When is the tense in English. Adverbial clauses of time and conditions. Subject clauses
Design from … to … defines the start and end points of any time interval. Pretext to it is also allowed to replace until.
Most people work from Monday to Friday (= from Monday until Friday). Most people work from Monday to Friday.
Frank Sinatra was a famous singer. He lived from 1915 to 1998. Frank Sinatra was a famous singer. He lived from 1915 to 1998.
2
Pretext until marks the end of the period. However, it cannot be replaced by to, if the time interval is not set.
I'm leaving. I'll be away until June ( Wrong: to June). I'd like to check out. I won't be here until June.
We waited for them until 6 o'clock but they didn't come. We waited for them until 6 o'clock, but they did not come.
David watched television until midnight. David watched TV until midnight.
IN English language until also forms a subordinate clause of time, acting as a union. Pay special attention to the syntax here:
In colloquial speech, instead of until usually put till:
3
Pretext since indicates a starting point in the past for continuous events. Typically used in group times Perfect.
I have known Natalie since April ( Wrong: I know … since April). I have known Natalie since April.
We've been living in Boston since 2005 (= from 2005 until now). We have lived in Boston since 2005.
Similarly until, preposition since forms subordinate clauses. Time is put in them either Past, or Perfect depending on the context.
Miles has been traveling since he was 20. Miles has been traveling since he was 20.
You haven't eaten anything since you came. You haven't eaten anything since you came.
Anthony has seen a lot of things since he's been living here. Anthony has seen a lot since he lived here.
In cases where the main sentence is in other tenses, the initial moment is indicated by the preposition from.
I'll be at home from 9 o'clock ( Wrong: since 9 o'clock). I will be at home from 9 o'clock.
4
Pretext for is responsible for the duration of the action. Unlike since, can be found in sentences of any group of tenses ( Present, Past, Future etc.).
Jennifer lived with us for two weeks. Jennifer lived with us for two weeks.
I will be away for 5 days. I will be gone for 5 days.
Nick is staying here for a few hours. Nick will stay here for a few hours.
They've been married for a long time. They have been married for a long time.
5
To understand the differences between each preposition, let's look at an example.
Today's date is November 12. Today's date is November 12th.
I've been in Greece from November 7 to 12 Nov. I've been there until now. I was in Greece from November 7th to November 12th. I have been there until now.
So I've been in Greece since 7 Nov. So I've been in Greece since November 7th.
And I've been there for five days. And I've been there for five days.
The comma separates the clauses of time at the beginning of a sentence.
Wheneverheisincity,hevisitsus - Whenever he is in town, he visits us
You can keep those CDs for as long as you like- Canholdthesecd umyself
His head had no sooner touched the pillow than he fell asleep - Before his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep
Hardly had I lit a cigarette as the wind blew it out of my hands- NotmanagedIignitecigarette, Howby the windherknocked outatmefromhands
Temporary agreement
Temporary clauses follow the rules for coordinating tenses in English. The present or future tense of the main subclause requires the present tense in the subordinate clause. The past tense of the main sub-clause also requires the past tense.
She takes off her shoes the moment that she gets home - Sheremovesshoes, Howonlycomes inhome
I'll call you as soon I get to my hotel - IcallyoustraightawayByparishVhotel
They'll go home when the film is over - Theywill gohomeafterviewingmovie
When he callsI'll give him the message - WhenHewill call, II will passto himmessage
Turn off the lights before you leave - Beforeleavingextinguishlight
He took a shower after he had finished painting the room– Dokrasivroom, Heacceptedshower
They had reserved a table before they went to the restaurant- BeforehikeVrestaurantTheyorderedtable
He jumped out of bed the moment he woke up - Hejumped outfrombed, Howonlyawoke
Temporary alliances
- when - when
We'llordersomepizzaswhenourfriendsgethere – We will order pizzas when friends join us
When combined with will/would like a question word.
I'm not sure when his next book will be published- NotI know, Whenwill come outhisnextbook
- till/until - up to
You must stay in the office till you finish / have finished the report– StayVoffice, ByeNotfinishreport
- bythetime - by the time
I'll have set the table by the time you come home - II'll covertableToyoursreturn
- as/while - while
We learned several interesting facts as we were listening to the lecture– Listening to the lecture, we learned some interesting facts
English Joke
Ted had a habit of dropping in at the house next door on baking day, for the woman of that house had a deft way in the making of cookies, and Ted had no hesitation in enjoying her hospitality, even to the extent of asking for cookies if they were not promptly forthcoming.
When the boy's father learned of this, he gave Ted a lecture and a strict order never to ask for cookies at the neighbor's kitchen. So, when a few days later the father saw his son munching a cookie as he came away from the next house, he spoke sternly:
"Have you been begging cookies again?"
"Oh, no, I didn't run any," Ted answered cheerfully. “I just said, this house smells like if it was full of cookies. But what's that to me?
This is how I start this post with a question. Well, what time, comrades, will you use after the words if, when?
Here we will not consider cases with the past tense, everything is harmonious and clear there, but with the future and present - a mess. Well, let's take everything apart.
Rule: In subordinate clauses conditions(beginning with the words if, in case, in case if) and time (when, as soon as, before, after, till, until) we use the present tense if in the main clause the predicate is expressed by action on the future tense.
I remind you that subordinate conditions are found by asking them a question from the main clause, the question itself will look like this: “Under what condition?”
Time clauses: "When?"
All. In other cases, we calmly use the future tense.
Schematically, this can be represented as follows.
[smb] will do smth]( if present tense).
It clearly looks like this.
(if you read it to the last word).
The same rule is true for other linking words of the condition and time.
In case he rings up, I will tell him that you are here.
Before you have dinner, you will have to walk the dog.
In the main sentence, the predicate can be expressed not only by the verb in the future tense (will do, will ask, will see), but also by the verb in imperative form expressing request, order, advice, recommendation.
When he rings me up do not phone l him that I am here.
please, open the door, if the plumper comes.
Be at home, until mom returns from work.
And now about other cases.
When is also a question word.
when will we have high salaries and a 3-day working week?
when will did they visit us again?
And now almost a detective, words if And when also used in subordinate clauses (answers the questions of the supplement *). In this case, after them, you can and should put the future tense.
* Questions of the complement are questions of all cases, except for the nominative: R.p. whom? what? D.p. to whom? what? V.p. whom? What? etc. by whom? what? P.p. (on whom? (on what? Only in English they don’t bother with cases, but distinguish between subjective (it’s also nominative) and objective (answering all of the above questions).
The scheme is like this.
|
I don't know She is not sure They doubt I wonder |
if (whether) when |
they will come to see us. you will do it for me. |
Column 1 has a new word wonder. I wonder - means "I'm interested, I'm interested to know"
Column #2. If - no longer expresses a condition and is not translated as “if”, now this word conditionally corresponds to the Russian particle “li” and it has an absolutely equal synonym for “whether” (not to be confused with the weather and the ram: D).
When also does not express dependence on time.
I wonder if they will allow us to stay here for 1 week or two.
I wonder if they'll let us stay here for a week or two.
I am not sure when they will give an answer.
I'm not sure when they will answer.
You can distinguish conditional clauses and clauses of time from object clauses by asking questions to them. In addition, there is a clear dependence in conditional and subordinate tenses: something will happen if (when) something else happens. And object clauses are more like reasoning (whether it will happen or not).
past perfect- past perfect tense. Its peculiarity is that it is not used in speech on its own and is necessarily attached to another action. Why do the British need it? The reason lies in their love for order and organization. In Russian, we use the same tense to express all past actions. We list a few events, then return to another event that happened before all the others. An Englishman in his speech will never allow such "chaos". If he forgot about important event that happened before everyone else, he will report it at the time specially designated for this - past perfect.
How is the Past Perfect formed?
Statement
Predicate in past perfect consists of two parts: auxiliary verb had and the third form of the main verb (to regular verb add an ending ed, and we take the form of the wrong one from the third column).
Negation
In a negative sentence between an auxiliary verb had and the particle appears as the main verb not.
As in many other times, past perfect there are abbreviated forms that are used in colloquial speech. In an affirmative sentence had combined with a pronoun, in the negative - with a particle not. For example:
- I'd done.
- You'd decided.
- I hadn't done.
- You didn't decide.
Question
An interrogative sentence begins with an auxiliary verb had, followed by the subject and the main verb.
In order to consistently study past perfect, we have divided all its functions into three levels. In the green block you will find what you need to know at the beginner level, in the yellow block for the intermediate level, in the red block for the advanced level.
Using the Past Perfect
First level
past perfect always goes hand in hand with another action in the past. past perfect shows an action that happened before another action or a specific moment in the past. Another action in the past is most often indicated past simple, while special words can be used: by... (to some time/moment), after(after), before(before, before) when(When), earlier(earlier), first(first, first).
We arrived at the station at 7.30, but the train had left. We arrived at the station at 7:30, but the train had already gone. (first the train left, then we arrived at the station)
He had been a usual clerk before he became a successful businessman. - He was ordinary clerk before that, How became a successful businessman.
Often past perfect explains the reason: we want to show that the action expressed past perfect, caused another action to occur.
He was hungry. He hadn't eaten for eight hours. - He was hungry. He did not eat eight hours.
She couldn't buy a new pair of shoes as she had lost her credit card. She couldn't buy a new pair of shoes because lost credit card.
Time past perfect similar in meaning to Present Perfect with the difference that the time of the action does not occur in the present (now), but in the past (then).
They are not at home. They have gone shopping. → They were not at home. They had gone shopping.
Their No Houses. They gone go shopping. → Their did not have Houses. They gone go shopping.
Another common feature Present Perfect And past perfect- adverbs just(just now), already(already), yet(already, still).
They were moving to another country, but they hadn't told their parents yet. - They moved to another country, but haven't said yet about it to your parents.
The most common mistake made with past perfect- use this time where it is not necessary, most often instead of past simple. For example, when we talk about a simple action that happened a long time ago. remember, that past perfect works only when there are two actions.
I learned English at school. - I learned English at school.
I had learned English before I entered the university. - I learned English before that, How entered the University.
Where else is the Past Perfect found?
Average level
- past perfect shows that the action began in the past and continued until a certain point in the past. Prepositions already familiar to us are often used here. for(during) and since(since).
He didn't want to drive that car anymore. He had driven it for 30 years. He didn't want to drive that car anymore. He drove her 30 years old.
Her speech was impressive. She had worked on it since Monday. Her speech was impressive. She worked over it since Monday.
This function is not fully applicable to past perfect she belongs by right Past Perfect Continuous. past perfect in this sense is used with state verbs (), i.e. verbs that cannot "last".
Before we talked, Mary had been upset for three days. She had been crying all this time. Before we talked, Mary was frustrated for three days. She cried all this time.
- IN past perfect, As in Present Perfect, there is a function with which we talk about personal experience. The difference is that past perfect we use when talking about our experiences in the past.
The last week of my holidays was the worst week I had ever had. – the last week my vacation was the worst week i've ever had was.
By the time I moved to Dublin I had written seven books and I was working hard on the eighth. – By the time I moved to Dublin, I wrote seven books and was actively working on an eighth.
Difficult cases of using Past Perfect
High level
- past perfect used after if V conditional sentences third type (). This type of conditional shows regret for the past. We could do something in the past if we fulfilled the condition, but in the present we can no longer change the situation.
If I had known about your problem, I would have helped you. - If I knew about your problem, I would help you.
If you had read the morning newspaper, you would have agreed with me. - If You read morning paper, you would agree with me.
- past perfect used in structures hardly ... when And no sooner ... than. These constructions show that one action happened immediately after another. The peculiarity is that they use the reverse word order, as in the question. Such sentences are translated into Russian using the words “as soon as”, “I didn’t have time”, “barely I”.
hardy had the plane landed at the Miami airport, when it started to rain. - Barely airplane landed at the Miami airport How it started to rain.
No sooner had I chewed my sandwich than somebody knocked at the door. - Did not have time I chew your sandwich How someone knocked the door.
- In modern English past perfect are increasingly being replaced by past simple, especially in American English. We can use past simple instead of past perfect if the sequence of events is clear from the context. In such sentences there are words after(after), before(before), earlier(earlier), first(first, first), etc.
After he had finished repairing his car, he took a shower. = After he finished repairing his car, he took a shower. - After He finished fix the car, he took a shower.
I agreed to meet her though I was angry with her as we had quarreled earlier. = I agreed to meet her though I was angry with her as we earlier. - I agreed to meet her, although I was angry with her, because we had a fight.
This rule does not work with the union when(when): with the change of tense, the meaning of the whole sentence may change.
When we came home, she had cooked already prepared dinner. (Past Perfect means dinner was done before we got home)
When we came home, she cooked dinner. When we got home, she prepared dinner. (Past Simple shows that first we came home and then she cooked dinner)
The more complex time seems, the less meaning it has. This rule also applies to past perfect. The main thing to remember is next to past perfect there must be another action in the past. To better remember this time, take the test and download the table, in which you can always peep and refresh your knowledge.
(*.pdf, 183 Kb)
Test
Past Perfect - Past Perfect Tense in English
Language independently * . To avoid complications and errors, let's look at words that refer to the designation of time and have a different connotation in a particular sentence.
* Video lessons for independent study of English:
for, since, ago
- For - during, in continuation. Used with a period of time (both with Past Simple and Present Perfect):
I haven't been in Kiev for ages - I haven't been in Kyiv for ages
She lived there for 5 years - she lived there for 5 years
She has lived there for a very long time - she lived there for a very long time
- Since - since then. Used before referring to time:
She has been cleaning since 2 o'clock - she has been cleaning since 2 o'clock
- Ago - ago. Indicates a period of time from the present moment to some date or event in the past.
It was long ago, when I last saw him - I haven't seen him for a long time
yet, already
- Yet - still, still, for now. They are used in questions and negative sentences (in the British version - together with Present Perfect):
I haven't done it yet - I haven't finished yet
Have you done it yet? - Have you finished yet?
- Already - already. Consumed in affirmative proposals(can be placed anywhere):
I've done it already / I've already done it. He's already there.
I have already finished
by, until, so far
- By - at, at, near, near. Refers to an action that happened at a certain point in time before another specific moment, but we don't know exactly when:
By the time he arrived, all the seats were occupied - by the time he arrived, all the seats were occupied
Until / till - until, until then.
He worked until 5 o'clock - he worked until 5
- by, past - can describe the time that passes by:
The time goes past / by so quickly - time runs past so quickly
A concert went by so fast - the concert passed so quickly
during, throughout
- During - during, during, during. Describes a moment in a certain period of time, or the entire period of time:
I asked him not to call me during my classes - I asked him not to call me during the lesson
It’s very difficult to reach him during the day - during the day it is very difficult for him to get through
- Throughout - in our days, in our time. Meaning "from start to finish":
She was very happy throughout her marriage - she was very happy in marriage
after, afterwards, later
- After - after. After requires an addition after itself:
I’ll do my English homework after lunch - I will do my English homework after lunch
- Afterwards - subsequently, later. Appears in the sentence as a circumstance of time:
I'm busy now. I'll see you afterwards - I'm busy now. See you later
- Later / later on - later, then, sometime in the future:
We'll join you later - we will join you later
on time, in time
- On time - on time, without delay, at the appointed time:
They finished the project on time - they finished the project on time
- In time - in advance, in advance:
He was in time to look through his report before the meeting - he came just in time to look through his report before the meeting
at last, finally, in the end, at the end
- At last - finally. Used when the event we were waiting for finally happens:
At last they are buying a home, they have always dreamed about - finally they buy the house they have always dreamed of
- Finally - in the end, in the end. Describes an action that occurred after a long wait. Finally is placed before the verb:
We finally reached the top of the mountain - he finally got to the top
Finally can be inferred, it conveys the final thought in a sequential chain of events. In this case, the word finally is placed at the beginning of the sentence:
Finally, I'd like to introduce our new manager - finally, I want to introduce our new manager
nowadays, these days
Nowadays - in our days; Now; Nowadays. These days - in our days, in our time.
Used to describe the present tense:
Nowadays many young people go in for sport- nowadays many young people go in for sports
You don "t run across many fine men like him these days - you don't often see this one these days a good man, How is he
once, one day, at once
- Once - once; once, once; once, once; once, once. Refers to events that took place in the past but no longer occur in the present:
I was very much in love with her once - once I was very much in love with her
He once told me where to go - once he told me where to go
In English, once can also mean as soon as - as soon as:
I "ll do once I'm ready - I'll do it as soon as I'm ready
- One day - once, once; one day; some day. Can refer to both the past and the future:
One day he was driving along the road, when suddenly he felt ... - one day he was driving along the road when he suddenly felt ....
Our wishes will come true one day - one day our wishes will come true
- At once - immediately, immediately, immediately (immediately):
He blew me in the face at once - he immediately sent me off
- All at once - suddenly, suddenly, unexpectedly (suddenly):
You can "t become a president all at once - you can't immediately become president
in, within
In within - have a value before the end of a certain period of time (before the end of a period of time):
I was dressed within the ten minutes - I got dressed in 10 minutes
I came back from Kiev in ten days - I returned from Kyiv in 10 days
In English, in/within can also convey a future meaning:
I'll be ready in fourteen minutes - I'll be ready in 14 minutes
I'll finish the project within a year - I will finish the project in a year
