The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing

action is happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger sense. The present continuous can
also be used to show that an action is going to take place in the near future. Read on for detailed descriptions,
examples, and present continuous exercises.

Present Continuous Forms

The present continuous is formed using am/is/are + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the
subject and am/is/are. Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You are watching TV.

 Question: Are you watching TV?
 Negative: You are not watching TV.

Present Continuous Uses

USE 1 Now

Use the present continuous with normal verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very
moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

 You are learning English now.

 You are not swimming now.
 Are you sleeping?
 I am sitting.
 I am not standing.
 Is he sitting or standing?
 They are reading their books.
 They are not watching television.
 What are you doing?
 Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, now can mean different things: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on.
Sometimes, we use the present continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in
progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

(All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

 I am studying to become a doctor.

 I am not studying to become a dentist.
 I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
 I am not reading any books right now.
 Are you working on any special projects at work?
 Aren't you teaching at the university now?
USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the present continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near
future.

 I am meeting some friends after work.

 I am not going to the party tonight.
 Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
 Isn't he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with Always

The present continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like simple present, but with negative emotion. Remember to
put the words always or constantly between be and verb+ing.

 She is always coming to class late.

 He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
 I don't like them because they are always complaining.

Present Continuous Tips

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using present
continuous with these verbs, you must use simple present.

 She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct

 She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You are still watching TV.

 Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active

 Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive
The past continuous (also called past progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing past
action was happening at a specific moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the
same time. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and past continuous exercises.
Past Continuous Forms

The past continuous is formed using was/were + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the
subject and was/were. Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You were studying when she called.

 Question: Were you studying when she called?
 Negative: You were not studying when she called.

Past Continuous Uses

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a
shorter action in the simple past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

 I was watching TV when she called.

 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
 I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple past. However,
you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

 At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
 Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the simple past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the past continuous, a
specific time only interrupts the action.

 Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.

I started eating at 6 PM.
 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions
were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

 I was studying while he was making dinner.

 While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
 Were you listening while he was talking?
 I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
 What were you doing while you were waiting?
 Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
 They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

 When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the
boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a
secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with Always

The past continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression used to but with negative
emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between be and verb+ing.

 She was always coming to class late.

 He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
 I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

Past Continuous Tips

While vs. When

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin
with the word when such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with while such as "while
she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, when is most often followed
by the verb tense simple past, whereas while is usually followed by past continuous. While expresses the idea of
"during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of
the sentence.

 I was studying when she called.

 While I was studying, she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using past continuous
with these verbs, you must use simple past.
  Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
 Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You were just studying when she called.

 Were you just studying when she called?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
 The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive
Future continuous has two different forms: "will be doing " and "be going to be doing." Unlike simple
future forms, future continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Continuous with "Will"

[will be + present participle]

 You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
 Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
 You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

FORM Future Continuous with "Be Going To "

[am/is/are + going to be + present participle]

 You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
 Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
 You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

REMEMBER: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the future continuous with little difference
in meaning.

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the future continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the
future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

 I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

 I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
 I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.
 He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.

Notice in the examples above that the interruptions (marked in italics) are in simple present rather than simple
future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

In USE 1, described above, the future continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In addition to using
short actions as interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

 Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I will be in the process of eating dinner.
 At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.
We will be in the process of driving through the desert.

REMEMBER

In the simple future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the future continuous, a
specific time interrupts the action.

 Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.

I am going to start eating at 6 PM.
  Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.
I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 PM.

USE 3 Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the future continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both
actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

 I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.

 Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
 While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.
Notice "is reading" because of the time clause containing "while." (See Explanation Below)

USE 4 Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

 When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are
going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be
drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future tenses, the future continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as:
when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of future continuous, present
continuous is used.

 While I am going to be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct
 While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using future
continuous with these verbs, you must use simple future.

 Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct

 Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You will still be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
 Will you still be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

 You are still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
 Are you still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. Active

 At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John. Passive

 At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes. Active

 At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John. Passive

NOTE: Passive forms of the future continuous are not common.

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb
tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up
to the present moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration,
or the amount of time that an action has been taking place. Read on for detailed
descriptions, examples, and present perfect continuous exercises.

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle. Questions are
indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.

 Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
 Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Present Perfect Continuous Uses

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until
now. For five minutes, for two weeks, and since Tuesday are all durations which can be used with the present
perfect continuous.

 They have been talking for the last hour.

 She has been working at that company for three years.
 What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
 James has been teaching at the university since June.
 We have been waiting here for over two hours!
 Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as for two weeks. Without the
duration, the tense has a more general meaning of lately. We often use the words lately or recently to emphasize
this meaning.

 Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

 She has been watching too much television lately.
 Have you been exercising lately?
 Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
 Lisa has not been practicing her English.
 What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the present perfect continuous has the meaning of lately or recently. If you use the present
perfect continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks
sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the
person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is
possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using present perfect
continuous with these verbs, you must use present perfect.

 Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
 Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You have only been waiting here for one hour.

 Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Recently, John has been doing the work. Active

 Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

NOTE: Present perfect continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.
The past perfect continuous (also called past perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an
action started in the past and continued up to another point in the past. Read on for detailed descriptions,
examples, and present perfect continuous exercises.

Past Perfect Continuous Forms

The past perfect continuous is formed using had + been + present participle. Questions are indicated by
inverting the subject and had. Negatives are made with not

 Statement: You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.
 Question: Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived?
 Negative: You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous Uses

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time
in the past. For five minutes and for two weeks are both durations which can be used with the past perfect
continuous. Notice that this is related to the present perfect continuous; however, the duration does not continue
until now, it stops before something else in the past.

 They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
 She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
 How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
 Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
 James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.
 A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past

Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

 Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

 Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
 Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as for five minutes, for two weeks, or since Friday, many English speakers
choose to use the past continuous rather than the past perfect continuous. Be careful because this can change
the meaning of the sentence. Past continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas past perfect continuous
emphasizes a duration of time before something in the past. Study the examples below to understand the
difference.

 He was tired because he was exercising so hard.

This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was exercising at that exact moment.
 He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he had been exercising over a period of time. It is
possible that he was still exercising at that moment OR that he had just finished.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using past perfect
continuous with these verbs, you must use past perfect.

 The motorcycle had been belonging to George for years before Tina bought it. Not Correct
 The motorcycle had belonged to George for years before Tina bought it. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You had only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived.
 Had you only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to
Paris. Active
 The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he
moved to Paris. Passive

NOTE: Passive forms of the past perfect continuous are not common.
Future perfect continuous has two different forms: "will have been doing " and "be going to have been doing."
Unlike simple future forms, future perfect continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Will"

[will have been + present participle]

 You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
 Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
 You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have been + present participle]

 You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
 Are you going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
 You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the future perfect continuous with little or no
difference in meaning.

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future

We use the future perfect continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the
future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the future
perfect continuous. Notice that this is related to the present perfect continuous and the past perfect continuous;
however, with future perfect continuous, the duration stops at or before a reference point in the future.

 They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.
 She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
 James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
 How long will you have been studying when you graduate?
 We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when we get to Anchorage.
 A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in New Zealand for over a year?
B: No, I will not have been living here that long.

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in simple present rather than simple
future. This is because these future events are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future

Using the future perfect continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.

 Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.
 Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been
studying English in the United States for over two years.
Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many English
speakers choose to use the future continuous rather than the future perfect continuous. Be careful because this
can change the meaning of the sentence. Future continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas future
perfect continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future. Study the examples below to
understand the difference.

 He will be tired because he will be exercising so hard.

This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will be exercising at that exact moment in the
future.
 He will be tired because he will have been exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will have been exercising for a period of time.
It is possible that he will still be exercising at that moment OR that he will just have finished.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the future perfect continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions
such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of future perfect
continuous, present perfect continuous is used.

 You won't get a promotion until you will have been working here as long as Tim. Not Correct
 You won't get a promotion until you have been working here as long as Tim. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future perfect
continuous with these verbs, you must use future perfect .

 Ned will have been having his driver's license for over two years. Not Correct
 Ned will have had his driver's license for over two years. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
 Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

 You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
 Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. Active
 The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is
finished. Passive

 The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is
finished. Active
 The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it
is finished. Passive

NOTE: Passive forms of the future perfect continuous are not common.
The past perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action took place once or many times before
another point in the past. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present perfect exercises.

Past Perfect Forms

The past perfect is formed using had + past participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and had.
Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You had studied English before you moved to New York.
 Question: Had you studied English before you moved to New York?
 Negative: You had not studied English before you moved to New York.

Past Perfect Uses

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show
that something happened before a specific time in the past.

 I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

 I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
 Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
 Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
 She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
 Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
 We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
 A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the past perfect to show that
something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

 We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
 By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
 They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Although the above use of past perfect is normally limited to non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of
mixed verbs, the words live, work, teach, and study are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT
non-continuous verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the present perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the past perfect. Although
this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

 She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

MOREOVER

If the past perfect action did occur at a specific time, the simple past can be used instead of the past perfect
when before or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell you what happens first, so
the past perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

 She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
 She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the past perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, past perfect is not optional. Compare the
examples below. Here past perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For
this reason, simple past cannot be used.

 She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
 She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You had previously studied English before you moved to New York.
 Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Active
 Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive
Future perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to have done." Unlike simple future forms,
future perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with "Will"

[will have + past participle]

 You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
 Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
 You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

 You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
 Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
 You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the future perfect with little or no difference in
meaning.

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The future perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also
show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

 By next November, I will have received my promotion.

 By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
 I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.
 Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?
 Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
 By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
 How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in simple present rather than simple
future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the future perfect to show that
something will continue up until another action in the future.

 I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
 By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Although the above use of future perfect is normally limited to non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of
mixed verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are
NOT non-continuous verbs.
REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the future perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when,
while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of future perfect, present perfect is used.

 I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
 I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

 You will only have learned a few words.

 Will you only have learned a few words?

 You are only going to have learned a few words.

 Are you only going to have learned a few words?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
 The project will have been completed before the deadline. Passive

 They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. Active
 The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive
 Active and Passive Verb Forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive forms." You must
learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.

Active Form

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is
the object. Most sentences are active.

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]

Examples:

Passive Form

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is
optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving
the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who
is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

Active and Passive Overview

Tense Active Passive

Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Continuous Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

The salesman was helping the customer when the The customer was being helped by the salesman when the
Past Continuous
thief came into the store. thief came into the store.

Present Perfect Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Recently, John has been doing the work. Recently, the work has been being done by John.
Continuous

George had repaired many cars before he received Many cars had been
Past Perfect
repaired by George before he
 his mechanic's license. received his mechanic's
license.

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being
Past Perfect
fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to
Continuous
Paris. Paris.

Simple Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will

Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.
be going to

Future Continuous At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by
will John.

Future Continuous At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being
be going to dishes. washed by John.

Future Perfect They will have completed the project before the The project will have been completed before the deadline.
will deadline.

Future Perfect They are going to have completed the project The project is going to have been completed before the
be going to before the deadline. deadline.

Future Perfect The famous artist will have been painting the mural The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist
Continuous for over six months by the time it is finished. for over six months by the time it is finished.
will

Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been painting the The mural is going to have been being painted by the
Continuous mural for over six months by the time it is finished. famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
be going to

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always My mother would always make the pies. The pies would always be made by my mother.

Future in the Past I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.
Would

Future in the Past I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally
Was Going to tonight. tonight.
Used To

FORM

[used to + VERB]

 I used to go to the beach every day.

It is better not to use used to in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken
English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using simple past.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

Used to expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something
was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

 Jerry used to study English.

 Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer.
 I used to start work at 9 o'clock.
 Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.

USE 2 Past Facts and Generalizations

Used to can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

 I used to live in Paris.

 Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin.
 George used to be the best student in class, but now Lena is the best.
 Oranges used to cost very little in Florida, but now they are quite expensive.

Used to vs. Simple Past

Both simple past and used to can be used to describe past habits, past facts and past generalizations;
however, used to is preferred when emphasizing these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other
hand, when asking questions or making negative sentences, simple past is preferred.

 You used to play the piano.

 Did you play the piano when you were young?
 You did not play the piano when you were young.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Jerry used to pay the bills. Active

 The bills used to be paid by Jerry. Passive
Would Always

FORM

[would always + VERB]

 You would always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach.
 Would you always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach?
 You would not always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

Like used to and simple past, would always expresses the idea that something was an old habit which stopped in
the past. It says that an action was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now. Unlike used to and
simple past, would always suggests that someone willingly acted that way and sometimes expresses annoyance
or amusement at the habit. It also often suggests the habit was extreme. To express the opposite idea, we can
say would never to indicate that someone never did something in the past, but now they do.

 She would always send me strange birthday gifts.

 Sam and Mary would always choose the most exotic vacation destinations.
 Sally would not always arrive early to class. She came late once or twice.
 Ned would always show up at our house without calling first.
 Mindy would not always walk to school. Sometimes, she took the bus.
 Christine would always come late to the meetings.
 Jeff would never pay for drinks when we went out together with our friends.
Refusing to do something or normally not doing something is also a form of habit.

REMEMBER would always is Different

Would always is not exactly the same as used to or the simple past. Would always cannot be used to talk about
past facts or generalizations. It can only be used for repeated actions.

 Sarah was shy, but now she is very outgoing. Correct

 Sarah used to be shy, but now she is very outgoing. Correct
 Sarah would always be shy, but now she is very outgoing. Not Correct

Forms Related to Would Always

In addition to would always, English speakers often use would constantly, would often, would forever or
simply would. Although the last form would is correct, it is not suggested because it can easily be confused with
other verb forms such as the conditional or future in the past. Similarly, speakers can use would rarely, would
occasionally and would seldom to express the idea that an action was not often repeated.

 Jerry would come to the parties every weekend.

 Jerry would constantly bring his girlfriend to the parties.
 Jerry would often bring his best friend to the parties.
 Jerry would occasionally bring his older brother to the parties.
 Jerry would seldom bring his sister to the parties.
 Jerry would never bring his younger brother to the parties.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
  My mother would always make the pies. Active
 The pies would always be made by my mother. Passive

Future in the Past

Like simple future, future in the past has two different forms in English: would and was going to. Although the two
forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two different meanings.

FORM Would

[would + VERB]

 I knew you would help him.

 I knew you would not help him.

FORM Was/Were Going To

[was/were + going to + VERB]

 I knew you were going to go to the party.

 I knew you were not going to go to the party.

USE 1 Future in Past

Future in the past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future. It
does not matter if you are correct or not. Future in the past follows the same basic rules as the simple future.
"Would" is used to volunteer or promise, and "was going to" is used to plan. Moreover, both forms can be used to
make predictions about the future.

 I told you he was going to come to the party. plan

 I knew Julie would make dinner. voluntary action
 Jane said Sam was going to bring his sister with him, but he came alone. plan
 I had a feeling that the vacation was going to be a disaster. prediction
 He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt. promise

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, future in the past cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when,
while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of using future in the past, you must
use simple past.

 I already told Mark that when he would arrive, we would go out for dinner. Not Correct
 I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active

 I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive

 I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner. Active

 I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally. Passive
Types of Verbs

Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are
the same. English verbs are divided into three groups: normal verbs, non-continuous verbs, and mixed verbs.

Group I Normal Verbs

Most verbs are "normal verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing.
These verbs can be used in all tenses.

Normal Verbs

to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc.

 I eat dinner every day.

 I am eating dinner now.

Group II Non-Continuous Verbs

The second group, called "non-continuous verbs," is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see
somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They include:

Abstract Verbs

to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...

Possession Verbs

to possess, to own, to belong...

Emotion Verbs

to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...

 He is needing help now. Not Correct

 He needs help now. Correct

 He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct

 He wants a drink now. Correct

Group III Mixed Verbs

The third group, called "mixed verbs," is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. In a way,
each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like "non-continuous verbs," while other meanings
behave like "normal verbs."

Mixed Verbs

to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh...

List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions:

to appear:
  Donna appears confused. Non-Continuous Verb
Donna seems confused.
 My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. Normal Verb
My favorite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club tonight.

to have:

 I have a dollar now. Non-Continuous Verb

I possess a dollar.
 I am having fun now. Normal Verb
I am experiencing fun now.

to hear:

 She hears the music. Non-Continuous Verb

She hears the music with her ears.
 She is hearing voices. Normal Verb
She hears something others cannot hear. She is hearing voices in her mind.

to look:

 Nancy looks tired. Non-Continuous Verb

She seems tired.
 Farah is looking at the pictures. Normal Verb
She is looking with her eyes.

to miss:

 John misses Sally. Non-Continuous Verb

He is sad because she is not there.
 Debbie is missing her favorite TV program. Normal Verb
She is not there to see her favorite program.

to see:

 I see her. Non-Continuous Verb

I see her with my eyes.
 I am seeing the doctor. Normal Verb
I am visiting or consulting with a doctor. (Also used with dentist and lawyer.)
 I am seeing her. Normal Verb
I am having a relationship with her.
 He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal Verb
He sees something others cannot see. For example ghosts, aura, a vision of the future, etc.

to smell:

 The coffee smells good. Non-Continuous Verb

The coffee has a good smell.
 I am smelling the flowers. Normal Verb
I am sniffing the flowers to see what their smell is like.

to taste:

 The coffee tastes good. Non-Continuous Verb

The coffee has a good taste.
 I am tasting the cake. Normal Verb
I am trying the cake to see what it tastes like.

to think:

 He thinks the test is easy. Non-Continuous Verb

He considers the test to be easy.
  She is thinking about the question. Normal Verb
She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind.

to weigh:

 The table weighs a lot. Non-Continuous Verb

The table is heavy.
 She is weighing herself. Normal Verb
She is determining her weight.

Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing:

to be:

 Joe is American. Non-Continuous Verb

Joe is an American citizen.
 Joe is being very American. Normal Verb
Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American.
 Joe is being very rude. Normal Verb
Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.
 Joe is being very formal. Normal Verb
Joe is behaving very formally. Usually he is not formal.

NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is
temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably
different.

to feel:

 The massage feels great. Non-Continuous Verb

The massage has a pleasing feeling.
 I don't feel well today. Sometimes used as Non-Continuous Verb
I am a little sick.
I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Normal Verb
I am a little sick.

NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between "I don't
feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."