance

W e WOll't get another c ha nce

We use Will in all persons In the first person we can use either will or s h all

The meaning is the same, but shall is a little formal

I will b e/s hall be at home tomorrow

We will have / shall have lots of fun

N OT E

a S hall no t h as a short form shan 't I S o : nl /

I shall " b e here tomorrow

S ha n ' t i s o ld · ra s hloned Won't i s more u~ual

b T n the US slJalL is less usu al than wIll , and s han ' , I S nOI u se d

B Wi ll fo r the f uture

\ ' Vill is often used to talk about things in the fUHue that we can be fairly

certain about The future is seen as fact, something we can nor control

Sou thern Englan d will stay dry ami s unn y over t h e weekend

My fath er w ill d efi nir e ly b e i n ho s pital for at least lwO weeks

I'll be lwenty · flve next year

Here there I S no sense of a wish or intentio

We call also use will for a prediction

[ rh in k United will win

54 Will and shall

We can use will "vith ha v e to , be allowed £0, and be able lu

Il's geUing lal e We'li ltave to hurry > 7lA

C ompetiLOrs will not be allowed to use mobile plion e s > 75C

Now you ' v e got some funding, you' lllJ e able to continue your s tudi e s> BUB

C An instant decision

We can sometimes use I'll/we'll for an instant decisiun

It's raining I'll take an umbrella

I think J'lI just sit down for a minut e

Will expresses the idea thai we decide at the moment of speaking Compare

be going 10

What else do I need? Oh, 1 know I'll buy some postcards

(I'm deciding now to buy some.)

I ' m going to buy some postcards, so let' s walk past the shops, s lzall we?

(I've already decided to buy some.)

,

We also use I'll! we'll when ordering food or drink

JIll have the soup, please

Do not confuse will and wartt

Action: 1 think I'll buy some postcard s "-" OK, I' ll wait for you

Wish: I want to buy some postcards, but 1 haven ' t gOl any money

D Willingness

Will sometimes expresses willingness

I expect my friend will translat e it for you She speaks Italian

I'll sit/I'm willing to sit on the floor J don ' t mind

I'll sit on the floor means that 1 am willing to Sit on !.he floor

Won ' t or will not can express unwillingness or an emphatic refusal

The do c tor won 'f come out at this lime of n.ight

I won 't put up willi chis nonsense

The minister will not agree to the plan

The subject can be a thing rather than a person

I'm late al r eady , and now the car won't s tart

E Other uses of will and shall

In an offer we can lise I'll/we'll and shall J/we

I'll hold Ihe door ope/l for you - 011, Ihanks

Shall I hold the door open for you? - 011, thanks

We do not use be going to to make an offer

In a promise we can use I'll/we ' ll

(1 promise ) I'll lLo my best to help you

In an invilation we can use won ' t you, but would you like to is more usuaL

Won't you sit down? I Ht ' ould you like to si t down?

The ruture

When we can't decide, we use shall Jlwe to ask ror advice or a suggestion

Where shall I put these flowers?, , I'll get a vase

What shall we do this weekend?

We can use shall we to make a suggestion

Shall we go to the seaside this weekend?

This means the same as Let's go , > IIF

NOTE

a Will can express an assumption, > 76

James left till s morning He'll be m wndon now

b When will is stressed it can express dctermination

I WIU succeed ( = I (1m determined 10 succeed.)

c Will is somctimes used in formal orders It emphasizes the authority uf the speaker

} ' Oll willieave the building immedlQceiy

d We gencr.l!ly use shall onl y with lor we, but we can use you shall in 3 promise

You shall be the first CO know, (I promise )

c Shall is also sometlmes used for formal rules

The employee shall gille two weeks' notice in ",ming

55 Be going to

A Form

The form is be going + to-infinitive

I'm going to watch television

it isn 't going to rain, is it?

Are you going to buy a newspaper?

NOTE

In informal speech going fa is often pronounced /' gAna /

B Be going to for the future

We can use be going to for something in the future

My father is definitel y going to be in the hospital for at lea st two weeks

•

We can use be going to to make a prediction

I think Unit ed are going to win

Will is also possible in the three examples above, > 54B

For a comparison of will and be going to, > 57 '

When we use be going to, there is a sense of something in the present

pointing to the future

It 's ten already We're going to be lale

This fence is going to fall down soon

These predictions are based on something we can see in the present We can see from the time now that we are going to be late, and we can see from the condition of the fence that it is going to fall down The present evidence points to the future

56 Pre sen t t ense fo rm s fo r the futu re , C Intentions

We can also use be going to for a plan or an intemion

I'm going to start my own busin ess

They're going to build som e new flat s h e r e

In the first example, I'm going to start means that I intend to startlI have decided to start

continuous rather than be going to

I'm going OUl in a minuc e I've got snme s h opp ing to do

I'll pop in and see you I'm coming past your plac e in any case

Nm ' E

Going to go and Roing to com e ca n so und awkward amJ are often avoi d ed

A The present continuous

I'm meeting Kat e at the club tonight

What are you doing tomorrow?

Julie is going to Florid a n ex t month

I'm doing some shopping lhis afternoon

Juli e is going to F lorida suggests that Julie has made arrangements slIch as

day so that J can do the sh pping

The meaning is similar to be going to for an intention, and in many l:ontcxts

we can use either form

W e' re visiting /We 're goi ng to visit friends at the weekend

B The present simple

We can sometimes use the present simple for the future, but only for what we see as part of a timetable

Th e m ee ting is on May 1 3

Th e train l eaves in fi ue minutes

W e change at Birmingham

Wllallime dQ yo u arrive i ll Chic ago ?

We do not use the present simple for decisions or intentions

(NOT Jca.,., lhttt-bag /8 f6U )

(NOT - Fhey-bttiltl-some-ttett#fl-al3 hut: .u.t tJn )

For the present simple in a sub·clause, > 59A

For be due to + to-infinilive referring to a timetable, > 580

The future

A We use both will and be going to to talk aboLt the future

It'll prob ably rain It usually rains at weekends

It's going to rain Look at those clouds '

The prediction with going to is based on the present situation

We use be going to (not wil{J when the future action seems certain to happen and is very close

H el p! I'm going to JaW I'm going to be sick!

Sometimes we can use either form with liltle difference in meaning

One da y the s un will cool down/is going to cool down

C it y won't beat/aren ' t going to beat Unit ed

\tVhen we talk about intentions plans and arrangemcnts, we use he going to

or the present continuous, but not will

We're going to eat out ton.ight (= We intend to eat DUL)

We' re eating out tonight (:: We have arranged lO cat DUL)

We use will for an instant decision

I'm too tired to c ook I think I'll get a take-away

'A T e do not use (he ordinary verb be in the present continuous

We'll be in South Africa for a mmllh

(NO T We-!"e heing in S lHtfh Africa /or-tHrtmHh.)

B This conversation takes place at the end of work on Friday aftcrnoon

I'll see you all Mon day then

Oh , J won ' t be h e r e Didn't J t e ll you ? I'm taking a few days off I'm going on h.oliday I'll be away for a week

No , you didn't say Where are yoq going?

The Lake Di s trict I'm going to dd some walking

O h, th at 'll be nice W e ll I hop e you hav e a good tim e

Thanks Jill see you the week after

Polly gives the news of her plans by using the presem continuous and b e going 10

I'm taking a lew dfJYs off I'm going In do some walking

We cannOl use will in lhis context But after'first mentioning a plan or intention, we often use w ill for furlher details and comments

I ' m going on holiday I'll be away for a week

I'm going to do some walking.-Oh Ihat' lIl> e ni ce

They're going to build so me n e w flats The work will take about six months

58 B e ro, be a bour ro, etc

TIPS

When you're talking about the future

1 Remember that b e going to can be used for both predictions and

intentions, so it is often the safest choice, especially in conversation

It ' s going to be a ni ce day We're go ing to have a p i cnic

2 Use wi ll for instant decisions

I'll go and switch the computer off

3 Use the present continuous for arrangements

I'm acting in a play next week

4 Do not use the present simple for plans or intentions

(~OT f-ttcf in tl phi) nf!'(f-tt;Iee/e- )

We can use b e + to-infinitive for an o rficia I arrangement

The Prime Minister is to visit Budap es l

The two companies are to merg e at th e beginning of next year

B e is often left out of b e to in ncws headlines

Pr ime Mi ni ster to visit Budapesl

B Be to for an order

Be to can also express a rule or an order by a person in authority

The te a che r says we are to wait her e

You're 1101 to slay /.Jp late

No one is to iecw e lhi s huilding

nilS trolley is nOI to b e removed from the s lation

C Be about to and be on the point of

We can use be about + to-infinitive for an action in (he near f wur e

The audience are in th eir' seats, and t h e performan ce is about lO s tart

Hu rry up Th e hu s is about 10 l e ave

We do [lot usually give a time with abouL 10 We say The bll s leaves i n le n

IninUl es hilt NO'! -+he~!t-f.thfHff-{ff-letttte- itt - tell .IZili u l e5

We can use just with be about to and be going to

The bus is jllst about to l e a velis just going Lo leav e

This mcans that (he bus is leaving in {he very n ar future

Be on the pOi1'll afmeans the same as he aboUlID Ii is followed by an ing-form

Th e governmen r is on th e point of announcillg a d ecis i on

The future

o Be due to

We can sometimes use be due + to·infinitive when we are talking about a timetable

Th e m ee ting is due to take pla ce o n Ma y 13

Th e train is due to leave in fw e minut es

E Be set to

B e se l + to·infinitive is used in news reports about things that are expected to happen soon

Th e pfay e r is set to move to an Italian cl ub

Th e oil co mpanie s are set to raise pri ces on c e mor e

We ll SC these forms to say that somet.hing w ill definitely happen in the furure

T h e r e' ~ bound to be troubl e

Th e Pr es id e nt is surelcertain to r es ign

A We often use the present simple for future time in a clause with if, w hen, a s, whil e, b e fore , aft e r, until , by th e lim e or as s o o n a s This happens when both clauses are about the future

If we meet at seven, w e'LL ha ve plenty Of rim e

M y par e nts ar e go in g to m ove to the se asid e wh e n ch e y retire

L e t's wait until th e ra in stops

Ca ll me as s oon a s yo u IIm l e any new s

The same thing happens in other kinds of sub-clauses, slIch as a rela ve clause or a noun clause

There will be a pr iz e f o r th e p e so n who scores th e mo s t po i nt s

C an you make s ur e thac th e pla ce is left t i d y?

B In a sub· clause we also use the present continuous or present perfect for fmure time, rather than the future continuous or future perfect

I'll th i nk Of y ou h e e w h e n I'm lying on th e b eac h n ex t w ee k

Le t' s ca rry on until we 'v e finished

( N OT Le t' s eti:ff) tJrr - unri/ - we W hatJe-jinishetL)

C But jf the main clause has a present· tense verb (c.g I exp ec t ) , then we do no

lise another present-tense verb for the future

J ex p ec c th e ra i n will stop 5 0 11

I k ep reminding my ~el f tlull I'll be lying on ch e b e a c h n Xl w ee k

60 T he future con t Inuous: will be do ing

NOTE

Afte r hope we can use cithc r a present or a fu ture f orm

I hope y ou ha velyoll' ll ha ve a f O l lCly time

A Form

The future continuous is will he + ing-orm

Th e committee will be dis c ussing th e matler next month

We won't be doing much at t-he weekend

Will you be staying here long?

NOTE

a In the firs t person we can also use shalL

I wiW sJ ltlll be vis iting customers all day

b We ca n u se be going to as we ll as will

We ar en' t going to b e doing milch at the weekend

B Action over a future period

We can use the future contin ous for an action over a period of future time It means that we will be in the middle of an action

Mike ca n 't come toni gh t H e' ll be working

How will I recugnize you?

-J'm fair, quite tall, and I'll be wearing a blue co at

Compare the past, present, and future

Past: I've just ha d a holiday Th is time last week 1 was lying in the sun

Present: J'm phoning from Crete I'm on the beach J'm lying in the sun

Future: I'm going on holiday T hi s tlme next week I'll be ly i ng in the sun

Compare these sentences:

The crowd will c h eer when the Queen arriv es

(She will arrive and then the crowd will c eer.)

The crowd will be c h ee ring when the Queen arrives

(The crowd will start cheering and then she will arrive.)

We sometimes use the future continuous with a phrase of time to talk about

an action going on over a whole period

I'll be working all day tomorrow

:-.IOTE

We can a l so use t he futur e continuous for an assump ti on about whal i s happ e ning n o\\'

I expect Usa !s busy S e' ll be revis ing fo r her exam

We can also use the future continuous for an action which will result from a routine or arrangement

The (ulUre

I ' ll be phoning my mother tonight I al ways phon e II e on F ri days

(The phone call will be the result of my regular roulinc.)

(Her arrival in ten minutes is pan of her schedule.)

We are ce ntralizing our op e ration s, so this office will b e closing next month

(The c10surc will be a result of the centralization.)

Other forms are also possible in the above contexts

I'm goiug to phone my moth e r tonight > 55

J'm phoning my mOlher {Onighl > 56A

We can use the future continuous to ask about someone's plans to see if they fit in with our wishes

Will you be going pa.stlhe po st office th is morning ? Ye s, why? Co uld you post this for me, p l ease?

How long will you be using th e tennis court? '" We've book ed it until three

We could use the prescnt continuous in these cxamples > 56A

61 The future perfect and future perfect

continuous

A The future perfect

The future perfect is will ha ve + past participle

We can use the future perfect to talk about something being over at a time in the future

I'll have finished lhis book soon I'm nearly at l he end

We don't need all day for the mus e um { expect we' ll hav e seen enough by

NOlE

a In the firsl per s o n we ca n also use sha ll

When we gel to York , we will/shall h allc done I Ia l f the journey

h \ Ve r::m so m e tim es use iJe gnirrg In ;'IS we ll as wil/

Th ey a re n' t gui ng to lIalle finished the repair s 101li/llcxt week

c The fu tur e p crfec [ c an expr e ss an a ss umpll o n abo u[ [h e pa s t > 76C

You 'LlI UlVC mer my boss - he was at I l u ! II// ~/Ulg ),ou WCIlt to

The future perfect continuo s is will have been + ing-form

62 Was going to would, was to etc

We us~ this form wh~n we imagine ours~ l ves looking back from a time in th~ future, c.g October We look back at an action that will continue up 10 that time, e.g Mike workjng

I'll ha ve writt e n t h e repo rt by six,

so i t' ll be on your desk tomo r row

morn in g

Future perrect continuous

This tense focuses on the action

going on

This report is t aking ages I'll

h ave b ee n writin g it f or a week

by I he lime I fi n is h

We use these forms when we are talking about a past situation, for example

when we are telling a story We use the forms to refer forward to later events

A Was/were going to

We can use was I were going to for a prediction in the past

Alice felt so relieved Everyc1li rt g was goi n g t o b e all r i ght after all

We can also use wast were going TO for an intention in the past

I w as go in g t o bu y some presents, so f took my credit card wi th me

I was goi n g to buy some p resents means that I intended (Q buy some presents Sometimes (he intended action does not actually happen

T h e bus pu ll e d away just as we we r e go in g t o ge t on it

We did not get on the b s because it pulled away too soon

Compare the past continuous rderring to a past arrangement :> 47E

We were on ou r way to the gym We we r e pl ay in g basketball al ehree

We can usc would as a past form of will This use can be rather literary

t h e r ic h est and mos t powerfu l on earth

T h ey Se/ off at daybreak T h ey wo uld r eac h Ihe camp hefore nig l llfall

Here a past action (reaching the camp) is seen from a time when it had not

yel happened

For wo ul d as a past form of will in indirect speech, > 262E

The future

We can use would not for unwillingness or a refusal in the past

The spokesperson wouldn't answer any questions

The car wouldn't start this morning

Compare won't for a refusal in the present > 540

We can also use be £0, be about £0, and b e 011 the poim of in the past tense

The workers were arriving for their last shift The fa cto ry was to close the next day (There was an arrangement for the factory to close.)

We had to hurry The bus was about to l ealle

Max was on the point of saying goodbye to everyone when he suddenly

noticed an attractive girl looking across the room at him

NOTE

a We can use was to with the perrect

The faclOry was to hiwe closed lile " ext dny Ina it was decided to kccp it gOing jiJr ~

This mean s that the arrangement was (hanged The factory di d n ot close till! n ext day ' j

b Sometimes was to has the sa me meallin~ ilS wuuld

George Washington was t he fir s t Presid e w aju nutwl/thal was to /Jecome the richest and mo s t powerful on earth

Thi s means that the nation later became th e ri c h es t and mosl powcrfLll 011 earth

63 Overview: the future

A future action over a period:

Looking back from the future:

Looking forward from the past:

111e problem will get worse > 548

The problem is going to get worse > 558

The shop is about to close > S8C

I'll just put the kettle on > 54C

We're going to move hou se soo n :> sse

We're moving house soon > 56A

You'll have eaten all those chocolates

by tea time :> 61A

I was going to wash up, but J

forgot to, > 62A

Be, have, and do

64 Au xi lia r y ve r bs and ordinary verbs

A In these sentences, be and ha ve arc au iliary v erbs They combine with

ordinary verbs

I'm surfing th e Net'

The informa tion is u pda t ed dail y

The c am pUl e r has cr ashed

Here be is used to form the continuous (a m surfi n g) and the passive (is updated) Has is used to form the perfect ( h as cr a s h ed)

We use the auxiliary verb d o in simple· tense nega ves and questions

J low often do you surf the N et?

But in a simple· tense positive statement we do nOl normally usc an auxiliary

I oft e n surf (h e Ne t

We also use auxili ries in short answers, in shon additions, and for emphasIs

A r e y ou using th e co mp l aer? '"" Y es, I am

Sarah h as don e a c ompUl e r c our se, and so hav e I

Y es , I did d o wnload th e file I'm q u i te s ur e o f th at

We sometimes use two auxiliary verbs together

I've been s urfing lit e Ne t (present perfect continuous)

P e t ro l JJad been lea ki ng f r om t h e ta nk (past perfect continuous)

B Be , l u.tIle, and do can also be ordinary verbs We can use them on their OW I1 as

the main verb of a sentence

Th e we ath e r wa s be autiful

We h ad so m e sand w ic hes (h ad = ate)

1 did th e c ro ssw ord tlli s m ornin g ( did :::: completed)

Like other ordinary verbs, h e, h ave, and do can be perfect or conlinuous

Th e w e ath er has been b ea utiful

W e we r e having som e sa ndwi c h es ( wer e ha v in g = were eating)

I've don e the c ro ss word l ha ue d o e :::: have completed)

Sometimes we use the same au iliary and ordinary verb together

I was being la zy (continuous of h e)

I'ue had a s and w i c h (perfect of have )

1 did do tli e c ro ss word (emphatic form of d o )

We can also use b e, ha ve, or d o after a modal verb such as migh t or can

I might be a b ie la te tom o rr ow

You c an do thi s c rosswo rd if yo u lik e

Be, have, and do

I / he/shelil was being

yo u/w e / hey were being

Prescnt perfect

lIyou/wei/hey haue been

h e/s h el it has been

Pas/ perfect

someone had been

Short forms

l've/you'velwe've/they've been he's /s h 's / it's been

Short forms

I'dlyou'dlhe'dluie'dllhey ' d been

We do not use the auxiliary verb do in simple tenses

Thi s pizza isn't ve ry nice (NOT 11ti:J P d'Ball', be bEl, niet;: )

Were your friends Ihere? ( NOT D i d } ut'-fP'i~""'fItf!t" e?J

In the other tenses, we form negatives and questions with the auxiliary in the normal way

Th e weather has been nic

The weather hasn't been very m ce

How has the weather been?

6S The ordinary verb be

B Uses of be

Here arc some contexts where we use the ordinary verb he

Identity: Those girls are my cuusim

Nationality: We're Swedish We're from/vVe co me [rom Sweden,

Job: My sisler is a doctor

Interests: I'm a keen cyclist

Place: The Science Museum is in South Kensington

Time: The match was last Saturday

Earlyllate: We were late for the show

Age: I'll be eighteen in Novembe r

Qualities: That building is really ugly_

Feelings: How are you?, I'm fine, thanks

We're cold and wc're hungry

Behaviour: Please be careful

Righrlwrong: That isn't right I think you're mistaken

Possession: Are these bags yours?

Cost: How much is lhis CD/does this CD cost?

NOTiJ

When we say where something IS, we can sometimes me [Ie or sumd instead of be

The lSlllnd isllies off the coasl of Scotland

Th e c hurch was / stood at a busy croS$road.~

In these con text s lie and sta nd <lre more formal and lucr<lry man be

We can also use b e located or he slll/fllea

Ow head office is located on th e outskirts of Northampton

The hOlel is situated in 10llely gardens wI/I, magllljicelll views

C Be in the continuous

We can use be in the continuous for temporary behaviour

The neIghbours are being very noisy today

J told the children off be c ause rhey were being silly

Compare these two sentences

You.'re being stupi d (= At present you are behaving stupidly.)

You're stupid {= You are always stupid / You are a stupid person.]

o Gone or been?

Compare these two sentences

Tom has gone to LOwn, but he'll be back soon

Here gon.e means 'gone and still away' Been means 'gone and come back'

Sometimes we use an ing-form after gone or been

11w girls have gOlle swimming They're at the pool

The girls have been swimming They've ju s t gOl back ,

In questions about w.hat places people have visited, W~ use been

Have you ( ever) been lO /:; , gypt?

Be, have, and do

66 Have and have got

A Use

The basic use of have and have gOl is to express possession

This includes temporary possession

I think you've got a book that belongs to me

In the above examples, have and have got cannot be used in the continuous For have as an action verb with a continuous form, > 67

We're having a picnic

For some other related meanings of have and have got > F

Uyou/we/they hUiIe had

he/she/it has had

The word gOl is informal and typical of everyday conversation We can use it

in simple tenses, but it is more common in the present than in the past And

it is more common in Britain than in the US

C Short forms of have and have got

have

Willi have Oil its own, we prefer

Present simple

I have the key

I've the key (infrequent)

Past simple

I had the key

I'd the key (infrequent)

haue got

forms 've , 's, or 'd

I have got the key

I've got tile key

I had got the key

I'd got the key