Future Phrases may be copulative or attributive. When the phrase consists of but two words, the first word is either the verb shall or the verb will and the second word is an infinitive. The verb shall is used in the first person and will in the second and third persons. (Longer future phrases will be studied later).

Exercise 275. Development

1. I praised.

2. I had praised.

3. I have praised.

What time does the verb praised express? The verb phrase had praised? The verb phrase have praised? Try to see why we need three ways of asserting the act of praising as in past time; that is, try to see under what different circumstances you should use these three different sentences.

1. I shall praise. '

2. I shall have praised.

What time does each verb phrase express?

Under what circumstances should you use one phrase and under what different circumstances should you use the other?

The phrases had praised, have praised, and shall have praised are called perfect phrases. Can you see why? Are they copulative or attributive?

1. He was anxious.

2. He had been anxious.

3. He has been anxious.

4. He will be anxious.

5. He will have been anxious.

Classify the verb or verb phrase in each sentence as copulative or attributive. Tell what time is expressed by each. Compare the first three. The last two. The phrases had been, has been, and will have been are called perfect phrases. Why? Which might be called present perfect? Which past perfect? Which future perfect?