Terrlo56  +  445182 Thu, 22 Nov 07 03:26 PM Dear Teachers, I would like to know the differences on... "is/ are to be"  VS "will be" "was/ were to be" VS "would be" Please give some examples Thanks! Terrlo56 Joined on Wed, Nov 7 2007 Hong Kong New Member 41

	Doll  +  445256 Thu, 22 Nov 07 08:03 PM My try:  He is the first man to go there. This means both past and present tense. If you think it as a present tense, it has more plan in it. However, "will" doesn't have a meaning of plan.   There is no need to say he was the first to do something to make ...is to do... past. You should say he is the first man to have gone there instead of he was the first man to go there.   It would be better if you give examples for your second question because would, especially, have different meanings in different contexts. Doll Joined on Sat, Mar 10 2007 Senior Member 2,813 Tenses, Present Tenses

	Terrlo56  +  445507 Fri, 23 Nov 07 04:00 PM  Doll wrote: My try:  He is the first man to go there. This means both past and present tense. If you think it as a present tense, it has more plan in it. However, "will" doesn't have a meaning of plan.   There is no need to say he was the first to do something to make ...is to do... past. You should say he is the first man to have gone there instead of he was the first man to go there.   It would be better if you give examples for your second question because would, especially, have different meanings in different contexts. What are the difference between..... I am to finish the assignment tomorrow. I will finish the assignment tomorrow. Terrlo56 Difference Between, Tenses, Present Tenses

	Clive  +  445689 Sat, 24 Nov 07 05:22 AM Hi, What are the difference between..... I am to finish the assignment tomorrow. Someone, eg my teacher,  has ordered me to / expects me to / requires me to finish it tomorrow. There is no indication in this statement as to whether I will obey the order. I may, I may not. I will finish the assignment tomorrow. I am stating this as a fact, or at least a prediction. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,672 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Difference Between

	Clive  +  446077 Sun, 25 Nov 07 12:55 PM Hi, Let's focus on the future, first. Consider this. Teacher: Tom and Mary, you are to finish this work tomorrow. Tom whispers to Mary: He said that I am to finish this tomorrow, but I'm not going to. Mary whispers to Tom: Well, I will finish it tomorrow.  Do you have any questions about this? Clive Clive

	Terrlo56  +  446089 Sun, 25 Nov 07 01:59 PM  Clive wrote: Hi, Let's focus on the future, first. Consider this. Teacher: Tom and Mary, you are to finish this work tomorrow. Tom whispers to Mary: He said that I am to finish this tomorrow, but I'm not going to. Mary whispers to Tom: Well, I will finish it tomorrow.  Do you have any questions about this? Clive Thanks, I got it! How about the past tense? Terrlo56 Tenses, Past Tenses

	Clive  +  446148 Sun, 25 Nov 07 07:23 PM Hi, Tom: Our teacher said that we were to finish this assignment last night, but I didn't. Mary: Oh, he's going to be angry with you. I finished mine. Clive Clive