tenses

Simple Future Tense

Simple future tense form:  Affirmative Negative Question I shall/will write. She will write. You will write. I shall/will not write. She will not write. You will not write. Shall/will I write? Will she write? Will you write? British people use I shall/I will and we shall/ we will with no difference of meaning in most situations. However, shall is becoming much …

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Tenses In Subordinate Clauses

When the principal clause is in the past tense When the principal (main) clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinating clause also should be in the past tense. He said (main clause) that he was not guilty (subordinate clause). He asked (main clause) whether he might go home (subordinate clause). She was so weak (main clause) that she could not stand (subordinate clause). Exceptions There are two exceptions to this …

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Past Verb Forms With Present Or Future Meaning

A past tense does not always have a past meaning. After words like if, unless and supposing, we often use past verb forms with present or future meaning. If I had the money now I would buy a car. You look as if you were about to scream. It’s time After expressions like it’s time, would rather and wish, past forms can have present or future …

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