Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .

The Present Simple

 To describe things that are always true, or permanent situations that exist now and as far as we know, will go on
indefinitely:
- It takes me five minutes to get to school.
- Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
- Trees grow more quickly in summer than in winter.
 To talk about habits or things that happen on a regular basis.
- I leave work at 5.30 most days. I always bite my nails.
- Each July we go to Turkey for a holiday.
 To give instructions or directions.
- You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.

→ When we perform an action by speaking, for example when we promise to do something, we usually use the present
simple, not continuous.
- I promise to be more careful next time. (= a promise) NOT ‘ I am promising’
- I admit I cannot see as well as I used to .(=an admission)
- I refuse to believe that he didn't know the car was stolen.(=a refusal)
Other verbs like this (sometimes called performative verbs) include accept, acknowledge, advise, apologise, assume, deny,
guarantee, hope, inform, predict, promise, recommend, suggest, suppose, warn.

→ We can use the present continuous or the present simple to describe something that we regularly do at a particular time.
Compare:
- We usually watch the news on TV at 9.00.(=we start watching at 9.00)
- We are usually watching the news on TV at 9.00.(=we are already watching at 9.00)
→ State verbs ( know, like, want) are not normally used in the continuous.
- I am hungry. I want something to eat. NOT ‘I am wanting …….’

Love, hate, need, prefer, realise, suppose, mean, understand, believe, remember, belong, own, contain, consist,
depend, seem, agree, prefer, hope, have + see, smell, hear, taste

Compare:
- What do you think ( = believe) will happen? (NOT ‘what are you thinking’)
- You look serious. What are you thinking about? (= What is going on in your mind?)
- I am thinking of giving up my job. ( = I am considering)

- We are enjoying our holiday. We have (= posses) a nice room in the hotel.
- We are enjoying our holiday. We are having (= spending) a great time.

→ We can use the present simple or continuous when you say how somebody looks or feels now:
- You look / are looking well today.
- I feel/ am feeling better.
 It is used in newspapers headlines: MASS MURDERER ESCAPES.
PEACE TALKS FAIL.
 For planned future action as part of a journey, schedule, programme.
- We leave London at 10.00 a.m. next Thursday and arrive in Paris at 1 p.m.
- The exam starts at 09.00.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Present Continuous

 To describe actions in progress or to talk about being in the middle of an activity.

- 'Who are you phoning?' 'I am trying to get through to Joan.'
- I cannot come right now: It is snowing and the traffic is moving slowly.
We often use time expressions such as at the moment, at present, currently, just, and still to emphasise that the action or
event is happening now.
[ In English, “now” can mean: this second, today, this year, this century, and so on.

→ Sometimes actions are not necessarily happening at the time of speaking:

( Tom and Ann are talking in a café) I am reading an interesting book at the moment. I will lend it to you when I have
finished it.

→ When two continuous tenses having the same subject are joined by “and”, the auxiliary maybe dropped before the send
verb. (this implies all pairs of compound tenses)
- She is knitting and listening to the radio.
 To refer to temporary situations (but permanent situation are put in the present simple)
- My sister Fiona is living here until she finds a flat. She is not working yet. She is looking for a job.
 To talk about changes happening around now.
- The population of the world is rising very fast.
- Is you English getting better? (NOT ‘does your English get better’)
 For definite arrangement in the near future (immediate plans)
- I am meeting Peter tonight. He is taking me to the theatre.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS PRESENT SIMPLE

 Actions happening at or around the time speaking. → for things in general or things that happen
(the action is not finished) repeatedly (habits)
- The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? - Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- I am going to bed now. Goodnight! - I always go to bed before midnight.
 Temporary situations → Permanent situations
- You are working hard today. Do you have a test? - John is not lazy. He works very hard most of the time.
 ‘I am always doing’ → ‘ I always do’
- I have lost my keys again. I am always losing my keys. - I always go to work by car. (= I do it every time)
(= I lose things too often). This is annoying/ irritating.

Practice: At work Mark is talking to Alan in the corridor. Complete their conversation.
Put in the present continuous or simple of the verbs.
Mark: ……………………….. (you / look) for someone?
Alan: Yes, …………………. (I / need) to speak to Neil. He isn't in his office.
Mark: ……………………………. (he / talk) to the boss at the moment.…………………………….. (I / think)
…………………………… (they / discuss) money.
Alan: Oh, right. And what about you? …………………………….. (you / look) for someone too?
Mark: Yes, Linda. ......................................... (you / know) where she is?
Alan: Oh, she isn't here today. She only ……………………… (work) four days a week.
…………. ................ (she / not / work) on Fridays. She'll be here on Monday.
Mark: Thank you. ..........................................(you / know) a lot about Linda.
Alan: Well, most days ....................................... (I / give) her a lift, or……................ (she / give) me one.
……………………..(she / live) quite close to me. .......................................(it / save) petrol.
Mark: Yes, of course. Good idea. Yes, ........................................(1/ agree). Well, ......................... (I / waste) my time here
then. I'll get back to my computer.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Present Perfect Simple

Tom is looking for his keys. He can’t find them.

→ He has lost his keys. (he lost them recently, and he still doesn’t have them now)

Use: the present perfect combines the past and the present

 The present perfect is used for actions/events that started in the past and still continue in the present.
- We have lived here since 2001. (we still live here)
- We have always worked in New York. (we still work there)
- It has been quite cold lately. (it is still cold now)
- I have known Sam for two years. (I met him 2 years ago and he is still my friend)
→ We use the present perfect with time expressions like for- since- all week- all the time- always- recently- so far-
already- yet- before- several times-…)
→ Time expressions like today- this morning- this evening can be used when these periods are not finished at the time of
speaking.
- I have drunk four cups of coffee today.
- Ron has not worked very hard this term.
→ We can use it without any time expression when it is not important to say when it happened exactly.
e.g. - I have written a long letter to my teacher.
- They have travelled to many places around the world.
BUT
If you use a specific time expression (yesterday- ago- last week- when I was a child- at that moment- that day-…), you
have to use the past simple.

 The present perfect is used to describe an experience that happened in our lives in the past up to now, but the effects are
important now. We can use it with time expressions like always- often- once- twice – before- …to express the frequency
of this experience.
- She has had a lot of different jobs.
- She has been to London twice.
- I have met him once before.

 For recent past activities that have a result now. (just- already- yet)
- The bus has not arrived. (It didn’t arrive and we are still waiting now)
- I have bought a new house (I did it last month, and it means now I have a new address)
- You have not finished your homework yet. (so you cannot go out)
- We have just heard about the news. (very recently, so now we know about it)

PRESENT PERFECT VS. PRESENT SIMPLE

 Actions began in the past and continue at present. → Actions repeated at present (how often the action
(shows how long the action has been) happens)
- She has worked here for a long time. - She works here every day.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Present Perfect Continuous

- “Is it raining?”
- “No, but the ground is wet. It has been raining.”

Use:
 For actions/ events (that took some time) that have recently/just stopped (there is a connection with now)
- Paul is very tired. He has been working very hard.( he is tired now)
- You are out of breath. Have you been running? (you are out of breath now)
- We have been waiting for you since 5 o’clock. (we are no more waiting as you came now)
 For events that began in the past, are continuing now and will probably continue in the future.
- He has been watching T.V all day.
- It has been raining for two hours. (it started raining 2 hours ago and will perhaps continue)
- I have been playing tennis since I was 6 years old .(repetition over a period of time)
- I have been going there for years. (still now)

COMPARE: - Do not disturb me now. I am working (now) (present continuous)

- I have been working hard, so now, I am going to have a break. (present perfect continuous)
Let’s practice: Put the verbs in the present c. or the present perfect c.
1. Hello Tom. ………………………(I/ look) for you. Where have you been?
2. Why ……………………………( you/ look) at me that that? Stop it!
3. Linda is a teacher. ………………………. (she / teach) for ten years.
4. …………………………… (I/ think) about what you said and I have decided to take your advice.
5. Sara is very tired. ………………………..(she/ work) very hard recently.
6. ‘Is Ann on holiday this week?’ ‘No, she ……………………. (work).

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS Vs. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

 My hands are very dirty. I have been repairing my bike. –My bike is Ok now. I have repaired it.
(not necessarily finished) (finished)
 I have been visiting New York for a couple of years. –I have visited New York three times.
(it continues: not interrupted) (a number of completed individual actions)
 I have been living here this summer, but I am leaving - I have lived here all my life.
next week. (temporary situation) (permanent situation)

REMARK: Some verbs cannot express this difference because they are not normally used in the continuous form
(e.g. feel, hear, like, love, wish, know, remember, mean, belong , own ,…)

Let’s practice: Use the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous of the verbs in brackets.
1. I …………………. three really long essays this term. (write)
2. My brother is an actor. He ……………….. in several films. (appear)
3. He ………………… here since 2000. (work)
4. Be careful! I ……………….. some water by the door. (spill)
5. He ……………….. Spanish for six months now.(learn)
6. ‘Sorry I am late’ ‘No, that is all right. I ………………………… long. (not/ wait)
7. I …………………….. (read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Past Simple

 For actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past. (Yesterday- last year- ago- once upon a time- in 2014-…)
- I saw a horror movie yesterday.
→ The simple past can be used with a duration which stars and ends in the past.
e.g. They lived in Canada for six years. (= they no more live there)
→ Sometimes, the speakers may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have a specific time in mind
e.g. I went to the grocery store.
 To list a series of completed actions in the past.
- I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim. (the actions happened in this order)
 To describe a habit that stopped in the past. (always- usually- never- when I was a child/younger- …) = “used to”
- They always had long walks in the park when they were younger.
- Last year, I played tennis every day.
 To describe past facts or generalizations that are no longer true.
- Martin Luther King was a defender of black people’s rights.
- People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

PRENSENT PERFECT Vs. PAST SIMPLE

 Do not specify when the action happened.
(just show it is important now)
- I have read your letter ( so I know about it )
 Not finished actions (here we are interested in how
long it has been going on for)
- I have lived in London since 2002.
- I have seen Beth this morning. (it is still morning)
or
To say that an action or event has been repeated a number
of times up to now.
- I have been to Australia three times.
→ Use time expressions to show that
the action is over. It happened at a specific time.
- I read your letter last night.
→ Finished actions (here we are interested in when
the action began)
- I moved to London in 2002.
- I saw Beth this morning. ( we are in the
afternoon or evening)

Let’s Practice: Circle the most appropriate answer.

1. They wrote/ have written some great songs together. They recorded/ have recorded some of them in their CD last year.
2. Your hair have grown/ grew a lot!
3. She did not always live/ has not always lived here. She moved/ has moved here in 2001.
4. I met/ have met a lot of Sarah’s family and I know them quite well. Her brother was/ has been in the same class as my
sister.
5. I started / have started to get the pains three weeks ago.
6. I had / have had the pains for three weeks.
7. I went/ have been to China.
8. I went /have been to China last summer.
9. I was /have been very busy since January.
10. The Pharaohs ruled/ have ruled Egypt for thousands of years.
11. I washed / have washed my hands so that I can help you with the cooking.
12. (8 p.m.) What did you do/have you done this afternoon?
13. (10 a.m.) I wrote/ have written two letters this morning.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Past Continuous

 The past continuous is used with past actions which continued for some time but whose exact limits are not known/not
important.
- I was reading a good book yesterday.
- At eight, he was sending an email. (= in the middle of / He started before 8 but do not know when he finished)
 To indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted (shorter action in the simple past)
- While I was watching the rain, the telephone rang.
- They were playing chess when they heard an explosion.
→ We can also use a specific time as an interruption. e.g. Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
 To describe two (or more) actions that were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
- I was studying while he was playing with the cat.
→ In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
- When I walked to the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, and the boss was
yelling directions.
- The sun was shining and I was walking along High Street. (to describe a background scene of a story = narration)
 Used with words such as “always” or “constantly”, the past continuous expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking (bad habit) often happened in the past. The concept is similar to the expression “used to” but with negative
emotion.
- She was always coming late to class.
- He was constantly ringing me up.
 To talk about past definite future arrangement.
- He was busy packing for he was leaving that night.

PAST CONTINUOUS Vs. PAST SIMPLE

 Past incomplete action → complete past action.
- From 10 to 12 I was washing my car. – From 10 to 12 I washed my car (finished at 12)
 Many actions happening at the same time. → Many actions happened one after the other.
 To talk about casual/ less deliberate action → deliberative action (on purpose)
( not done on purpose) – I talked to Tom the other day. I needed his help.
- I was talking to Tom the other day. We had a nice chat.
 Action happened in the middle of another. → One action happened after another.
- When Ken arrived, we were having dinner. – When Ken arrived, we had dinner.

Let’s practise: Put the verbs in brackets in the simple past or past continuous
1. The police (not believe) …………………. his story.
2. I (listen)………………….. to my new CD, so I did not hear the phone.
3. Just as I (go) ………… into the class, the fire alarm (get off) ……………………
4. Helen (break) …………………her leg while she (ski) ………………….. in Switzerland.
5. He (take) ……………… the cake out of the oven and (place) …………………. It carefully on the table.
6. When I arrived, the lecture had already started and the professor (write) …………….. on the overhead projector.
7. I did not want to meet Paul, so when he entered the room I (leave) ………………………. .
8. Unfortunately, when I arrived, Ann just (leave) ……………………….., so we only had time for a few words.
9. He (watch) ………………………. TV when the phone rang. Very unwillingly, he (turn) …………….. down the
sound and (go) ……………….. to answer it.
10. He always (wear) ………………….. a raincoat and (carry) …………….. an umbrella when he walked to the
office.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Past Perfect Simple

Sarah went to a party last week. Paul went to the party too, but they didn’t see each other. Paul left the party at 10.30
and Sarah arrived at 11 o’clock. So → When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul wasn’t there. He had gone home.
 When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul had already gone home.

 We use the past perfect to make it clear that an action was completed before another action in the past. (the action which had
already happened is in the past perfect; the other action into the past simple).
 For an activity that was completed before a point of time in the past.
- In 2005, I had lived in the same place for ten years. (The action completed before 2005.)
- The man sitting next to me on the plane was very nervous. He had not/had never flown before.
- Had you ever travelled by plane before your holiday in Spain?
 We can use the past perfect and the simple past in one sentence with expressions such as:
- By the time we got to the airport, our flight had left.
- After I’d done the washing-up, we went for a walk.
- As soon as he had left, I phoned Anna.
- She had finished her project before she went out.
- We did not stop until we had reached the coast.
 In time clauses, we can often use either the past perfect or the simple past with the expressions cited above, but, generally,
we use the simple past to express that the first action led to the second and the second followed the first very closely:
- As soon as he left, I phoned Anna.

COMPARE > - When I arrived, Tim had left. (= Tim left. Then I arrived.)
- When I arrived, Tim left. (= I arrived. Then Tim left.)

BUT we cannot use the past perfect for both actions in a sentence if one happened after the other.
FOR EXAMPLE, we cannot say - As soon as he had left, I had phoned Anna.→ incorrect

PAST PERFECT Vs. PRESENT PERFECT

- When I met Annie, I had been in Paris for a week - I have been in Paris for a week.
(I came to Paris a week before I met Annie and I (I am still there)
am not there anymore)
 Events that began before a point of time or → Events that started in the past and still continue.
another action in the past

REMARKS:

 Both tenses can be use with the same time expressions: always- before- since- for- all week- …; however, the meaning is
different .
 If we use the past perfect it does not always mean that an activity continued up to a point of time in the past. The event can
end a long time before the point we refer to.

PAST PERFECT Vs. PAST SIMPLE

- Kate had just gone home when I phoned. – Kate was not at home when I phoned.
She had been at her mother’s house. She was at her mother’s house.
→ Actions happened before a point of time in the past. → Actions happened some time ago.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

Let’s practice 1 : Put the verbs in the correct form, past perfect or past simple.
1. “Was Paul at the party when you arrived?” “No, he ……………… (go) home.”
2. I felt very tired when I got home, so I ……………… (go) straight to bed.
3. The house was very quite when I got home. Everybody ………………… (go) to bed.
4. We were driving along the road when we ………………. (see) a car which ……………(break) down, so we
…………………. (stop) to help.

Let’s practice2 : Circle the correct answer ( Adapted from English Grammar in Use, advanced level, p.19)

1. By the time I got to the bathroom, the bath (had overflowed / overflowed).
2. She walked into the station only to find that the train (had left / left)
3. I was just about to leave when I (had remembered / remembered) my briefcase.
4. My friend told me that Joe (had died / died).
5. He (had looked / looked) at his watch again and bean to walk even faster.
6. In a surprise move, the prime minister (had resigned / resigned) last night.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Past Perfect Continuous

Yesterday morning I got up and looked out of the window.
The sun was shining, but the ground was wet. It had been raining.
It was not raining when I looked out of the window; the sun was shining. But it had
been raining before.

 The past perfect continuous is used for activities that began before a point of time in the past and were still continuing at that
point of time.
- Last summer, Josh had been renovating his house for two years. (He started before last summer; he was still renovating.)

 To show how long something had been happening before something else happened.
- We had been playing tennis for about half an hour when it started to rain heavily.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS Vs. PAST PERFECT

 To talk about the continuity or duration of a situation/activity. → To talk about the completion of a
- I had been working hard, so I felt that I deserved a holiday. situation or its effects.
- I had been travelling for about 36 hours. - I had worked hard, and the report was now finished.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS Vs. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 We refer to the present. → We refer to the point of time in the past.
I have been practising since this morning. - At 11 o’clock I had been practising for two
(I am still practicing) hours. (I began at 9 and at 11 I was still
Practicing BUT not now)

Let’s Practice 1: Put the verb into the past continuous, the past perfect or the past perfect continuous.
1. It was very noisy next door. Our neighbours …………………… a party. (have)
2. Sue was sitting on the ground. She was out of breath. She …………………………. (run)
3. When I arrived, Kate …………………….. (wait) for me. She was annoyed because I was late and she
……………………………… (wait) for a long time.
4. I was sad when I sold my car. I …………………………… (have) it for a very long time.
5. We were extremely tired at the end of the journey. We ………………………… (travel) for more than 24 hours.
6. We were good friends. We ………………….. (know) each other for years.
7. We …………………………… (make) chicken soup, so the kitchen was still hot and steamy when he …………. (come).
8. We …………………………… (make) chicken soup and so we ………………….. (offer) her some when she …………..
(come) in.

Let’s practice 2: Use the present perfect continuous or the past perfect continuous
1. For more than two years I (try)…………………….. to get permission to extend my house.
2. How long (they live) ………………………..………………… next door to you?
3. For several years now, Glasgow (organize) ………………………………………..……festivals to celebrate the cultures of
other countries. This year the focus is on Sweden.
4. When I got home, water (leak) ………………………..………… through the roof.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Future Simple (Will Vs Going to)

“will” is used : “be going to” is used:

(Preferred in formal written English)
 to express general intention
- He will change his job.
 For predictions/ guesses(when there is no evidence)
based on our opinion or our past experience.
- It will snow in winter.
- I do not think she will accept the offer.
- I imagine the stadium will be full for the match
of Saturday (prediction based on past experience)
→ We often use will with I'm sure, I think, I expect and probably.
(Preferred in spoken English)
* To express present intention.
– I am going to start my own business (I have decided to start)
*For predictions (when there is evidence -we know it because
of the situation now/ we can feel, see…it)
- She is going to have a baby
- Look at those black clouds. It is going to rain.
- It is ten already. We are going to be late.

Sometimes there is not much difference between “will” and “going to”. For example, we can say:
 I think the weather will be nice later.
 I think the weather is going to be nice later.

 For decisions made at the moment of speaking (spontaneous action) *For something already decided before. (actions with
- George phoned while you were out. - Ah, ok. I will phone him back. plan/intention/thought)
- George phoned while you were out. – Yes, I know
I’m going to phone him back.
 To express offer
- Shall I hold the door open for you? - That looks heavy. I will help you with it.
 To express promise
- Do not worry. I will pay you back soon. - You will/shall be the first to know. (I promise)
 To express request.
- Will you send me an email to confirm the meeting?
 For invitations.
- Shall/will we have dinner together, tonight?
 For refusal.
- I will not accept such a decision.
 To express threat.
- I will dismiss you from service.
 For formal orders. It expresses the order as a definite
future action. This emphasizes the authority of the speaker.
- You will leave the building immediately.
Notes:
 With verbs of movement, especially go and come, we often use the present continuous rather than be going to.
 I am going out in a minute. I have got some shopping to do.
 Barbara is coming round for a chat tonight.
“I am going to go out” and “Barbara is going to come round” are possible but less usual.
 We use be going to (not will) when the future action is very close.
 Help! I am going to fall!
→ Compare the meanings of these verb forms.
The cinema closed last year. The cinema has closed.
(in the past) (past action related to the present)
The cinema will close in November. The cinema is going to close soon.
(in the future) (future action related to the present)

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Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

Practice: Choose “will” or “be going to” , whichever is correct or more likely.

1. Get out of the building! It sounds like the generator (will explode/ is going to explode).
2. If you do not stop, I (will/ am going to tell) your mother.
3. Tim (will/ is going to retire) early before he reaches 65. He mentioned it at the meeting recently.
4. Next year, no doubt, more people (will/ are going to enter) the competition as the prize money increases.
5. Don’t sit on that bench; I (will/ am going to paint) it.
6. She (will not/ is not going to listen) to anything I say.
7. Peter and Jane have bought a little beach house. They (will/ are going to retire) to the beach.
8. Do not worry. I (will not / am not going to tell) anyone.
9. My team (will not/ is not going to win) the league this season.
10. Closed over the New Year period, this office (will / is going to re-open) on 2nd January.
11. ‘Your shoes are dirty’. ‘Yes, I know I (will/ am going to clean) them.’

Present tense forms for the future

 We use the present continuous for what someone has arranged to do.
- I am meeting Gavin at the club tonight.
- What are you doing tomorrow? (What did you decide to do/ arranged to do?)
- Julie is going to Florida. (This suggests that Julie has made arrangements such as buying her ticket.)
The meaning is similar to “be going to” for an intention, and in many contexts we can use either form. But do not use “will”.
- We are visiting/ We are going to visit friends at the weekend.

BE CAREFUL → We cannot use a state verb in the continuous.

- Gavin will be at the club tonight. NOT - Gavin is being at the club tonight.
 We can sometimes use the present simple for the future, but only for what we see as part of an official timetable/program.
- The Cup Final is on May7th. - The train leaves at 4.40 p.m. - The sun rises at 5.45 tomorrow.
- We change at Birmingham. - What time do you arrive in Helsinki?

→We do not use the present simple when we talk about PERSONAL PLANS or PREDICTIONS. Instead we use will, going
to, or the present continuous.
- I am really exhausted. I am just staying into watch TV tonight NOT ... I just stay in...
 We often use the present simple for future time in an adverbial clause with “if, when, as, while, before, after, until,
by the time and as soon as”. This happens when both clauses are about the future.
- If we meet at seven, we will have plenty of time.
- Mr. Dudley is going to move to the sea side when he retires.
- By the time you get this letter, I will be in Singapore.
- Call me as soon as you have any news. NOT Call me as soon as you will have any news.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Future Continuous (will be doing)

 This time next month, we will be having exams. (=in the middle of doing it) Action in progress

 Tomorrow at 9 o’clock, I will be studying oral expression. in the future and after it
 At midnight tonight, we will be still driving through the desert we project ourselves.
 I will be sleeping when you come back. the future continuous (longer) action is interrupted
 He will be waiting for you when the bus arrives. by a shorter action in the future

 I will be writing to you again. (= I always write to you, so I’ll do it again, as usual) a routine, not an
 Will you be driving to work, as usual? intention/decision/plan

 The shop will be closed. We will not be working. future planned event/decision/arrangement

 Anna will be helping us to organize the party.

 She will be performing every day until the end of the month (part of a schedule)
 I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.→ both actions will be happening at the same
time. The actions are parallel.

→ We can often use either the future continuous or the present continuous when we talk about planned activities or
events in the future.
- We will be leaving/ are leaving for Istanbul at 7.00 in the evening.
- Professor Hodge will be giving/ is giving the first presentation at the conference.
BUT we prefer the present continuous to talk about surprising or unexpected activities or events:
- Have you heard the news? Dr. Radford is leaving! (rather than...will be leaving.)
Practice: Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate future form, using the future simple (will) or the
future continuous.
1. There is going to be a bus strike. Everyone ______________________(walk) to work next week.
2. You've just missed the last train!
Never mind, I ________________________(walk).
3. I'll ring you tomorrow at six.
No, don't ring at six; I _________________________(bath) the baby then.
4. You ________________________(have) something to drink, won't you?
5. Notice on board ship: In the event of an emergency all passengers ______________(assemble) on the boat deck.
6. I don't feel well enough to go to the station to meet him.
I __________________(meet) him for you. But how I ___________________(recognize) him?
He's small and fair, and he ______________________ (wear) a black and white school cap.
7. Wages have gone up, so I suppose prices _________________________ (go up) too.
8. We'll be in the same firm, but we__________________________ (not work) together, because we'll be in different
departments.
9. This time next Monday I _________________(sit) in a Paris cafe reading Le Figaro.
You ____________________(not read). You'll be looking at all the passers-by.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

The Future Perfect (will have done)

 We use the future perfect to look back from the future; i.e. to talk about an action /situation that will be finished before a
particular time in the future.
- I can meet you at six tomorrow. My football match will have finished by then.

→ It is often used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, till, by that time, by midnight, by the end of
the year. The time can also be given by other time expressions (on Sunday, before 31 June) or other activities
expressed in different future tenses.

- I will have sent the project by Friday.

- On 11 August, this year we will have been married for five years.
- By the time I get back, he will have left.
- We are late. The film will already have started by the time we get to the cinema.

Let’s practice: Use the present simple or the future perfect for the verbs between brackets.

1. We (not make) the report ………………………….. by the time they (arrive) ……………….. .
2. Don’t call late tonight. I (go) ………………………… to bed by ten.
3. He (not leave) ……………………… by eight. He gets up at seven thirty.
4. By the time he (finish) ………………. working today, he (work)……………………….. 10 hours.
5. Sarah ( not complete) …………………….her studies until she (be) ………….twenty-five

COMPARE: - We will leave at six o’clock. (= six o’clock is the time we will leave).
- We will have left by six o’clock. (= We will leave before six o’clock)

The Future Perfect Continuous ( will have been doing)

For activities that will continue until a point of time in the future and will not be completed. The emphasis is on
the length of time of an action.
- Next year I will have been working in the company for 30 years.
- On Saturday, we will have been living in this house for a year.
 Something will already have happened before a certain time in the future.
- When you arrive, we will have been sitting in the classroom all day. (the class finishes at 5 and you will arrive at 6)

FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE Vs. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 To refer to a number of individual actions that were repeated. → For incomplete, uninterrupted activities.
When I am sixty, I will have built more than fifty houses. When I am sixty, I will have been building houses
(fifty individual actions) for thirty years. (one incomplete activity)

Let’s practice: Use the future perfect or the future perfect continuous. (English Grammar in Use, page 31)

1. Simon started to learn Spanish when he was 25. When He's 40, he (learn) ……………………….. Spanish for 15 years.
2. I started writing this book 3 years ago next month. By next month, I (write) ……………………………….200 pages.
3. I'm going to paint the front door today. I'll finish it before you get back. When you get back, I (decorate)
………………………………………..….. the house.

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 Grammar 2nd year LMD Revision of English tenses Lecturer: Mrs. BENCHAREF .S

Diagnostic Test : Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the sentence. Use the appropriate
future tense (will, going to, future perfect/continuous/perfect continuous, simple present, present continuous)
(Longman Advanced Learners’ Grammar, p. 13)

o ‘Have you booked a holiday yet for this year?’ ‘Yes, we (take).. are taking… a cruise around the Caribbean in
November.’
o I have taken the 10.40 to Bristol every Friday for three years and it is always half empty. Believe me, you (find)
………………….. a seat.
o My father is approaching retirement age, so he (probably/sell) ………………………….. the business next year.
o Going by all the recent polls, the social democrats ( win) …………………………. Next week’s election by a huge
majority.
o I am going on holiday tomorrow. This time next Tuesday afternoon I (ski) …………………….. down a mountain!
o At our next wedding anniversary we (be married) ………………………………… for twenty-five years.
o Your driving test is next Tuesday, so (we/have)…………………………… a two-hour session on Monday.
o The plane (take off) ………………… at 10. 45, so we had better check in by 8.45.
o The decorator will not finish the work until you (pay) …………………… him what you owe.
o I wouldn't walk across that old bridge if I were you. It looks like it (collapse)…………………………. .
o The next meeting of the committee (be) ………………………. on November 5th.
o After you go another 50metres, you (see) ……………………….a path to your left.

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