As we said in lesson 2, English verb tenses (times) are the future, the present and the past. Each of these times can be specified in terms of simple, continuous, perfect and perfect progressive.  We have already identified most of the tenses; in this lesson we will look at the future perfect.  We will examine what it is and how and when it is used. 

The second part of the lesson, we will address the differences between gerunds and infinitives.  We will look at their use and their meaning. 

The future perfect:

We said that the perfect tense is formed by using verb have + the main verb in the past participle.  For example, I have eaten. In the present perfect, verb have is in the present.  In the past perfect, verb have is in the past.  In the future, verb have is in the future.  Simple. Don't you think? 

So, by definition the future perfect tense is one that shows the action will be complete in the future.  Let us assume that I came to the United States in 1995. Consider the following sentences: 

I have been in the United States for five years. 

(This present perfect sentence means that I came to the US 5 years ago; I am in the US now, and I will probably be in the US in the future.) 

I had been in the US for four years last December. 

(This past perfect sentence means that last December I completed four years of living in the US.) 

I will have been in the United States for six years next December.   

(This future perfect sentence says that I have not completed six years in the US yet, but the six years will be complete next December, in the future.) 

So, the future perfect tense means that the action is not complete yet, but will be in the future.  The formula for the future perfect is will have + verb in the past participle. 

For example:

I will have eaten by the time you come.

I will have learned English grammar by the end of this course.

I will have finished this lesson in one hour.

Gerunds and Infinitives:

The use of infinitives and gerunds in English poses a problem for the majority of ESL/EFL students, since most languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Hebrew) have no gerunds.  For example many of us may make errors such as these: 

I avoided that I should talk to him. 

She enjoys to go to the movies. 

 

Native speakers would say:

 

I avoided talking to him. 

She enjoys going to the movies.

What is a gerund?

In lesson 2 we talked about the progressive tense.  We saw that the progressive is formed by using verb 'to be' + the verb in the -ing.  For example: 

I am studying English.

She was playing the piano.

A gerund, on the other hand, is the -ing form of a verb used not as a verb but as a noun.  A gerund is used in the same ways as a subject or an object. 

Compare the following:

I like to play the piano.

This means that I like to do it. 'To play' here is a verb infinitive.

Playing the piano is fun.

The subject of this sentence is 'playing'.  This means that it is fun. So, 'playing' is the subject of the sentence.

I enjoy playing the piano.

     This sentence means that I enjoy it.  'Playing' here is the object of the verb 'enjoy'. 

Consider the following:

We talked about going Canada for our vacation.

Sue is in charge of organizing the meeting.

I am interested in learning more about you.

Notice that the gerunds in the sentences above are used after the object of a preposition.

I am used to sleeping with the window open.

I look forward to going home next month.

They object to changing their plans at this late date. 

 

Notice that the 'to' in the sentences above is a preposition, not part of an infinitive form, 

so a gerund follows.

Let us practice this:

Supply an appropriate preposition and verb form. 

Example:

Alice is not interested in looking for a new job.

1- Juan is excited ------ (leave) ------ for Mexico.

2- You are capable ------ (do) ------ better work.

3- I have no excuse ------(be) ------ late

4- Thank you ------- (help) ----- me carry the package.

5- You should take advantage ------ (live) ----- here. 

Compare your responses to mine:

1- about leaving

2- of doing

3- for being

4- for helping

5- of living

Here is a list of common verb followed by gerunds:

enjoy	appreciate	mind	quit
finish	avoid	postpone	delay
keep	consider	discuss	mention

Note:

          Verb 'go' is followed by a gerund in certain

          idiomatic expressions to express recreational activities. 

          Go fishing

          Go dancing

          Go shopping  

          Go swimming

          Go jogging

          Go hiking

          Go sailing

          Go camping

Here is a list of common verb followed by infinitives:

hope to	plan to	intend to	decide to
promise to	agree to	offer to	refuse to
seem to	appear to	pretend to	ask to
expect to	would like to	want to	tell someone to
invite someone to	advise someone to	encourage someone to	remind someone to
warn someone to	require someone to	order someone to	force someone to
ask someone to	expect someone to	need someone to

There are some verbs that can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, sometimes with no difference in meaning and sometimes with a difference in meaning. 

Read these sentences.  The verbs may be followed a gerund or an infinitive with little or no difference in meaning. 

It began to rain.

It began raining.

 

I started to work.

I started working

There is no difference in meaning. 

Notice that if the main verb is in the progressive form, an infinitive, nit a gerund, is usually used as in: 

It was beginning to rain. 

Let us focus on those verbs followed by either infinitives or gerunds but would have difference in meaning.  

Consider the following: 

Maria always remembers to lock the door. 

Remember + infinitive = remember to perform responsibility, duty, or task. 

I remember seeing Rome for the first time.

Remember + gerund = remember (recall) something that happened in the past. 

I regret to tell you that you failed the test.

Regret + infinitive = regret to tell someone of some bad news. 

 I regret lending him some money. He never paid me back.

Regret + gerund = regret something that happened in the past. 

I tried opening the window.

    Try + gerund = try to see if it works. 

I am trying to learn English.

    This means I am making an effort to learn English

Exercise for you:

 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1.   I like (go) ---------- to the zoo.

2.   The play was not very good.  The audience started (leave)-------- before it was over.

3.   After a brief interruption, the professor continued (lecture) ---------.

4.   The children love (swim) --------- in the ocean.

5.   I hate (see) -------- any living being suffer.

6.   I prefer (drive) ------- rather than (take)------- a plane.

7.   What did you forget (do) -------- before you left for class this morning?

8.   Did you remember (give)---------- Juan the message? 

9.   I always remember (turn) ------------ off all the lights before I leave my house.

10.  What do you remember (do) ------- when you were a child?

Compare your responses to mine: 

1.   To go

2.   Leaving

3.   Lecturing

4.   To swim

5.   Seeing

6.   Driving / taking

7.   To do

8.   To give

9.   To turn

10.  Doing

  Grammar Online         Next Page        Previous Page