5 Future perfect, future perfect continuous

The future perfect is used for an action which will have finished before a point in the future. It is used with time expressions with by such as:

By 2050, by the time …, by this time (next week/year).

By the time she’s thirty, she’ll have started her own business.

The continuous form describes something continuing up to a point in the future, and emphasises the duration of the activity. It is often used with time expressions for and since.

By this time next month, I’ll have been working here for a year.

6 Could, may, might

These suggest that the future event is seen as uncertain.

I might be late, I’m not sure.

7 Present simple

This is used for events that are felt to be fixed and certain, like timetables. It is generally used with a time adverbial.

The exams begin next Tuesday.

8 be to

This also suggests that something is fixed and inevitable. It is more common in written language than in spoken.

The office is to be closed for a week.

The Prime Minister is to visit Poland.

9 Other expressions

Events in the near future

He’s on the point of leaving.

She’s just about to make a decision.

Expected or predicted time of event

The train’s due to arrive in ten minutes.

Probability

He’s quite likely to accept the job.

It’s not very likely that they’ll win.

Note: In many situations when referring to the future, it is possible to use several different forms without changing the meaning very much.

I’m going to see him tomorrow so …

I’m seeing him tomorrow so … } I can discuss it with him then.

I’ll be seeing him tomorrow so …

I’ll probably see him tomorrow so …

In written English, writers may use different forms just to add variety.

Tenses in time clauses (p.149)

Future verb forms are not used in time clauses introduced by when, after, as soon as, by the time, while, once, etc. Instead a present tense must be used.

He’ll phone as soon as he arrives at the airport.

She’ll be happy one she’ll lying on the beach.

Note: This is similar to the use of the present tense to refer to future time in if-clauses.

The present perfect is used to show that the action in the subordinate clause is completed before the action in the main clause.

They’ll buy the house when they’ve saved enough money.

UNIT 11

Reflexive pronouns (p. 159)

Reflexive pronouns such as myself, yourself, ourselves, etc, are used to refer back to the subject, in cases where the subject and object are the same. They always agree with the subject of the verb.

He prides himself on his good taste.

The following verbs are always reflexive:

busy content pride

Most transitive verbs can be used reflexively as long as it is possible for the subject and object to be the same.

He introduced himself to the hostess.

I adapted myself to the climate.

Enjoy yourselves at the party!

However, some verbs which are reflexive in other languages are generally used without a reflexive pronoun in English. They include:

wash dress shave shower adapt readjust move hide concentrate

She washed and dressed hurriedly, hoping not to be late for work.

Future forms with modal verbs

For future forms with modals, see Unit 10 above.

UNIT 12

Indirect speech (p. 173)