MODULE 3

Language Forms

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, I aim to:

  • use tenses accurately

  • understand how different forms in English can carry different meaning

  • review my understanding of the passive voice versus active voice

Introduction

This chapter offers a brief overview into some of the language forms we often need in our writing.

Tenses and time forms in English

What’s the difference between these sentences? Link the sentences on the left with their time periods on the right:

  1. I wrote
  2. I have written
  3. I write
  4. I am writing
  5. I will write
  1. an event in the past that relates to now
  2. generally true
  3. an event in the past not connected to now
  4. in the future
  5. at this moment

And do the same with these:

Possibility and Obligation

  1. I might write
  2. I should write
  3. I would write
  4. I could write
  5. I have to write
  6. I must write
  7. I don’t have to write
  8. I mustn’t write
  1. It’s a good idea to write
  2. It’s important that I write (1)
  3. It’s important that I write (2)
  4. I’m not obliged to write
  5. It’s possible that I will write
  6. A hypothetical situation
  7. It’s important that I don’t write
  8. A hypothetical possibility

As you can see, the forms may seem similar; but, in fact, their meanings can differ vastly.

Here is a more detailed table on how the various tenses present themselves:

Tense

Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous

Affirmative

I have work to do.
I am working now.
They have been there.
I have been working there.
I worked in London.
I was working.
I had worked.
I had been working.
I will work.
I will be working
I will have worked.
I will have been working.

Negative

I do not have work to do.
I am not working now.
They have not been there.
I have not been working there.
I did not work in London.
I was not working.
I had not worked.
I had not been working.
I will not work.
I will not be working.
I will not have worked.
I will not have been working.

Will

“Will” is used to make a prediction if there is no evidence.
Example: Maybe she will come again.

“Will” is used for unplanned actions in the future.
Example: I will fly to Spain, but I haven’t booked a ticket yet.

Be Going To

“Be going to” is used to make a prediction when there is evidence.
Example: Be careful not to touch the bee. It will sting you.

“Be going to” is used to indicate actions that have been planned.
Example: I am going to be flying to Madrid tomorrow at 15:00 according to my ticket.

Register unpacked practically

The Passive Voice

Compare these pairs of sentences:

Active

The company employs two hundred people.
Somebody services the equipment monthly.
A storm damaged the factory.

Passive

Two hundred people are employed by the company.
The equipment is serviced monthly.
The factory has been damaged by a storm.

The passive voice encourages neutrality. It emphasises fact over individuals. News reporters, politicians, business communication, that require diplomacy, tact and a sense of objectivity, favour the use of the passive voice. If the cause of an action is not clear, or if it is less important than the outcome of the action, the passive voice may serve your sentence best. However, as we will learn when we discuss style, never use the passive voice if the active voice is more relevant.

Choose the correct alternative:

We use the passive voice to say…

  • what happens to the subject

OR

  • what the subject does;

We use the passive voice to say…

  • when who or what that causes the action is unknown or not important

OR

  • when we want to emphasise who or what does the action.
To Complete: A
To Complete: B