Future continuous: will +be base form + ing (present participle) to describe an action that will be in progress in
the future. Signal words: this time next year, by the time that.
Kelly will be wearing a new red hat at the concert.
Perfect Tenses
Present Tense: Formed with the present tense of have (choose either have or, if the subject is third person singular,
has) plus the past participle of the main verb, the present tense is used under several circumstances.
Signal words: since, several times, every, just, recent.
1. Action that began in the past and continues to the present with the sense that it will continue in the future.
John has worked at the bookstore since last summer.
2. Action that occurred more than once or repeatedly in the past.
Margaret has sung at every Friday concert held at the school.
3. Action that happened at an unknown past time.
Our friends have traveled to Paris.
4. A recent occurrence given extra emphasis.
The boys have just found the coins.
5. A completed action given extra emphasis.
Yes, we have studied for the test.
Past perfect: Formed with had plus the past participle of the main verb, the past perfect tense emphasizes the earlier
of two past actions.
1. Use the simple past when two past actions are presented in normal chronological (time) order. Use the past
perfect when two past actions are presented out of time order, as in the examples below.
Signal words: by the time, after, before, already
Chronological (normal time)order. The children picked a quart of strawberries and ate them for dessert. Note
that these two actions appear in normal chornological order in the sentence; therefore, both verbs are in the
simple past tense.
Nonchronological order: For dessert the children ate the quart of strawberries they had picked. Note that the
actions are presented here out of chronological order, the action that happened earlier comes later in the
sentence. Therefore, the earlier action is emphasized by the past perfect tense.
We painted the house blue after we had scrubbed the dirt off.
After he had stepped on the nail, his foot began to hurt.
2. Use the past perfect when two actions appear in normal chronological order with special emphasis on the first
action’s having been being completed before the beginning of the second action.
Signal words: after, before, by the time
No emphasis on completion: The secretary typed the letter, and the boss signed it.
Emphasis on completion: After
the secretary had typed the letter, the boss signed it.
Future Perfect: Formed with will have plus the past participle of the main verb, the future perfect shows an action
that is expected to occur before another future action or before a specific future time.
The Smiths will have painted their house before you arrive.
John will have worked at the bookstore for a year by May.
Copyright for this document is held by the Writing Center and Grammar Hotline of Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach Campus. It has
been written, revised, and/or edited by staff paid to perform that work for the college; therefore, the rights are retained by the college.
11/26/03