Past tense
What did you do today?

Present perfect tense
What have you done today?

Future tense
will
shall

I'll do it.=willingness
I won't do it.=unwillingness, refusal
I'll go and get some for you.
I'll wait.
We'll have a competition.
I won't leave until I have seen Mr. Smith.

I want to go and get the paper back.
All right, go then
No, you can't.

I'll go and get the paper back
Thank you.
That's all right, I already have it.

What time shall we meet tonight?=simple, classical
If it rains, we shall go by car.
That box looks very heavy. Shall I carry for you?=offering
Shall I lock up, or will you do it?
Would you like me to lock up?
Shall we do all the jobs?
Do you want us to do all the jobs?

Will I be able to take my dog with me?
Will we need to take an exam at the end of the course?
Will I need to change bus?

We won't be able to leave tomorrow.
I won't need to change any more money. 
Won't we need to apply for a visa first?

I'll scream if you touch me.

Won't you stay for dinner?
Please stay for dinner.

Will you be coming to the dance? (information)
Will/Would you come to the dance? (invitation)

My car won't start.

Legal term (must)
The purchaser shall return or pay for the goods within thirty days.
After this time, the purchase shall be liable to a surcharge if he has failed to return or pay for the goods
The vendor shall have the right to take possession of the car.

I wonder if it will still be raining this afternoon.
In a few minutes we shall be landing at Hong Kong airport.
I'll be seeing Mary this afternoon. I'll give her a present.

He is in his office.
He'll be in his office, I suppose.
He is having his lunch.
He'll be having his lunch, I expect.
You're feeling hungry.
You'll be feeling hungry after all that exercise, I expect.

Future perfect tense
By the time you receive this letter, I will have left England.
I'll call for you at seven. Will you have finished dinner by then?

It is 6 o'clock. I am reading the novel War and Peace. 
By 8 o'clock, I will have been reading for more than 2 hours.

I'm going to leave my present job.
It's going to rain soon.
She is going to make an excellent nurse.

Tomorrow is Thusrday.
The new term starts next week.
I'm leaving for America soon.
I'm starting a new job on Monday.

Hurry up! You're going to miss your train. The train is going to leave in 5 minutes' time.

I'm going to Paris next week.
Are you coming to the concert this evening?

is to/is about to
Nobody is to leave the room until the exam is over.
The boat is about to leave.

Modals-
Decreasing certainty
It is Peter
It will be Peter
It must be Peter
It must have been Peter
It should be Peter
It should have been Peter
It may be Peter
It might be Peter
It could be Peter
It can be Peter
It couldn't be be Peter
It can't be Peter
It won't be Peter
It isn't Peter

Conditional if sentence
Type 1
If I do X, Y will be the result

If it rains, we shall go by car.
The if-clause must be in present tense, past tense or perfect tense, not future tense.
Decreasing certainty
If I do X, Y will be the result
If I do X, Y must be the result
If I do X, Y can be the result
If I do X, Y may be the result
If I do X, Y should be the result
If I do X, Y ought to be the result
If I do X, Y could be the result
If I do X, Y might be the result

If(Whenever) you drop eggs, they break. (universal truth)

Type II
If I did X, Y would be the result.
Decreasing certainty
If I did X, Y would be the result.
If I did X, Y should be the result.
If I did X, Y ought to be the result.
If I did X, Y could be the result.
If I did X, Y might be the result.

If I were to do X, Y would be the result.
If I were you, I would take up a sport to keep fit.

Type III
If I had done X, Y would have been the result.
Decreasing certainty
If I had done X, Y would have been the result.
If I had done X, Y could have been the result.
If I had done X, Y might have been the result.

If you hadn't come to Hong Kong, we would never have met.
If she had married, she would not be the manager today.
If you hadn't spent so much money, you would be well off today.

He wouldn't have passed the exam if he had not worked hard.

Old-fashion inverted written form
Were I
Should I/you
Had I

Ask for permission
May I leave now?
Can I leave now?
Could I leave now?
Can I help you?

Of course you may.
No, I'm afraid you can't.

You must buy. (obligation come from you-inside)
You have to buy. (obligation come from others-outside)
You do not have to buy.
You need not buy.
You ought not to buy. (moral obligation only)
You should not buy.

Back to Home!



1