Tagged Questions

2
votes
1answer
86 views

Improper expressions of the future progressive

A thread on ELL makes me reconsider how I might naturally misuse other tenses when the future progressive is intended. For example, I might pass out work assignments in the following ways: "John, ...
0
votes
1answer
107 views

Can we use future continuous in the following sentence?

"I have instructed that the cheque latest have to be issued by 15th every month, is there any problems? Please voiced out earlier if there's any issues in future. This will be the last time I'll be ...
2
votes
2answers
178 views

Can we use should /would and /could in Future perfect tense

I would have finished my home work by evening . He should have been more careful. Can these be used as future perfect tense ?
0
votes
2answers
88 views

“I stay in Canada” vs. “I will stay in Canada” [duplicate]

Situation: I am in Canada and will go back to Hong Kong next week. So, I want to tell my friends that "I will stay in Canada until the 6th of March". Question: I do not know if the word will should ...
2
votes
2answers
57 views

“The more time a person invests” vs. 'the more time a person will invest'

Consider the following two sentences: Because the more time a person invests into specific interests, the better their results. Because the more time a person will invest into their specific ...
13
votes
2answers
642 views

When did periphrastic tenses stop being tenses?

English sometimes has several different ways of expressing the same thing. For example, it can form a possessive either by using an old case inflection: The dog’s tail was always wagging. Or it ...
1
vote
4answers
423 views

How to avoid past/future tense?

I'm writing a Software Design Document. It is being written in parallel to the development, so as some features are already finished they are written in past tense (the only way I know of articulating ...
5
votes
1answer
320 views

Is every sentence in a tense?

I know that "tense" indicates time. If that is true, then not every sentence can be indicated of its tense. Please review these sentences: "If I could go to the market , I must have taken breakfast ...
6
votes
3answers
597 views

What tense is “If I were a bird, I could fly”

The sentence is not referring to any time past, present of future. It's just referring to an imaginary condition which has never existed and seemingly will never exist. Still, the sentence and other ...
6
votes
1answer
401 views

Question about the future “tense”

My daughter, who is in the 4th grade, was asked to answer questions about the following sentence: What time can you meet us at the school on Tuesday? She was asked questions about the usage of ...
-1
votes
1answer
297 views

Future perfect or Future perfect continuous in the following sentence?

I am not sure why this sentence is incorrect from tense's perspective. It is certain that the construction of the road will be completed by the winter of 2014. Also, according to my book its ...
0
votes
0answers
160 views

Should one use the future tense when describing the organisation of a paper? [closed]

Writing the introduction of a scientific paper, should I say "Below, I propose blablabla" or "Below, I am going to propose blablabla"?
2
votes
4answers
478 views

Past simple vs present perfect in this example

Could you explain to me please what is the difference between these. It is meant to express that I will let him know AFTER I picked/have picked a car. I'll let you know which one I picked ...
2
votes
5answers
7k views

“Will graduate” vs. “will be graduated” vs. “is going to graduate”

Which of the following sentences are correct? He will graduate in May. He will be graduated in May. He is going to graduate in May. Issue 1: Is the second one grammatical? Issue 2: ...
3
votes
3answers
504 views

“… is about to …” vs. “… is going to …”

I found that is about to is used in the following sentence of the news article titled “Tech belt sees hiring surge” in The Boston Globe. “The company is about to go on a hiring spree, from ...
1
vote
1answer
481 views

What tense should be used here?

Is use of present simple correct in these examples? My daughter goes to school tomorrow [for the first time]. I go to school to talk to my daughter's teacher tomorrow [and this happens ...
1
vote
3answers
292 views

“One way would be” vs “One way will be”?

What is the difference between "One way would be" and "One way will be"? Can both of them be used for future actions?
8
votes
5answers
2k views

Future tense in conditional clauses

All the textbooks I have ever come across during the course of my studying English emphasize that future tense should not be used in conditional clauses. For example, If it rains in the evening, ...
1
vote
3answers
810 views

Is “even if…” followed by present or future tense?

Is it correct to say: even if only James Bond will benefit from... or even if only James Bond benefits from...
1
vote
3answers
987 views

How would you use “can” in a future sentence?

If you purchase this then you will be able to do that. How can I write the above statement using "can"?
4
votes
4answers
3k views

“will be able to” vs. “can”

Consider the following: He will be able to do it. He can do it. They mean the same thing, right? Can "can" replace "will be able to" in any sentence? What is the difference, if anything? ...
1
vote
2answers
757 views

Are the tense and syntax in this sentence correct? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Future tense usage: “When you see it …” When he will arrive, he will call you. Please let me know if the tense and syntax in this sentence are ...
2
votes
2answers
741 views

How to describe the future in the past

I've always used would as the past tense of will: Present: Tomorrow, I will go to the beach. Past: The following day, I would go to the beach. However, in response to my question on ...