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Created by Shamnad Koori Parambil, Doha - Qatar. Mob: +974 5518 2235

Sunday, September 7, 2014

ENGLISH GRAMMAR SECRETS (P- 10)

Part: 10


Have something done

If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.
  • I'm going to have my hair cut.
  • She's having her house redecorated.
  • I'm having a copy of the report sent to you

In informal English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.
  • We're getting a new telephone system installed.
  • They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
  • I got the bill sent direct to the company.

We can also use 'have/got something done' in situations where something bad has happened to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen.
  • John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
  • We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
  • I got my nose broken playing rugby.

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Should have

We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.
  • I should have let her know what was happening but I forgot.
  • He should have sent everybody a reminder by email.
  • They should have remembered that their guests don't eat pork.

We can also use 'should have' to speculate about events that may or may not have happened.
  • She should have got the letter this morning. I expect she'll give us a call about it later.
  • He should have arrived at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
  • They should have all read that first email by this stage. It's time to send the next one.

We can use ' should not have' to speculate negatively about what may or may not have happened.
  • She shouldn't have left work yet. I'll call her office.
  • He shouldn't have boarded his plane yet. We can probably still get hold of him.
  • They shouldn't have sent the report off for printing yet. There is still time to make changes.

We can also use 'should not have' to regret past actions.
  • I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologise.
  • We shouldn't have left the office so late. We should have anticipated this bad traffic.
  • They shouldn't have sacked him. He was the most creative person on their team.
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Can have / Could have

We can use 'could have' to talk about something somebody was capable of doing but didn't do.
  • I could have gone to Oxford University but I preferred Harvard.
  • She could have married him but she didn't want to.
  • They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to.

Often, there is a sense of criticism.
  • You could have phoned me to let me know.
  • They could have helped me instead of just sitting there.
  • I could have done more to help you. Sorry.

We can use 'couldn't have' to talk about something we were not capable of doing.
  • I couldn't have managed without you.
  • I couldn't have got the job. He was always going to appoint his nephew.
  • I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. Thank you for a lovely day.

We can use 'could have' to speculate about what has happened. (We can also use 'may
have' or 'might have' in these situations.)
  • She could have taken the earlier train.
  • Simon could have told her.
  • They could have overheard what we said.

We can also use 'can have' to speculate about what has happened but only in questions and negative sentences and with words such as 'hardly', 'never' and 'only'.
  • Can she have forgotten about our meeting?
  • He can't have seen us.
  • They can hardly have thought that I was not interested in the job.

We can also use 'could have' to speculate about something that didn't happen.
  • You could have broken your neck, jumping out the window like that.
  • He could have hurt somebody, throwing a bottle out of the window like that.
  • I could have done well in my exam if I'd worked harder.

You can also use 'could have' to talk about possible present situations that have not
happened.
  • I could have been earning a lot as an accountant but the work was just too boring.
  • He could have been Prime Minister now but he got involved in a big financial scandal.
  • They could have been the market leaders now if they had taken his advice.
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Will be doing

We can use 'will be doing' to talk about something that will be in progress at a particular
moment in the future.
  • This time next week, I'll be sitting on the beach in Barbados.
  • I'll be thinking about you all back in the office – and I'll be laughing.
  • We'll be enjoying ourselves too, boss. We won't be doing any work while you are not here.

We can use 'will be doing' to talk about future events that are fixed or decided.
  • I'll be visiting your country on a regular basis. In fact, I'm going to be coming next month.
  • He'll be looking after the factory until we can appoint a new manager.
  • They'll be thinking about this very carefully over the next few months.

We can use 'will be doing' to predict what is happening now.
  • Try phoning his hotel. He'll probably still be having breakfast.
  • They'll be deciding who gets the contract at this very moment. I'm very nervous.
  • She's not in her office. She'll be having lunch in the canteen.

We can use 'will be doing' to ask extremely politely, and with no pressure, about future
plans.
  • Will you be eating with us this evening?
  • Will you be needing anything else?
  • Will they be joining us for dinner?

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Will have done

We can use 'will have done' to talk about what will have been achieved by a certain
moment in time.
  • We'll have been in these offices for eight years next month.
  • She'll have visited ten countries in twelve days by the time she gets back.
  • I'll have finished this project by Friday.

If we want to emphasise the continuity of the activity, we can use the continuous form.
  • I'll have been working here for 35 years by the time I retire.
  • She'll have been driving for more than fifteen hours straight by the time she gets here.
  • They'll have been working with us for 15 years by the end of this year.

We can also use 'will have done' to predict what we think has already happened at present.
  • He'll have already read the report by now. Too late to change it.
  • She'll have boarded her plane. It's too late to contact her.
  • They'll have decided by now. We should hear the result today or tomorrow.
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Prepared By: SHAMNAD.K.P                                                       
Email: shamnadkp@gmail.com
Website: http://shamnadkp.blogspot.com/             

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