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§ 14. The use of the Future Continuous.

1. The Future Continuous is used to denote an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future.

I wonder whether we shall ever arrive at a decision. I am sure the next time you call we shall still be wavering. (Collins)

The definite moment is indicated either^ by another future action expressed by a verb in the Present Indefinite or by an adverbial phrase.

I shall already be working when you return. At 12 o'clock I shall still be working.

The definite moment is often not expressed, but is understood from the situation.

I am sure you won't be able to speak to him, he will be working.

2. The Future Continuous is very often used in modern English in the same meaning as the Future Indefinite, i.. e. to denote a future action.

But my dear Ann Veronica, you will be getting into debt. (Wells) Give my love to Lady Mont, shan't be seeing her again. (Gals­worthy)

If you don't take care, he'll be getting transferred to China and marrying a purser's daughter. (Galsworthy)

THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS IN THE PAST

§ 15. The formation of the Future Continuous in the Past.

1. The Future Continuous in the Past is formed by means of the Future Indefinite in the Past of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.

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2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the first auxiliary verb.

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I should be reading Should I be reading? I should not be reading He would be. reading Would he be reading? He would not be reading She would be reading Would she be reading? She would not be reading We should be reading Should we be reading? We should not be reading You would be reading Would you be reading? You would not be reading They would be reading Would they be reading? They would not be reading

3. The contracted affirmative forms are:

I'd be reading

He'd be reading *

The contracted negative forms are:

I shouldn't be reading He wouldn't be reading

4. The negative-interrogative forms are:

Should I not be reading?

Shouldn't I be reading? ( Would he not be reading? \ Wouldn't he be reading?

§ 16. The use of the Future Continuous in the Past.

The Future Continuous in the Past denotes an action going on at a definite moment which was future from the point of view of the past.

I felt sure they would be discussing the same problem when I called.

(For detailed treatment see Chapter XVIII.)

Note 1. — Influence of the lexical character of the verb on. the use of the Indefinite and the Continuous form.

To express a process with terminative verbs the Continuous form alone is possible.

At. that moment he was unlocking the door. (Oppenheim) В этот момент он отпирал дверь.

With the Indefinite form the meaning would be quite different: the action would be represented as completed.

At that moment he unlocked the door.

В этот момент он отпер дверь.

То express a process with non-terminative verbs the Continuous form is mostly used, though the Indefinite form is also found,

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especially with such verbs as to sit, to stand, to lie, because these verbs express a state rather than a process.

When I saw her, she lay motionless on the sofa.

With the adverbial modifier the whole day yesterday (to-morrow) both the Indefinite and the Continuous form of non-terminative verbs , can be used to denote a process.

I was so tired I slept (was sleeping) the whole day yesterday, j

The meaning is the same, only with the Continuous form the pro-1 cess is expressed more emphatically.

Note 2. —The use of the Past Indefinite and the Past Continuous in complex 1 sentences with as and while. The use of the Past Indefinite and the Past Continuous in complex! sentences with as and while, when there are two actions going on at the same time, largely depends on the lexical character of the j verb.

(1) If both the verbs are terminative, they are generally used j in the Past Continuous.

She was arranging the books on the shelf while I was sweep-1 ing the floor.

(2) If one of them is terminative and the other non-terminative, I the terminative verb must be used in the Past Continuous and the) non-terminative verb may be used either in the Past Continuous or, preferably, in the Past Indefinite.

She was arranging the books on the shelf while I played the piano.

(3) If both verbs are non-terminative the best way is the Past j Indefinite in both clauses.

He read as he ate. (Bennett)

There is another possibility: the use of the Past Indefinite in one clause and the Past Continuous in the other. He was singing as he walked.

VERBS NOT USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

It naturally follows from the definition of the Continuous form ("it denotes an action in a state of process at the present moment or at a definite moment in the past or future") that verbs which do not express a process are not used in the continuous form.

The following groups of verbs do not express a process:

(a) verbs denoting sense perception (to see, to hear);

Note: The verb "to feel" is an exception. It is often used in the Continuous form.

I am feeling better to-day, or I feel better to-day.

  1. verbs denoting mental activity (to know, to believe);

  2. verbs denoting wish (to want, to wish);

  3. verbs denoting feeling (to love, to hate, to like);

  4. verbs denoting abstract relations (to have, to consist, to depend, to belong).

In such expressions as to see tfie sights of, to see somebody home, to see somebody off the verb to see does not mean 'видеть', so it can be used in the Continuous form.

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They were seeing the sights of London while their cousin waited for them at the hotel. (Wells) -

It is naturally possible to use the Continuous form of the verb to have in the expressions of the type to have dinner (lunch, sup­per), because it does not denote possession. They are having lunch.

The verb to think cannot be used in the Continuous form if it ■denotes an opinion; it can if it "denotes a process of thought. I think you are right. I am thinking of what you have just said.

"i The verb to admire cannot be used in the Continuous form if it means 'восхищаться'; it can if it means 'любоваться'. ; "I hope you dote on Harry the Eighth!" "I admire him very

; much," said Carker. (Dickens)

What are you doing here, my poetic little friend? Admiring the

moon, eh? (Collins)

THE PERFECT FORM

The Peffect form denotes an action completed before the present moment (and connected with it) or before a definite moment in the past or future.

It is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the required tense and Participle II of the notional verb. (On the forma­tion of Participle II see Chapter VII, § 3.)

THE PRESENT PERFECT