English Grammar

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Monday, 21 March 2016
Future Perfect How to Use
Contents ? Grammar in Dialogues ? How to Use Past Perfect

Read and understand the following explanations on usage of Future Perfect tense and
then examine illustrative examples from Classics.

1. The Future Perfect expresses an action accomplished before a given future

moment. The given future moment is usually expressed by adverbial phrases, clauses
of time or understood from the situation (see dialogues 1, 2, 3).

?Note: In adverbial clauses of time introduced by the conjunctions when, before,

after, as soon as, till and until the Present Perfect is found to express a future
action. It shows that the action of the subordinate clause will be accomplished
before the action of the principal clause (which is usually expressed by the Future
Indefinite) (dialogues 4, 5).

2. The Future Perfect is very occasionally used to express an action which begins
before a given future moment and continues into it. This use is found with stative
verbs (dialogue 6).

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Posted by Ananda M. at 02:59
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Labels: dialogues, english tenses, future perfect, perfect tenses, when to use
Stative Verbs Definition
Stative Verb. A stative verb is one that is not normally used in progressive (or
continuous) tenses. Most stative verbs refer to states, not to actions or events.
Examples: remember; contain; know; prefer; like; hear.
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Posted by Ananda M. at 02:06
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Labels: terminology
Thursday, 23 July 2015
When to Use Past Perfect Tense
Contents ? Grammar in Dialogues ? Past Perfect (When to Use)

In this page we examine the Past Perfect Tense in a detail: what it actually means
and how it is used. Some illustrative extracts from English literature are given
below.

Past Perfect expresses an action accomplished before a given past moment and viewed
back from the past moment. It may be a single point action, an action of some
duration or a recurrent action. The time of the action in most cases is not
indicated. Here are some examples (1, 2).

Example 1:
Vincent Van Gogh is talking with his cousin Kay in Amsterdam.

Kay: What are you thinking about, Cousin? You seem preoccupied.
Vincent: I was thinking that Rembrandt would have liked to paint you.
Kay: Rembrandt only like to paint ugly old women, didn�t he?
Vincent: No. He painted beautiful old women, women who were poor or in some way
unhappy, but who through sorrow had gained a soul.
Kay: Forgive me for being stupid. I understand what you mean about Rembrandt. He
gets at the real essence of beauty, doesn�t he, when he paints those gnarled old
people who have suffering and defeat carved into their faces.
(I. Stone. Lust for Life)

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Posted by Ananda M. at 05:40
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Labels: dialogues, english tenses, past perfect, perfect tenses, when to use
Monday, 27 April 2015
Present Perfect � When to Use
Contents ? Grammar in Dialogues ? Present Perfect (When to Use)

Present Perfect Tense Explanation and Illustrative Examples from Classics

Present Perfect is used to express an accomplished action (both, a single action
and an action or state of some duration) which is viewed from the moment of
speaking as part of the present situation. Attention is focused on the action
itself (but not on the time when it took place, nor in the circumstances � they
appear unimportant).

Present Perfect is generally used:

1. when the time of the action is not indicated at all (dialogue 1);
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Posted by Ananda M. at 14:38
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Labels: dialogues, english tenses, perfect tenses, present perfect, when to use
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Going To Usage and Illustrative Examples
Contents ? Grammar in Dialogues ? Going to Usage

Another way of expressing a future action is the construction "to be going to +

infinitive". It is mainly found with dynamic verbs; it is characterized by the
following additional modal meanings:

a) premeditated intention (see the illustrative example below):

1. Father and son are watching the stars.

Father: I wonder if they�re what we think they are? Stars! Stars like this! People
think we know about them. I wonder if we do. I wonder if we can. I wonder if we
they are what we think they are.
Son: Let�s find out. I�m going to find out.
Father: Well.
Son: I�m going to find out all about them.
Father: Perhaps you will. A lot of people have tried, you know. Sir Isaac Newton �
and Sir Robert Ball � and Sir William Herschell -- �
(G. P. Snow. The Search)
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Posted by Ananda M. at 07:37
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Labels: dialogues, english tenses, future, going to, when to use

To Be Going to + Infinitive
Contents ? To Be Going to + Infinitive

To Be Going To + Infinitive form for a future action

I am
He is
She is
It is
We are
You are
They are

going to do something.

We often use the present form am/are/is/ going to + infinitive to talk about the
future.
What are you going to do on Sunday?
It is going to snow.

Meanings:

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Posted by Ananda M. at 07:14
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Labels: english tenses, future, going to

Friday, 20 February 2015
Using Future Indefinite Tense through Dialogues
Contents ? Grammar in Dialogues ? Using Future Indefinite
This page shows different ways of using the Future Indefinite Tense (or Simple
Future) through dialogues from English literature.
The Future Indefinite expresses an action that will take place in the future. It
may be a single point action, an action occupying a whole period of time, a
succession of actions, recurrent actions in the future or a permanent future action
generally characterizing the person or thing denoted by the subject. The Future
Indefinite may be associated with adverbs and adverbial expressions of time or time
clauses.

Illustrative Examples:

1. Catherine and Frederic are in Switzerland. There was a snow storm the day
before.

Catherine: I wish I could ski. It�s rotten not to be able to ski.

Frederic: We�ll get a bobsled and come down the road. That�s no worse for you than
riding a car.
Catherine: Won�t it be rough?
Frederic: We can see.
Catherine: I hope it won�t be too rough.
Frederic: After a while we�ll take a walk in the storm.
Catherine: Before lunch, so we�ll have a good appetite.
Frederic: I�m always hungry.
Catherine: So am I.

(E. Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms)

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Posted by Ananda M. at 08:16
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Labels: dialogues, english tenses, future indefinite, grammar, indefinite forms,

indefinite tenses, when to use
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