3. The Past Indefinite and the Past Perfect.

1. The Past Perfect is not used to denote a succession ofactions. In this case the Past Indefinite is used. The Past Indefinite is used with the conjunctions after, before, when if the relation between the actions approaches succession, i. e. when the idea of completion is of no importance.

He went on with his work after he had a short rest.

He had a short rest before he went on with his work.

When I wrote the letter, I posted it.

2. Verbs of motion and sense perception such as to come, to arrive, to return, to see, to hear, in adverbial clauses of time are generally used in the Past Indefinite and not in the Past Perfect. The actions are practically simultaneous.

When he (Val) came down, ... he found his mother scrupulous in a low evening dress... (Galsworthy)

When he heard the first line of the poem, he recognized it at once.

When the completion of the action is emphasized the Past Perfect is used.

He knew the poem by heart when he had heard it several times.

III. The future perfect

1. The formation of the Future Perfect.

1. The Future Perfect is formed by means of the Future Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle II of the notional verb.

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

I shall have worked Shall I have worked?

He will have worked Will he have worked?

She will have worked Will she have worked?

We shall have worked Shall we have worked?

You will have worked Will you have worked?

They will have worked Will they have worked?

Negative

I shall not have worked

He will not have worked

She will not have worked

We shall not have worked

You will not have worked

They will not have worked

3. The contracted affirmative forms are:

I'll have worked

He'll have worked

The contracted negative forms are:

I shan't have worked

He won't have worked

4. The negative-interrogative forms are:

Will he not have worked?

Won't he have worked?

Shall we not have worked?

Shan't we have worked?

2. The use of the Future Perfect.

1. The Future Perfect denotes an action completed before a definite moment in the future.

I shall be back by six, and I hope you will have had a good sleep by that time. (Marryat)

2. The Future Perfect can denote an action which will begin before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and will be going on at that moment. This use of the Future Perfect is called the Future Perfect Inclusive. The Future Perfect Inclusive is used with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form, in negative sentences, with non-terminative verbs such as to work, to live, to study, to teach etc.

I shall have been a teacher for 20 years by next May.

I shall have worked as a teacher for 20 years by next May.

IV. The future perfест in the past