EN - English Grammar for the Utterly Confused.pdf

38ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR THE UTTERLY CONFUSED●Use the four future forms (simple future, future perfect, future progressive, future perfectprogressive) to show events that take place in the future.1. Use past tenses accurately.The six past tenses all indicate the past in a different way. The following chart providesexamples of how to use these tenses.Tense Use ExampleSimple past Completed action (indefinite We washed the car.time)Completed condition (indefinite We were happy thetime)party was over.Completed action (definite time) We washed the car yesterday.Completed condition (definite I was delighted yesterday totime)receive the news.Present perfect Completed action (indefinite We have bought the gifts.time)Completed condition (indefinite I have been very relieved.time)Action continuing into the Sarah has called for twopresenthours.Condition continuing into the She has been in New Yorkpresentfor a week.Past perfect Action completed before Greg had called all his friendsanotherbefore the party started.Condition completedGreg had been a butcherbefore he became a guru.Past progressive Continuous completed action I was attending a spathat month.Present perfect progressive Action continuing into present Ralph has been exercising allweek.Past perfect progressive Continuing action interrupted Katie had been repairing theby anotherfence that was damaged in thestorm.2. Use future tenses accurately.The chart on the next page explains the future tenses.