The use of the Future Continuous in the Past.

The Future Continuous in the Past denotes an action going on at a definite moment which was future from the point of view of the past.

I felt sure they would be discussing the same problem when I called.

(For detailed treatment see Chapter XVIII.)

N o t e 1. — Influence of the lexical character of the verb on the use of the

Indefinite and the Continuous form.

To express a process with terminative verbs the Continuous form alone is

possible.

At that, moment he was unlocking the door. (Oppenheim)

В этот момент он отпирал дверь.

With the Indefinite form the meaning would be quite different: the action would be represented as completed.

At that moment he unlocked the door.

В этот момент он отпер дверь.

То express a process with non-terminative verbs the Continuous form is mostly used, though the Indefinite form is also found, especially with such verbs as to sit, to stand, to lie, because these verbs express a state rather than a process.

When I saw her, she lay motionless on the sofa.

With the adverbial modifier the whole day yesterday (to-morrow) both the Indefinite and the Continuous form of non-terminative verbs can be used to denote a process.

I was so tired I slept (was sleeping) the whole day yesterday.

The meaning is the same, only with the Continuous form the process is expressed more emphatically.

N o t e 2. — The use of the Past Indefinite and the Past Continuous in

complex sentences with as and while.

The use of the Past Indefinite and the Past Continuous in complex sentences

with as and while, when there are two actions going on at the same time,

largely depends on the lexical character of the verb.

(1) If both the verbs are terminative, they are generally used in the Past

Continuous.

She was arranging the books on the shelf while I was sweeping the floor.

(2) If one of them is terminative and the other non-terminative, the terminative

verb must be used in the Past Continuous and the non-terminative, verb may be used either in the Past Continuous or, preferably, in the Past Indefinite.

She was arranging the books on the shelf while I played the piano.

(3) If both verbs are non-terminative the best way is the Past Indefinite in both

clauses.

He read as he ate. (Bennett)

There is another possibility: the use of the Past Indefinite in one clause and the Past Continuous in the other.

He was singing as he walked.

VERBS NOT USED INTHE CONTINUOUS FORM

It naturally follows from the definition of the Continuous form (“it denotes an action in a state of process at the present moment or at a definite moment in the past or future”) that verbs which do not express a process are not used in the continuous form.

The following groups of verbs do not express a process:

(a) verbs denoting sense perception (to see, to hear);

(b) verbs denoting mental activity (to know, to believe);

(c) verbs denoting wish (to want, to wish);

(d) verbs denoting feeling (to love, to hate, to like);

(e) verbs denoting abstract relations (to have, to consist, to depend, to belong).

In such expressions as to see the sights of, to see somebody home, to see somebody off the verb to see does not mean ‘видеть’, so it can be used in the Continuous form.

They were seeing the sights of London while their cousin waited for them at

the hotel. (Wells)

It is naturally possible to use the Continuous form of the verb to have in the expressions of the type to have dinner (lunch, supper), because it does not denote possession.

They are having lunch.

The verb to think cannot be used in the Continuous form if it denotes an opinion; it can if it denotes a process of thought.

I think you are right.

I am thinking of what you have just said.

The verb to admire cannot be used in the Continuous form if it means ‘восхищаться’; it can if it means ‘любоваться’.

“I hope you dote on Harry the Eighth!” “I admire him very much,” said

Carker. (Dickens)

What are you doing here, my poetic little friend? Admiring the moon, eh?

(Collins)

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