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HORIZONTAL PRINT -- COLOUR ENHANCED

TIME RELATED ACTIVE VERB CONSTRUCTIONS
FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE
The simple form is used for facts, truths, verbs of state, The continuous form is used for ACTIONS IN COURSE at a
mind related verbs (like, hate, doubt) EXPLANATION given moment/period in time

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

John had already seen the film so he didn’t come with Related to a fact (simple)/the There was a hole in John’s trousers because he had been
us. duration of an action fighting.
Had you ever visited a museum before you went to (continuous) which precedes a I had been waiting for the bus for an hour when it finally
Rome? point of time in the past arrived.
We had lived in London for years before we could How long had they been playing tennis when it started
afford to buy a house. raining?

PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS

I visited London last year. I wasn’t watching TV when you called me.
Did you see John yesterday? Related to a discernible point of What were you doing when the accident occurred?
I didn’t buy the green dress, I bought the red one. time in the past. Mary fell off the ladder while she was painting the ceiling.
Where were you when it started raining?
John arrived ten minutes ago.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Have you ever been to London? Related to a fact (simple)/the How long have you been waiting for me?
I have seen this film three times. duration of an action My hands are dirty (now) because I have been repairing my
John hasn’t finished his homework yet. (continuous) which precedes the bicycle.
I haven’t been to the cinema this week. present time (before now) You look tired! Have you been working hard?
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PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I live in London. Simple: something which is What is John doing? – He’s washing the car.
Where does John live? always true, frequency, habits, Be quiet! I’m studying for my exams.
We don’t always know the answer. facts Excuse me. Is anybody sitting here?
John hasn’t got a dog. Continuous: Action now/ at the Mary is watching TV at the moment.
Who are you? moment of speaking. Actions The water is boiling now.
Water boils at 100°C. which disturb us. Is it raining? – No, it isn’t. – It’s snowing.
They usually go to the cinema once a week. I don’t like him, he’s always smoking when I see him.

PRESENT SIMPLE (FUTURE) PRESENT CONTINUOUS (FUTURE)

When does school start this year? It starts in
September.
What time is the meeting? It’s at 3 p.m.
Does this shop open later today?
No, but it is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow.
What time does your flight leave?
It doesn’t leave until 9.00.
Simple: timetable of things and
events.
Continuous: People’s actions
arranged for the future/programs
What time is John leaving? He is leaving on the midnight
train.
John is coming to visit us next week.
What are you doing on Saturday morning? I’m going to
the park.
I’m sorry! I can’t help you. I’m playing tennis with John
this afternoon.

FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Come to my office at 8.00 tomorrow. I will have A fact/action takes place before, When I retire next June, I will have been working for this
finished my project by then. and is related to, a future point in company for twenty-five years.
I’m not sure that I will have read all these books before time. When the ceremony finishes those soldiers will have been
the exam. standing to attention for two hours.

FUTURE SIMPLE – Will/Shall
Shall I help John with his homework?
Will you help me(to) open the window?
I promise I won’t go there.
I like it! I’ll buy it.
It will rain in London tomorrow
John will be 27 in June.
I’ll meet you at the station at 7:30.
I don’t think it will rain, but if it rains I’ll cancel the
event.
Future clauses with simple present
When I arrive I will phone you.
As soon as I arrive I’ll call.
Before I leave I’ll call you.
If it stops raining we can go to the shops.
I hope to see John while I am in London next week.
Future clauses with present perfect
After I have phoned John, we can have lunch.
When you have finished with the newspaper, may I borrow it?
BE GOING TO
I’m going to watch TV.
I’m going to drive to London in my new car.
John says he is going to visit Italy sooner or later.
I’m going to study music at university.
What are you going to do tomorrow?
You aren’t going to leave without paying, are you?
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FUTURE CONTINUOUS
Simple: ‘Will/Shall’ takes the Don’t phone me this evening. I’ll be watching the Cup Final
verb associated with it into the on TV and I don’t want to be disturbed.
future. This time next week I’ll be lying on a beach in Italy.
John won’t be coming with us because he is ill.
Continuous: at a future point in In a few years’ time a lot of people will be working from
time this action will be ongoing. home.
John will be leaving for Indonesia at this time tomorrow.
Will you be waiting for me when I arrive?
Next Sunday morning at 11.00 Mary will be getting married.
IN ADDITION
Future clauses with ‘when, as soon as,
until, till, before, after, as long as,
providing, while ‘
No specific future time is mentioned.
Sequence of events where the first event
is completed before the second takes
place.
People’s intentions
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I’m not going to work in an office when I leave school.

I was going to buy Mary some flowers, but I changed my mind Similarly in the past: an intention which
and bought her a pair of earrings. was not realized.

Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain. Predictions based on the present
Look at Jane! I think she’s going to faint.

BE ABOUT TO + base form of verb

The Queen is about to present the soldier with his medal.
You are about to see something very unusual. Immediate future
John is about to go to a meeting. He hasn’t got time to talk to you
now.

The plane was just about to take off when it was struck by Similarly in the past.
lightning.
BE ON THE POINT/VERGE OF + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Mary is on the point of/ verge of breaking into tears. Immediate future

Mary was on the point of /verge of breaking into tears when I told Similarly in the past (but she didn’t
her about the accident. actually cry)
BE LIKELY TO + base form of verb
They are likely to announce their engagement at the party. The speaker is almost certain that this
The cost of living isn’t likely to rise (in the near future). will/won’t happen in the future.
FUTURE IN THE PAST Expresses the idea that at a point of
time in the past something would/was
I knew John would arrive on time. going to happen in the future.
He promised he would send us some money as soon as he could.
I knew he wouldn’t keep the secret. Would – voluntary future action or
promise

I thought John was going to ask Mary to marry him and he has. Was going to – planned future action
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On Monday I was told they were going to give me a rise in pay.

BE + TO + INFINITIVE
The Prime Minister is to announce his resignation. This construction is usually found in
formal announcements

REMEMBER: There is no specific future tense in the English language, there are just quite a few ways of expressing the
future. Often the chosen form reflects the person’s attitude towards possible/certain future events.