Expressing preferences about the past

After a few requests I received, to write more post about verbs in past examples,  I decided to dedicate a couple of posts to Hypothetical Situations and Conditionals. This would be actually part of an Advanced Grammar Review, but it would certainly help those who want to get a good introduction to it.

Let's do it!

Matteo would have played with the video-games until the end of the summer.
He would have preferred to stay at home rather than going on holiday with his family.






People are often confused about how to discuss something that didn’t happen in the past.

The following structures can be used to express how we would like the past to have been different.

• would like / love / prefer to + perfect infinitive or 
• would have liked / loved / preferred to + infinitive or perfect infinitive

     example:
     - We would like to have stayed longer, but we had to take the bus to go back home.
     - I really would loved to tell her what I felt in that moment.
     or
     - I really would have loved to have told her what I felt in that moment.

It may happen, that the subject of would like, is not the same as the subject of the verb which follows, therefor an appropriate noun or object pronoun is inserted before the infinitive

example:
- I would have loved her to listen from my words, what I really felt for her, instead of reading it from a message on the mobile.

more examples:
- I would have loved to see his face when you told him, the holiday was cancelled because of him.

- I should have applied for the course in September, now is too late to take part in it.

- I could have told her another version of the story, but I decided to tell the truth.

Unfulfilled past events

I was going to call you, yesterday evening, but the battery of my phone died unexpectedly






The following structures can be used to talk about events which were intended to take place, but which did not happen.

examples:
- I was going to call you, but my battery died.

- I was about to send you an email, when you called me.

- He was thinking of going to China, but he changed his mind and he went to Thailand.

- She had been thinking to buy a new car, but she decided to wait for a good second hand one.

- The meeting, which was to have taken place last Tuesday, was unexpectedly cancelled.

Names with and without The

Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. 
It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain.
Marbella and nearby Puerto Banús are important tourist resorts on the Costa del Sol. Marbella is especially popular with tourists from Northern Europe (including the UK, Ireland and Germany), Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S.A.



We do not use the with names of people ("Mark, Pedro, Carlos, Petra,.." etc.) and the with names of places (Asia, Mexico, Sardinia, London).

We use the in names of Republic, Kingdom, States:
- the Dominican Republic
- the United Kingdom
- the United States of America

  example:
  - Have you ever been to Canada or the United States?

COMPARE:
not using the:                                              using the:
- Mount Kilimajaro                                    
- Mount Everest
- I live near Lake Victoria         - I live near the lake
                                                              - the Atlantic Ocean
                                                              - the Mediterranean Sea
                                                              - the Sahara Desert
                                                              - the Gobi Desert
- We went to doctor Smith        - we went to the doctor
                                                              - the Rockefeller (the Rockfeller family)
                                                              - the MacMillan (the MacMillan family)
- northern Italy                              - the north of Italy
- south-eastern Argentina           - the south-east Argentina
- Scotland is in northern Europe   - Sicily is in the south of Europe
- north America
- south America
- Regent's park
- Queen's park
- Wall street
- Time Square
- Victoria Station
- Buckingham Palace                    - the Royal Palace (royal is adjective here)
                                                               - the Empire State Building
                                                               - the White House
                                                               - the Eiffel Tower
                                                               - the Pentagon
- Cambridge University               - the University of Cambridge
- Kodak    (names of companies don't take the)
- Siemens
- Sony

Indefinite article: A/an

Did u know?

A time capsule is a container filled with typical objects from a particular time and in most cases buried underground for safekeeping.

The idea behind this, of course, is that future generations will be able to learn about life in the past when they open up the capsule and study the objects.




As we have explained in the previous post, English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.

A and an is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. example:
- I would like a dog.
Here, we're not talking about a specific dog. We're talking about any dog.
I still haven't chosen one in particular.

A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group.
example:
- My brother really wants a cat. This also refers to any cat.

- When I was at the park, I saw a squirrel. Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific animal, in this case a squirrel. There are certainly several squirrels in the park, but there's only one we're talking about here.

NOTE:
using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a girl; a truck; a bike; a park; a cat
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); also a university
  
• an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
• a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

• a broken ankle
• an unusual job
• a European country

ALSO
in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

• I am a policeman. (I am a member of a large group known as police.)
• Matt is an Irishman. (Matt is a member of the people known as English.)
• Dave is a baseball player. (Dave is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)

Thank you! :)

A really big thanks to everyone who left a comment and for everyone who read the blog, thank you for your continued support. It means so much for me.

More than 20 different languages were shared & posted as comments under My Happy Birthday Post, check out if is missing yours.. you can share it with others.. 

"The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises."

Leo.F. Buscaglia

Luca

Happy Birthday!!! in all languages

Today is my birthday, so if you want you can write HAPPY BIRTHDAY in your language in a comment!!
In that way, all the followers of the blog will share their language..

Sharing knowledge is the key to our own success...

Definite article: The

 
Did you know? 

A new study indicates that the total energy used to create and power LED lighting is less than that consumed by a traditional light bulb.

English has two articles: the and a/an.  
The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.

The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural and is used when the noun is specific or particular.  
example:
- The last electricity bill was too much! We'll need to change our old incandescent bulbs with new LED efficient lamps
Here, we're talking about a particular bill.

- The ferry has just left the port. We missed it! 
Here, we're talking about a specific boat, in a port

- I am watching the last documentary of National Geographic .
Here, we're talking about a specific documentary.

The can be used with non-count nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.
example:
- He spilled the drink all over the floor 
(perhaps the drink I've just got him)
or He spilled water all over the floor (any drink)

We use the before:
- names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Volga, the Indian Ocean

- points on the globe: the Equator, the South Pole

- geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

- deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Gobi desert, the Persian Gulf, the Amazon rain-forest, the Italian Peninsula


NOTE:
Do not use the before:
- names of most countries/territories: Italy, Spain, japan; however, the Cook Islands, the Galapagos Islands, the United States

- names of cities, towns, or states: London, Paris, Berlin

- names of streets: Las Vegas Blvd., Oxford Street

- names of lakes and bays: Lake Victoria,  except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

- names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Alps or unusual names like the Matterhorn (the Cervino)

- names of continents: America, Africa, Europe

- names of islands Sardinia, Corsica, Madagascar, Cuba, except with island chains like the Cook Islands, the Hawaii, or the Canary Islands

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
- Names of languages and nationalities: English, Italian, Spanish, Chinese (unless we are referring to the population of the nation: "The Argentinians are known for their barbecue")

-Names of sports: football, polo, baseball, hockey 

- Names of academic subjects: Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History



More examples, we say:

• in general: the sky, the sea, the ground, the country, the environment, the same, the cinema, the theatre, the bank the post office

• in a room: the radio, the light, the floor, the carpet, the window, the ceiling

Be or Get used to something

Micheal has a new job. He has to wake up much earlier now than before. He finds it difficult because isn't used to waking up so early.

Now he has to get used to wake up so early.

Be used to

Be used to something means it is not new or strange for me: is used to show previous experience and familiarity with a certain situation. 

example:
- I am used to living abroad  

(I have previous experience living abroad, so it's not difficult for me)

- Mario is not used to living abroad 

(He doesn't have much experience living abroad or he doesn't like it)

- Lisa has never worked abroad, so she's not used to speak English constantly all day long 

(Lisa doesn't have previous experience as working with foreign language)

Get used to

Get used to is used for the process of acquiring experience and ability. 

In the beginning we are less experienced, then we get used to something: we got through a process of learning

example:
- I wasn't used to living abroad, but I got used to it 

(I didn't have expeirence living abroad, but I grew in experience until I was happy living abroad.

- I didn't like English breakfast, but I got used to it after a while.
In the beginning I didn't like bananas, but after a while I learnt to like them.

NOTE:

In the structure be / get used to, to is a preposition, not part of the to-infinitive. For example:
- I'm used to driving to to work everyday
correct

- I'm used to drive to work everyday.
Incorrect - "to drive" is a to-infinitive and can't be used here.

more examples:
- It took me a while, but I'm finally used to using this new software
- I'm getting used to the strange smell in the factory
- I'll never get used to the heat in India
- It was strange at first, but now I am used to China's food


We wrote about the form: I used to in October you can see it at this link http://innovatenglish.blogspot.com/2011/10/used-to.html

Can, Could, Would You??

It's five o'clock.
Would you like a cup of tea? 








All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals.
Unlike other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.
Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.

The modal verbs are all those that we have described in the last posts:
CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, WILL and WOULD
Modals are commonly used for asking permission 
examples:
- Can I ask you an information? 
- May I have a cup of tea? (may is always more formal) 
- Could I open the window?

Requests:
we use can or could to ask people to do something:
- Can you wait a moment please?
- Could you wait a moment please?
- Dave, can you do me a favor? 

Asking for things: 
- Can I have this magazine please? (in a shop) 
- Could you pass me the oil please? (during a meal) 
- May I have this book please?

Asking to do things: 
- Hello, can I speak to Laura please? (on the phone) 
- Could I use your phone for a moment please?
- May I come in?

Offering to do things:
- Can I get you a glass of water?
- Can I help you?

Offering and inviting: 
- Would you like a cup of tea?
- Would you like to come for lunch on Sunday?
- I'd like to book a room, please.

Would rather, Would Prefer

 

"The world has limited resources.

I'd rather recycle, than waste second hands materials"

When we are talking about specifics, would rather is used as an alternative to would prefer to followed by an infinitive. 

Would rather is very common in spoken English and is often abbreviated to 'd rather. 

It is used in this form with all personal pronouns:

I'd / you'd / he'd / she'd / we'd / they'd rather…

examples dialogue: 

- I don't have space at home to differentiate my rubbish.  

- I'd rather think about how many raw materials you would save if you recycled

- Nowadays, I'd rather make a change in the school organization system, to privilege teaching kids also what are the needing and requirements of this new society.

NOTE
Would rather is followed by a bare infinitive without to. 
Would rather it can be followed by a past tense when we want to involve other people in the action, even though it has a present or future meaning. 

examples:
- Shall we go out for a drink this evening?  
- No, I'd rather we ate at home, if you don't mind. 

- Shall I write to Marco and tell him that we've planned our holiday?
- I'd rather you didn't. 

-My father would rather we went on holiday close to here, rather than going to South-Africa.

ALSO

Rather than means instead of and can be used in combination with would prefer to and would rather. 

example: 

- Rather than lose precious time discussing it now, I think we should go at the meeting and share our resolutions with the rest of the group.

Would prefer

Would rather and would prefer, can be used interchangeably. 

When we are talking about general preferences, prefer is followed by verb-ing, 

example:

- I prefer listening to music to watching TV.  
- I'd rather listen to music than watch TV. 

Had better

"Saving energy helps you to save money but will also help to save the environment.

The real truth however is that saving energy can be accomplished by everyone, anywhere and at any time."

We'd better learn this..

Had better is used to suggest necessary action: 

I'd better do something = it is advisable to do it; if I don't do it, there will be probable negative consequences 

'd is the abbreviated form of had, not would. 

'd better is followed by the bare infinitive without to.

examples:

- I have to meet Jack in 30 minutes in Carnaby Street. I'd better go now, or I'll be late
- I'd better get back to work, the break finished 5 minutes ago.

The negative form is “had better not”.

- You'd better not say anything.
- I'd better not come to the party, I don't want to see my ex-girlfriend.

NOTE
Had better is similar to should but not exactly the same.
Had better is used only for a specific situation, not for things in general; should can be sed in all types of situations to give an opinion or give advices.

example:
- It's late. You'd better go / You should go (a specific situation)

- He is always at home playing videogames, he should do more sport.
(in general)

Modal verb: Ought to

"..People ought to know several things about the recent history.."





Ought is different from other auxiliary verbs. It is used with to.
We can use ought to instead of should in some contests.
example:
- Do you think I ought to apply for this course in particular?
- Yesterday it was a useful lesson in the university. You ought to have come.
- He has been studying hard for the exam, so he ought to pass.

Ought expresses duty, necessity, desirability and similar ideas. It is often used to advise people: to tell them that they have a duty to do things. The meaning is similar to should, is not as forceful as must. 
examples:
- You ought to attend school regularly. (Duty)
- You ought to help the needy. (Moral obligation)
- We ought to buy a new car, the other one has broken down. (Necessity)


NOTE:
Note that to is dropped in question tags.
- You ought to love your girlfriend, ought not you? (NOT…ought not you to.) 

Ought does not have infinitives (to ought) or participles (oughting, oughted). Questions and negatives are made without do.


BUT:
Ought is rarely used in questions and negatives; should is generally used instead. A structure with think … ought is also common.
examples:
- We ought to help them, shouldn’t we? (More natural than ought not we?)
- Do you think I ought to consult a doctor? (More natural than Ought I to consult a doctor?) 
- Should we tell her? (Less formal than Ought we to tell her?)

Modal verb: Would

example situation:

 He would need to get a break....










Would is another auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb.
We use would mainly:

•  when we imagine a situation or action (like thinking to something that is not real):                                                                                                                            - It would be beautiful to live in a caste;                                                               - I would love to go on the moon;                                                                           - I would like to live in Spain 

• when would/wouldn't is the past of will/won't.                                    example:                                                                                                                                - I'll phone you on Saturday / He said he would phone on Saturday.                                                                                                                              - I promise I'll be on time / She promised she wouldn't be late

• in sentences with if:                                                                                                          - I would phone her if I had her number;                                                             - I would have phoned you if I had had her number                                   ..we will get back to this forms in some next Units..

• when we imagine actions or situations in the past that didn't happened:          - I didn't tell your brother you didn't go to school, he would have not been happy ;                                                                                                                                     - I am happy it didn't rain, otherwise the pic-nic would have been canceled.

COMPARE: 
Would (do) and Would have (done)
- I would invite Brian to my party, but he doesn't get along well with my sister after they broke up.. (now)
- I would have invited Brian to my party, but he wasn't a good situation for my sister too see him at the party..
(in the past) 

- I would cut my hair, if I have time. (now)
- I would have cut my hair, if I'd had time. (past) 


BUT:
We tend to use would especially when reminiscing about the past, telling a story or recollecting some regular or repeated thing we did long ago.

"When I was a child, we would visit my grandmother every Sunday afternoon. I would sit on my grandmother's knee and she'd sing me a song."

'Would' is more restricted in use than 'used to'.
..we will see these form in the next post..

Stay tuned!

Modal verb: Should

example:

Here the scientist suggests to his colleague:
"I think you should be more explicit here in step two..instead of writing then we need a miracle..."







You should do something = means it is the right thing (or a good thing) to do
Should is used to give advice or to give an opinion.
examples:
- Your English needs a review. You should study some grammar.
- The government should do something concrete to help this country.
- Should we invite Mark for my birthday? Of course, we should! 
- You shouldn't run, is very slippery.  (negative form)

• Should is not as strong as must or have to: - You should apologise to her (it would be a good thing to do) ; You must / have to apologise to her (you have no alternative)

• It is possible to use should when something is not right or what we expect: - I wonder where Matteo is. He should be already here by now; - The price of this book is wrong, it should be 10€ not 100€

• Should can be used to comment on something we expect: - There shouldn't be any problem on finding a Hostel in Barcelona in two weeks.

• Should is often used after some verbs like: DEMAND, INSIST, PROPOSE, RECOMMEND, SUGGEST

ALSO
Should is often used in the first conditional hypothetical constructions:                     if + should + infinitive:

example
- If you should happen to miss the train, I could drive you there myself.

- Should you wish to change your holiday arrangements, we will all we can to help.  (very formal situation, in written English)

we are going to review conditional situations a bit further

Modal verbs: Have to, Must

this guy was singing in 1965..


"..And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it..."
 



Have to do something means that it is necessary to do it: is used to express a strong obligation. 
examples: 
- I have to arrive at work before 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, I have a client at 8,30.
- You have to pass your last five exams get the bachelor degree.
- I have to send a my report by the end of the week.

- Matteo doesn't have to work on Saturdays. (negative form)

- Why did you have to go so early yesterday evening? (questions)

- I don't know if I can come to the seaside next weekend, I might have to work. (have to with might)

the same man has been telling us about another story saying:

"..How many roads must a man walk down,
before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail,
before she sleeps in the sand?
yes and how many times must a cannon ball fly.."

  

[...This lyrics excite abstract statements rather than particular and specific examples. They excite both the imagination and emotions, it enables you to unlock your own highly personal box of images, memories, connections and associations. Keep them in your mind as they are beautiful songs...] 

Must is similar to have to:
- You must come and see us again soon.
- You have to come and see us again soon. (is also possible)

• Must can be used to give your personal opinion, to say what you think is necessary or to recommend somebody to do something. But have to is also possible: - They must do something about it.  - I must say, I don't think you were very nice to her. 

• Must to show that we are certain something is true. Actually, we are making a logical deduction based upon some clear evidence or reason: - You must be worried that she didn't call you yet. - It must be nice to live in Marbella in summer. 

• Must is often used in written rules and instructions: - Application forms for the job must received by October the 10th. - In this exam, pencils are not allowed, you must write your answers in ink.

NOTE:

Have to to express a strong obligation. 

When we use have to this usually means that the speaker is not giving his personal opinion, but rather some external circumstance makes the obligation necessary:

- I have to work from 9 to 6 o'clock, every day. (this is a fact, not an opinion)

- I have to pass my last exam or the university won't accept me.

ALSO

Especially, in British English, have got to is used to mean the same as have to.

- Ciccio is a bartender. He's got to work mainly at weekends.

- Have I got to do it right now?

 

BUT

Mustn't and don't have to are completely different:

 

You mustn't do something = it is necessary that you do not do it:

- You must keep the secret! You mustn't tell anyone

- You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed to receive any personal calls. 

You don't have to do something = you don't need to do it, but you can if you want:
- You don't have to tell them, but you can if want to.
- I don't have to go to lesson today, but I'll think I'll go anyway.

Modal verbs: Can, Could, Be able to

..unfortunately this won't an example but, a dedication..

  

 

Motorcycles racers can fly high..

                                                     #58

Can and could are modal verbs. 

They are used with other verbs to transmit ideas such as possibility, permission, etc.


Can

We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or somebody has the ability:

• talk about possibility and ability. example: - I can ride a motorbike.  - He can speak three languages.

• make requests or give orders. example: - Can you buy me a pencil?  - Can you complete your job before you leave the office.

• ask for or give permission. example: - Can I borrow your mobile for a second?

Could 
We use could:

• as the past tense of can. example:  - Guys, Tom is on his way and he said she could get the pizzas for us.

• to show what was possible in the past. example:  - He could ride the bike since he was nine years old.

• to ask someone to do something. example:  - Could you hold this bag for a second, please?

• to ask if someone is able or allowed to do something. example: - My grandmother could speak Spanish.  - Could I ask you an information?

 We could use could especially with verbs like: SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE, FEEL, REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND
examples:- I could hear the sound of your voice from the upper floor.
- Yesterday afternoon was very hard to drive, I couldn't see anything.


Be able to
Be able to is used when we refer to somebody who has the ability to do something:
- Marta is able to drive, but she hasn't got a car.
- My grandfather was able to repair motorbikes.
- Applicants for the job, must be able to speak two foreign languages.


NOTE:
For general ability, the most common form is could.
But if we want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, is possible to use was/were able to or managed to, rather than could.

examples: 
- I wanted to buy some bread, the first shop I went didn't have any, but I managed to go in another bakery.
- There was nobody to disturb me, so I was able to study the whole morning.


COMPARE:
- Marco was an excellent  motorcycle racer, he could drive really fast in races.
(Marco had the general ability to drive very well in competitions)

- Marco managed to win the Italian Minimoto Championship in 1999
(Marco won the title in that specific competition)

Might as well

take a look at this example situation:

That is probably the toughest question ever asked, but he might as well know it.







Might as well is an expression very commonly used by English speakers, but also not very seen it taught in an English textbook.
Let's have a look at it. It can be used:

•  when you want to say that there is no GOOD reason NOT to do something. example:                                                                                        It’s almost time to go home and you’ve finished all your work, so you might as well go home now.

• to say that two things, people or situations are so similar that they could be considered to be the same. example:                                                 Shame! We have just lost the bus connection! So we might as well take a taxi to the airport.

 
more examples:
- There is nothing interesting on TV. I might as well go to sleep.

- I bought this ticket for the We will rock you show, but I'll be outside London for work. So I might as well sell it.

Modal verbs: May - Might

May and might are used to say that something is a possibility. 

May
The modal verb may is manly used in written and formal contests, is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English.

Is possible to use it:

• to ask for a permission:  

      May I have a cup of tea?  
        (this is the typical English contest we could imagine, like at 5 o'clock in the hall of a Lord's club)  
      May I borrow your pen? (in an office)

• to suggest something is possible:  

      I may not have time to do it today. (in an office)

Might
Might suggests a smaller possibility than may, there is basically just a little difference and is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.

• the modal verb might is used when the outcome is less probable or uncertain to happen:  

        Tom is not in the office, he might not work here anymore.
       (he is not in the office, but maybe he is just having a day off)


more examples, in past version as well:
- I can't find my wallet anywhere. I might have left it in the car.
- I might not go to the party.
- I wonder why Dave didn't answer the phone, he might have been sleeping.


MORE:
Could is similar to may and might:
- What you've just said is a weird story, but it could be true = (it may/might be true)
- You could have forgotten your wallet at home = (you may/might have forgotten)

BUT remember that couldn't is different from may not and might not, compare:
- Police said it couldn't have been an accident. (is propable that was something planned)

- He didn't answer me. I might not have been English. (is probable that he wasn't able to understand me)


more examples:
- I haven't decided where to go next weekend, i might go to Milan. 
  (perhaps I will go to Milan = future plans)

- I might not go out tomorrow evening, I don't feel good. 
  (perhaps I will not go out = future plans)

- Don't phone at my parents' house at 11 o'clock, they might be already sleeping = Don't phone at my parents' house at 11 o'clock, they will be already sleeping

Modal Verbs: Can - Could - Was able to

Can
The modal verb can is used to express:

• the ability to do something: I can speak English

• the possibility to do something: This evening i can go out, because tomorrow is my day off

• to say that something is probable: If you don't pay attention on the stairs, you can hurt yourself 

• expresses the permission to do something: You can take my car this weekend if you need it

Could 
The modal verb could is used to:

• express the conditional in sentences as the conditional form of can: If I had more time, I could travel around the world

• express possibility: You could to Rome by train, rather than the car.

• express past ability as well: I could run ten kilometers in one hour, when I was younger.

• make suggestions: You could spend your holidays in my house in Toscany, if you like.

• make polite requests: Good evening, Could I have something to drink? 

As we have specified above could is used to for general ability, but if you want to say that somebody did something in a specific situation, is good to use the form:
was/were able to or managed to

examples:
- You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. 
- I would like to be able to speak 5 languages.
- I have been able to ride the bicycle since I was 6.

Future perfect: will have (been, doing)

example situation:

Dave is an engineer. 

His job is to project and develop eolic solutions.

In January, he will have been working in the same company for 4 years.



The present perfect form will have + past participle is used to say something will already be achieved before a time in the future.

examples:
- They will be tired when they arrive. They will not have slept for a long time.
- You can call after midday The meeting will have finished by that time.

• as we can see from the examples above, the 'will have done, been, ..' to predict what we think has already happened at present:

        more examples:
        - Even if you hurry so much, by the time you'll get to the station the train will
        have left  already.
        - We are so late, the movie will have started by the time we get to the 
          cinema in the city. 


Now let's compare the future perfect with the future continuous:

- Simon is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this, he will have spent all his money before the end of next weekend.

- If you need to contact me, I'll be staying at the Generator Hostel until next Monday.

Future Continuous: Will be doing

example situation:

Mrs Johnson is a teacher. 
She goes to work every day. She leaves home at 7,30 am and arrives at work at about 8 o'clock. 
Lessons start at 8,30 and continue until 1 o'clock.
At 1,30 she goes back home where she has lunch with the husband.
At 5 o'clock she corrects the homeworks of her students. ...

At 7,45 am: She will be driving to school.

At 8,30 am: She will be starting the lesson.

At 12.30: She will be explaining homeworks to her students.

                                                        At 2 pm: She will be eating at home.

The future continuous (I will be doing something) is used to describe something when I will be in the middle of doing it.

 examples:
- This time next month, I'll be sitting on the beach in Marbella.
- What will you be doing at 8pm tonight?
- Don't worry. I won't be sleeping, if you call me at 2 o'clock.

Also, is possible to use this tense in other situations:

•  to talk about future events that are fixed or decided:                                        - You know what! I'll be visiting your city right next week!. In fact, I'm going to be coming next Friday!

•  to predict what we think or suppose is happening now:                                    - I've been trying to call his mobile for an hour. He'll probably still be sleeping.

• to ask extremely politely, and with no pressure, about future plans:                  - Will you be eating with us for lunch?

The Future: (to) be going to

The present continuous form referred to future actions (I am going to/we are planning to), means that I/We have already decided and arranged to do something.

situation example:

- What are you doing for Christmas Holidays?
- I think, we are going to ski in Slovakia on the Low Tatras.
- That's awesome! How many of you are planning to go?
- We are six in total, we are managing to rent a bungalow not far from the slopes.
- I wish you to have fun guys!!

• Present continuous can be also used just before we begin to do something. example:  

      -  She is going to give up smoking.
      -  If I look at the clouds, I deduct is going to snow, before evening. 

• To talk about something refereed to the past, it is used the form I was going to= I intended to do it, but I didn't do it:

     - I was going to call you, but Sue stopped me in the shop and I forgot.
      - It looked like it was going to snow, but in the end it didn't.

Tips:

Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually: they are a little like slang.

For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to".

If you say "going to" very fast, without carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like "gonna".

Please remember that these are informal contractions: that means that in formal written English are not used, neither in writing.
They are normally used only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends.
It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English.

The Future Will/Shall

The first form of future we have studied in the past was the will form:

			I will speak.  I will not/won't speak.  Will I speak?

Shall is also often used, only in formal contests in British English, in the first person (I/we) in questions when asking for permission, making suggestions, making an offer or asking for advice.
 I shall be at work on time. Shall we be at work on time? We shan't be at work on time.

The will/shall form is used when:

• we decide to do something at the time of speaking: What would you like to drink? I'll have a cup of tea please.

• we offer to do something: Your luggage seems to be heavy, I'll help you.

• agreeing on something: Can you send me the email now? I'll do it straight away!

• promising to do something: Ok I will help you to translate your thesis, in English.

•  we give information about the future or predict future events that are not certain: Train will arrive to Parma around 7 o'clock, without delays.  

Also will form is used in the cases:
- I'll probably be late, don't wait for me..
- I think/don't think Carl will make it on time.
- I'm sure you will do the right thing, don't hesitate.
- I wonder where I'll be next year this time..
- I think/don't think I'll be called to the job interview.

Do not use the will form to say what somebody has already arranged or decided to do, example:
- I am going on holiday in June. (not I will go on holiday in June)

- We are planning to go to Jane's house on the Alps, in two weekends. (not we'll plan to go to..)

Used to

let's have a look to this example:

Susan used to smoke when she was twenty years old.
Susan doesn't smoke anymore. (now)
She said, she used to smoke a lot when she was young.




As we can assume from the example above, Susan used to smoke regularly in the past: was an action that she had been doing for a while in her life.
Something used to happen, it happened regularly in the past, but no longer happens.

examples:
- I used to smoke a packet a day but I stopped two years ago.
- I used to live in London, but I moved back to Italy three years ago.


We also use it for something that was true but no longer is:
- She used to have really long hair but she's had it all cut off. 
- My brother used to go to work by bus, but he bought a car two years ago. 

more examples:
- Did you use to play a lot with your toys when you were a child?
- I didn't use to like her, but after we had holiday together, our feelings got better.

Pay attention:
'Used to do' is different from 'to be used to doing' and 'to get used to doing' :

• to be used to doing
  We use 'to be used to doing' to say that something is normal, not unusual.
  I'm used to living on my own. 
• to get used to doing
  We use 'to get used to doing' to talk about the process of something becoming normal for us.
  I've started working nights and I'm still getting used to sleeping during the day.