Arabic and English Sentence Patterns: A Comparative Guide

8 | P a g e Since we are only figuratively watching the event, we can (at least in the past and future perfect and progressive) use adverbials to change its position relative to the reference, as in the examples below. The perfect is marked by a form of the primary auxiliary verb have followed by a past participl e 10 , and the progressive by a form of the primary auxiliary verb be followed by a present participle. In both structures, the auxiliary verb is marked for tense. In many structures referring to future time, the modal auxiliary will or shall is included before the primary auxiliary. In such cases, the primary auxiliary is no longer marked for tense, as all modals are consistently followed by the infinitive form of the verb, which does not show tense (thus its designation as infinitive, or non-finite). 11 The auxiliary and participle ( had read , was reading , etc.) always indicate the event (E). In the examples, ( E ) and ( R ) verbs are color designated. PAST PERFECT (Charts 2, 4): past present future --- E --- R -------------P------------------------- 1. I had read the book before the movie came out . 12 past present future --- E --- R -------------P------------------------- 2. I had read the book when the movie came out . past present future --- R / E / R --------P------------------------- 3. I had read the book during the movie.