* We're late. The film will already have started by the time we get to the cinema.
Compare will have (done) with other perfect forms:
* Ted and Amy have been married for 24 years. (present perfect)
Next year they will have been married for 25 years.
When their first child was born, they had been married for three years. (past perfect)
EXERCISES
24.1 Read about Colin. Then you have to tick (V) the sentences which are true. In each group of sentences at least one is true.
Colin goes to work every day. He leaves home at 8 o'clock and arrives at work at about 8.45. He starts work immediately and continues until 12.30 when he has lunch (which takes about half an hour). He starts work again at 1.15 and goes home at exactly 4.30. Every day he follows the same routine and tomorrow will be no exception.
1. At 7.45
a. he'll be leaving the house
b. he'll have left the house
c. he'll be at home (V)
d. he'll be having breakfast (V)
2. At 8.15
a. he'll be leaving the house
b. he'll have left the house
c. he'll have arrived at work
d. he'll be arriving at work
3. At 9.15
a. he'll be working
b. he'll start work
c. he'll have started work
d. he'll be arriving at work
4. At 12.45
a. he'll have lunch
b. he'll behaving lunch
c. he'll have finished his lunch
d. he'll have started his lunch
5. At 4 o'clock
a. he'll have finished work
b. he'll finish work
c. he'll be working
d. he won't have finished work
6. At 4.45
a. he'll leave work
b. he'll be leaving work
c. he'll have left work
d. he'll have arrived home
24.2 Put the verb into the correct form, will be (do)ing or will have (done).
1. Don't phone me between 7 and 8. We'll be having (we/have) dinner then.
2. Phone me after 8 o'clock. --- (we/finish) dinner by then.
3. Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30. So at 4 o'clock, --- (we/play) tennis.
4. A: Can we meet tomorrow afternoon?
B: Not in the afternoon. --- (I/work).
5. B has to go to a meeting which begins at 10 o'clock. It will last about an hour.
A: Will you be free at 11.30?
B: Yes, --- (the meeting/finish) by that time.
6. Tom is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this, --- (he/spend) all his money before the end of his holiday.
7. Chuck came to Britain from the USA nearly three years ago. Next Monday it will be exactly three years. So on Monday, --- (he/be) in Britain for exactly three years.
8. Do you think --- (you/still/do) the same job in ten years' time?
9. Jane is from New Zealand. She is travelling around Europe at the moment. So far she has travelled about 1,000 miles. By the end of the trip, --- (she/travel) more than 3,000 miles.
10. If you need to contact me, --- (I/stay) at the Lion Hotel until Friday.
11. A: --- (you/see) Laura tomorrow?
B: Yes, probably. Why?
A: I borrowed this book from her. Can you give it back to her?
Unit 25. When I do/When I've done When and if
A. Study these examples:
A: What time will you phone me tomorrow?
B: I'll phone you when I get home from work.
'I'll phone you when I get home from work' is a sentence with two parts:
the main part: 'I'll phone you'
and the when-part: 'when I get home from work (tomorrow)'
The time in the sentence is future ('tomorrow') but we use a present tense (get) in the when part of the sentence.
We do not use will in the when-part of the sentence:
* We'll go out when it stops raining. (not 'when it will stop')
* When you are in London again, you must come and see us. (not 'when you will be')
* (said to a child) What do you want to be when you grow up? (not 'will grow')
The same thing happens after: while before after as soon as until or till
* I'm going to read a lot of books while I'm on holiday. (not 'while I will be')
* I'm going back home on Sunday. Before I go, I'd like to visit the museum.
* Wait here until (or till) I come back.
B. You can also use the present perfect (have done) after when/after/until/as soon as:
* Can I borrow that book when you've finished it?
* Don't say anything while Ian is here. Wait until he has gone.
It is often possible to use the present simple or the present perfect:
* I'll come as soon as I finish. or I'll come as soon as I've finished.
* You'll feel better after you have something to eat. or You'll feel better after you've had something to eat.
But do not use the present perfect if two things happen together. The present perfect shows that one thing will be complete before the other (so the two things do not happen together).
Compare:
* When I've phoned Kate, we can have dinner. (= First I'll phone Kate and after that we can have dinner.)
but * When I phone Kate this evening, I'll invite her to the party. (not 'when I've phoned') (In this example, the two things happen together.)
C. After if, we normally use the present simple (if I do/if I see etc.) for the future:
* It's raining hard. We'll get wet if we go out. (not 'if we will go')
* Hurry up! If we don't hurry, we'll be late.
Compare when and if:
We use when for things which are sure to happen:
* I'm going shopping this afternoon. (for sure) When I go shopping, I'll buy some food.
We use if (not 'when') for things that will possibly happen:
* I might go shopping this afternoon. (it's possible) If I go shopping, I'll buy some food.
* If it is raining this evening, I won't go out. (not 'when it is raining')
* Don't worry if I'm late tonight. (not 'when I'm late')
* If they don't come soon, I'm not going to wait. (not 'when they don't come')
EXERCISES
25.1 Complete these sentences using the verbs in brackets. All the sentences are about the future. Use will/won't or the present simple (I see/he plays/it is etc.).
1. I'll phone (phone) you when I get (get) home from work.
2. I want to see Margaret before she --- (go) out.
3. We're going on holiday tomorrow. I --- (tell) you all about it when we --- (come) back.
4. Brian looks very different now. When you --- (see) him again, you --- (not/recognise) him.
5. We must do something soon before it --- (be) too late.
6. I don't want to go without you. I --- (wait) until you --- (be) ready.
7. Sue has applied for the job but she isn't very well qualified for it. I --- (be) surprised if she --- (get) it.
8. I'd like to play tennis tomorrow if the weather --- (be) nice.
9. I'm going out now. If anybody --- (phone) while I --- (be) out, can you take a message?
25.2 Make one sentence from two.
1. You will be in London again. You must come and see us then.
You must come and see us. when you are in London again.
2. I'll find somewhere to live. Then I'll give you my address.
I --- when ---
3. I'll do the shopping. Then I'll come straight back home.
--- after ---
4. It's going to start raining. Let's go home before that.
--- before ---
5. She must apologise to me first. I won't speak to her until then.
--- until ---
25.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.
1. A friend of yours is going to visit London. You want to know where she is going to stay.
You ask: Where are you going to stay when _you are in London?_
2. A friend of yours is visiting you. She has to go soon but maybe there's time for a cup of tea.
You ask: Would you like a cup of tea before ---?
3. Your friend is reading the newspaper. You'd like it after her.
You ask: Can I have the newspaper when ---?
4. You want to sell your car. Jim is interested in buying it but he hasn't decided yet.
You ask: Can you let me know as soon as ---?
5. There are serious traffic problems in your town but they are building a new road.
You say: I think it will be better when ---.
25.4 Put in when or if.
1. Don't worry _if_ I'm late tonight.
2. Tom might phone while I'm out this evening. --- he does, can you take a message?
3. I'm going to Rome next week. --- I'm there, I hope to visit a friend of mine.
4. I think Jill will get the job. I'll be very surprised --- she doesn't get it.
5. I'm going shopping. --- you want anything, I can get it for you.
6. I'm going away for a few days. I'll phone you --- I get back.
7. I want you to come to the party but --- you don't want to come, that's all right.
8. We can cat at home or, --- you prefer, we can go to a restaurant.
Unit 26. Can, could and (be) able to
A. We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something.
* We use can + infinitive (can do/can see etc.):
* We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
* Can you speak any foreign languages?
* I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
The negative is can't (= cannot):
* I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday.
B. (Be) able to ... is possible instead of can, but can is more usual:
* Are you able to speak any foreign languages?
But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to... Compare:
* I can't sleep.
but I haven't been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect)
* Tom can come tomorrow.
but Tom might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)
C. Could and was able to...
Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:
see hear smell taste feel remember understand
* When we went into the house, we could smell burning.
* She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:
* My grandfather could speak five languages.
* We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do ...)
We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were able to... or managed to... (not could):
* The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape.
or ... everybody managed to escape. (but not 'could escape')
* They didn't want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them.
or ... we were able to persuade them. (but not 'could persuade')
Compare:
* Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. he had the general ability to beat anybody)
but
* Jack and Alf had a game of tennis yesterday. Alf played very well but in the end Jack managed to beat him. or ... was able to beat him. (= he managed to beat him in this particular game)
The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations:
* My grandfather couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations
* We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.
* Alf played well but he couldn't beat Jack.
EXERCISES
26.1 Complete the sentences using can or (be) able to. Use can if possible; otherwise use (be) able to.
1. George has travelled a lot. He _can_ speak four languages.
2. I haven't _been able to_ sleep very well recently.
3. Sandra --- drive but she hasn't got a car.
4. I can't understand Martin. I've never --- understand him.
5. I used to --- stand on my head but I can't do it now.
6. I can't see you on Friday but I --- meet you on Saturday morning.
7. Ask Catherine about your problem. She might --- help you.
26.2 Write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets.
1. (something you used to be able to do) I used to be able to sing well.
2. (something you used to be able to do) I used ---
3. (something you would like to be able to do) I'd ---
4. (something you have never been able to do) I've ---
26.3 Complete the sentences with can/can't/could/couldn't + one of these verbs:
come cat hear run sleep wait
1. I'm afraid I _can't come_ to your party next week.
2. When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He --- 100 meters in 11 seconds.
3. Are you in a hurry?' 'No, I've got plenty of time. I ---.'
4. I was feeling sick yesterday. I --- anything.
5. Can you speak up a bit? I --- you very well.
6. 'You look tired.' 'Yes, I --- last night,'
26.4 Complete the answers to the questions with was/were able to.
1 A: Did everybody escape from the fire?
B: Yes. Although the fire spread quickly, everybody _was able to escape._
2 A: Did you have difficulty finding Ann's house?
B: Not really. Ann had given us good directions and we ---
3. A: Did you finish your work this afternoon?
B: Yes. There was nobody to disturb me, so ---
4. A: Did the thief get away?
B: Yes. No one realised what was happening and the thief ---
26.5 Complete the sentences using could, couldn't or was/were able to.
1. My grandfather was a very clever man. He _could_ speak five languages.
2. I looked everywhere for the book but I _couldn't_ find it.
3. They didn't want to come with us at first but we _were able to_ persuade them.
4. Laura had hurt her leg and --- walk very well.
5. Sue wasn't at home when I phoned but I --- contact her at her office.
6. I looked very carefully and I --- see a figure in the distance.
7. I wanted to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn't have any but I --- get some in the next shop.
8. My grandmother loved music. She --- play the piano very well.
9. A girl fell into the river but fortunately we --- rescue her.
10. I had forgotten to bring my camera so I --- take any photographs.
UNIT 27 Could (do) and could have (done)
A. We use could in a number of ways. Sometimes could is the past of can (see Unit 26C):
* Listen. I can hear something. (now)
* I listened. I could hear something. (past)
But could is not only used in this way. We also in the future (especially to make a suggestion). For example:
* A: What shall we do this evening?
B: We could go to the cinema.
* It's a nice day. We could go for a walk.
* When you go to New York next month, you could stay with Barbara.
* A: If you need money, why don't you ask Karen?
B: Yes, I suppose I could.
Can is also possible in these sentences ('We can go for a walk,' etc.). Could is less sure than can. You must use could (not 'can') when you don't really mean what you say. For example:
* I'm so angry with him. I could kill him! (not 'I can kill him')
B. We also use could to say that something is possible now or in the future:
* The phone is ringing. It could be Tim.
* I don't know when they'll be here. They could arrive at any time.
Can is not possible in these examples (not 'It can be Tim')
In these sentences could is similar to might (see Unit 29-30):
* The phone is ringing. It might be Tim.
C. Compare could (do) and could have (done):
* I'm so tired. I could sleep for a week. (now)
* I was so tired. I could have slept for a week. (past)
Most often, we use could have (done) for things which were possible but did not happen:
* Why did you stay at a hotel when to New York? You could have stayed with Barbara. (= you had opportunity to stay with her but you didn't)
* Jack fell off a ladder yesterday but he's all right. He's lucky - he could have hurt himself badly. (but ha didn't hurt himself)
* The situation was bad but it could have been worse.
D. Sometimes could means 'would be able to...':
* We could go away if we had enough money.(= we would be able to go away)
* I don't know how you work so hard. I couldn't do it.
Could have (done) = would have been able to (do):
* Why didn't Liz apply for the job? She could have got it.
* We could have gone away if we'd had enough money.
* The trip was cancelled last week. Paul couldn't have gone anyway because he was ill. (= he wouldn't have been able to go)