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Sunday, 22 January 2012

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Future perfect tense

The future perfect tense is used to indicate that something will be finished or completed by a certain time in the future. It is formed with “will / shall + have + past participle of the verb.”


From yesterday till tomorrow I’ll have spent Rs. 500 for transport
 

The contractor says that he will have finished the building by next week.

I’ll have taken all my leave by the end of December.

By the end of next year Gamini will have saved Rs 50,000.

The author will have written two more novels by the end of next year.

The future perfect tense is normally used with a time expression beginning with “by”.

Don will be celebrating his 60th birthday on December 25, 2013. By then he will have completed 30 years of service in the Railway Department.

Avinash is planning to settle down in Australia in three years. By that time he will have saved enough money for the passage.

Sena drinks two bottles of water a day. He will have drunk 14 bottles in a week.

The future perfect aspect is concerned with the speaker’s perspective on the relationship between one time frame and an event that takes place in another time frame.

From yesterday till tomorrow I’ll have spent Rs. 500 for transport.

In ten years’ time I’ll have lived in this house for 30 years.


Sena drinks two bottles of water a day. He will have drunk 14 bottles in a week.

We use ‘already’ and ‘just’ with the future perfect tense to refer to actions which will be finished by an approximate time in the future.

By the end of July next year my grandson will have already graduated from Bangalore University.

My pen-pal from England will have just arrived in Sri Lanka by this time tomorrow.

[Activity ]

State whether the following sentences are right or wrong. If wrong, correct them. Check your answers with the key.

1. The contractor will have completed the building project by the end of May.
2. The contractor has completed the building project by the end of May.
3. The undergraduates will have met the Vice Chancellor by noon today to discuss their demands.
4. By next April, Rani will have qualified as a nurse.
5. By next April, Rani has qualified as a nurse.
6. Scientists will have discovered new sources of energy by 2050.
7. Scientists will discovered new sources of energy by 2050.
8. By next April, she will qualified as a doctor.
9. The children have gone to bed by the time you return home.
10. The fruit on the trees ripen by the end of summer.

Key :

1. Right 2. Wrong (See 1) 3. Right 4. Right 5. Wrong (See 4) 6. Right 7. Wrong (See 6) 8. Wrong; By next April, She will have qual ified as a doctor. 9. Wrong; The children will have gone to bed by the time you return home. 10. Wrong; The fruit on the trees will have ripened by the end of summer.


Fun with proverbs

A proverb is defined as a popular short saying with words of advice or warning. On the other hand, proverbs are full of folk wisdom. Be familiar with the following proverbs and use them in your speech and writing.

1. Diamond cut diamond.

Diamond is the hardest substance known to us. It can be cut only by another diamond. The proverb is used when two opponents have wit, cunning and strong-mindedness in equal measure.

2. Discontent is the first step in progress.

If we are satisfied with what we have, there will be no progress. It is only when we are unhappy that we try to improve the situation.

3. Discretion is the better part of valour.

It is good to be a brave man than a coward. However, caution is better than rashness.

4. Distance lends enchantment to the view.

At a distance, a mountain appears to be enchanting. However, when you go closer, you will see only ugly rocks and trees. It is a commentary on life.

5. Do as most men do than most men will speak well of you.

It simply means that you have to go with the crowd. If you do not do so, you will become unpopular.

6. Do as you would be done by.

This is the essence of good behaviour. If we can follow this advice, the world will be a better place to live in.

7. Do not cast your pearls before swine.

Do not give any valuable thing to someone who does not appreciate it.

8. Don’t change horses in mid-stream.

If you want to make some changes in your activities, choose the right moment.

9. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

You should never be too optimistic about anything. Wait till your difficulties are over before you boast of success.

10. Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it.

You should not worry about anything before it happens. Your fears may be groundless.


Starters:

Expressions in spoken English

In conversation we use short sentences and questions. There's no need to form long rambling sentences.

Helen: I'm learning English.
Victor: Really? Are you?
Miran: I don't like cricket.
Sriyan: Don't you? Why not?
Prem: I've bought a new scooter.
Sara: Oh, have you?

We use short expressions in speech to show that we are interested in the subject or surprised by what the other person says.

Principal: You're late, as usual.
Teacher: Oh, am I? I'm so sorry.
Shane: I was in London last week.
Bryan: Were you? I didn't know that.
Mother: It's raining again.
Daughter: Is it? How can I go to school?
Father: I can't drive.
Son: Can't you? I didn't know that.
Lyn: I'm not hungry.
Lesley: Aren't you? I am.
Teacher: Mary isn't here today.
Student: Isn't she? Is she ill?

We use "do, does, doesn't," and "don't" for the simple present tense and "did" for the simple past tense.

A: I know three languages.
B: Do you? What are they?
Veena: I don't eat meat.
Nelum: Don't you? Do you eat fish?
Kelum: Kasun got through the exam.
William: Did he? Really?

We also use question tags or tag questions in speech. Use a negative question tag for a positive statement.

Lorna: It's a bright day, isn't it?
Kanchana: Yes, of course.
A: Martha lives in Canada, doesn't she?
B: Yes, I think so.
Norman: You returned the book to the library, didn't you?
Kavindu: Yes, I did so.
Charith: Those books are expensive, aren't they?
Carl: Yes, of course.
Bridget: You will be at home, won't you?
Linda: Yes, I think so.

Use a positive question tag for a negative statement.

Nayana: That isn't your laptop, is it?
Sekar: No, mine is black.
Ben: You don't swim, do you?
Carl: No, never.
Savitry: You haven't met my father, have you?
Nithya: No, I haven't.
Keerthi: You won't be late, will you?
Prem: No, don't worry.

[Activity ]

Use suitable question tags and compare your answers with the key.

1. It's a rainy day, ................?
2. They're on leave, ........................?
3. Nayana was angry, . ...................?
4. You've been to India, .....................?
5. You can play the violin, .....................?
6. You'll help him, ..........................?
7. You haven't got a big house, ........................?
8. Kareem is an unpopular man, ...........................?
9. Lionel went to university, .......................?
10. The film wasn't interesting, ........................?

Key:

1. isn't it 2. aren't they 3. wasn't she 4. haven't you 5.can't you 6. won't you 7. have you 8. isn't he 9. didn't he 10. was it

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