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Henryh Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Modal forms
Hello there,
I have a question about modals.
1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well?
Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back.
2 Can I use a perfect modal to imply that an action may / might / should be completed before another action in the future?
Eg: He may have arrived by 5 o'clock tomorrow. (I mean: Perhaps he will have arrived by 5 o'clock tomorrow.)
3 What about the perfect continuous modal form? Can it be used in the same way?
Eg: He may have been waiting for us for an hour by the time our train finally arrives. (I mean: Perhaps he will have been waiting for an hour when our train finally arrives.)
Is it okay to say sentences like these? Or is the perfect modal used to refer to past tense only?
Can I get feedback from native speakers on this issue, please?
Thanks, a lot.
I have a question about modals.
1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well?
Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back.
2 Can I use a perfect modal to imply that an action may / might / should be completed before another action in the future?
Eg: He may have arrived by 5 o'clock tomorrow. (I mean: Perhaps he will have arrived by 5 o'clock tomorrow.)
3 What about the perfect continuous modal form? Can it be used in the same way?
Eg: He may have been waiting for us for an hour by the time our train finally arrives. (I mean: Perhaps he will have been waiting for an hour when our train finally arrives.)
Is it okay to say sentences like these? Or is the perfect modal used to refer to past tense only?
Can I get feedback from native speakers on this issue, please?
Thanks, a lot.
Top answer
My try: I have a question about modals. 1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well? Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back .
- My try: I have a question about modals.
- 1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well?
- Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back .
- I agree with you.
- 2 Can I use a perfect modal to imply that an action may / might / should be completed before another action in the future ?
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9 Answers
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My try:
I have a question about modals.
1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well?
Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back. I agree with you.
2 Can I use a perfect modal to imply that an action may / might / should be completed before another action in the f
I have a question about modals.
1 Can the continuous modal express an action that will be in progress at a future time as well?
Eg: You should be doing the cleaning when I come back. I agree with you.
2 Can I use a perfect modal to imply that an action may / might / should be completed before another action in the f
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I think they're all three fine.
Couldn't get any similar examples at Google though.
Couldn't get any similar examples at Google though.
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Hi Henryh,
I think you can use them that way. I find nothing strange with sentences like "By the time we find her, she might have tried to kill him several times already. It could alredy be too late actually. We better get a move on." - If that usage is strange, I have to say I don't know any other way to say the same thing then, lol.
I think you can use them that way. I find nothing strange with sentences like "By the time we find her, she might have tried to kill him several times already. It could alredy be too late actually. We better get a move on." - If that usage is strange, I have to say I don't know any other way to say the same thing then, lol.
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OK, we consulted with friends and they proposed the following:
He may have arrived here by 5 o'clock tomorrow.
He may have been waiting for us an hour by the time our train
finally arrives.
He may have been waiting an hour by the time our train
final
He may have arrived here by 5 o'clock tomorrow.
He may have been waiting for us an hour by the time our train
finally arrives.
He may have been waiting an hour by the time our train
final
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Ehem, I want to ask one more queston before I leave here 
I still feel confused.
I still feel confused. 00
DollWhat is the difference between two sentences above ?Hi Doll,
the same that there is between:
- I will buy a new laptop.
- I may buy a new laptop.
I'm sure you know the difference.
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Lol. Thanks Koyeen. Your example really opened my eyes. How come I couldn't think of this before? Sometimes I really look for needle in a barn!
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