Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

"Jane won't be able to attend the party tonight? Why not?"
"She says her son's caught a cold and she ( ) care of him."
(1) must be taking (2) must have taken (3) will be taking (4) will have been taking

(Question)
The answer is (3). How about (4)? Why not correct?

Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[nostril5]

"Jane won't be able to attend the party tonight? Why not?"
"She says her son's caught a cold and she ( ) care of him."
(1) must be taking (2) must have taken (3) will be taking (4) will have bee
n taking

3. is correct, because she 'will be taking care' of her son at that time and it probably starts before and finishes after the party.
4. stresses an action happening up to that time (and usually mentions 'how long'). So, it is wrong. Your point is that it is unfinished, right? However, we want to stress that the action started before and finished after the party or at the same time.
You could say: "By the time the party finishes, Satoru will have been drinking for 3 hours."
but:
"During the party, Satoru will be drinking."
or
"When the party is happening, Satoru will be sleeping."
I hope this helps.
Mike
http://www.ielts2u.bravehost.com

[syoshioka99]

How about this?


"She says her son's caught a cold and she will have been taking care of him for 3 hours."


Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[syoshioka99]

(question) how about these(5)&(6)? are they possible answers?


"Jane won't be able to attend the party tonight? Why not?"
"She says her son's caught a cold and she ( ) care of him."
(1) must be taking (2) must have taken (3) will be taking (4) will have bee
n taking (5) must take (6) will have to take


satoru

tochigi, japan

[KazAV]

Hi there.

3 is correct and I agree with example given by nostril5 (which I think he explained very well).

You want to talk about an action that is unfinished. Her son has caught a cold and the chances are that he will still be ill at the time of the party. The party is in the (not-to-distant) future and you are describing an action that will (if her son is still ill) be ongoing at that particular time in the future. Thus, from your examples in your first post, you must use the future progressive/continuous tense here, "will be taking care of...".

Your further examples, must take and will have to take, are also good to use here:

"She says her son's caught a cold and she must take care of him."

"She says her son's caught a cold and she will have to take care of him."

[syoshioka99]

thank you for your comment, KazAV!

Satoru

[syoshioka99]

what is the difference between (1)"must be taking and (5) "must take"?

Satoru