Grammar | The Future Tense | Forms and examples

 

THE FUTURE TENSE:

THE FUTURE FORMS:

  THE COMMON FORM OF THE FUTURE TENSE IS WILL / SHALL + INFINITIVE BUT IN FACT IT IS ONLY A NUMBER OF WAYS OF EXPRESSING THE FUTURE ------> THE FORMS ARE:

1) The Simple Present tense 

2) Will + infinitive ( used tp express intention at the moment of decision).

3) The Present Continuous tense.

4) The be going to form.

5) The future tense shall / will + infinitive.

6) The Future Continuous tense.

7) The Future Prefect tense.

8) The Future Perfect Continuous tense. 

9) Be + infinitive ( to express future plans; ex: She is to be married next month).

8) Be about + infinitive & be on the point of + gerund ( ex: They are about to start / They are on the point of starting).

I_ WILL ( Archaic sense )

In all the next examples, will has more & less retained the meaning of want.

a) PROMISE:

- I will speak to him about it ( Heavy stress ).

- I won't do it again.

b) DETERMINATION:

- Whatever he may say, I will leave that door open. ( I want = I will = I insist on, I am determined ).

c) REQUESTS:

- Will you lend me your car? ( Here, there is NO idea of future at all the cases refers to NOW).

- Will you help me please?.

+ Shall would be impossible.

- Will you? COULD BE REPLACED BY , Can / Could you. ( Do you want? Would sound matter rude as a request).

d) INVITATIONS or OFFERS:

- Will you have a cup of tea.

- Have a piece of cake, will you?

---> There and Here is no idea of Future at all. The case refers to NOW.

+ Shall would be impossible.

- Will you? Could be replaced by DO YOU WANT? or WOULD YOU LIKE?.

e) COMMAND:

- Will you close the doors?.

- Stop making all that noise, will you?.

- Offices will appears properly dressed in public destination.

- Evening dress will be cold ------> No idea of Future at all in these 4 examples.

- Will could be replaced by I WANT ( you ) to  Close the door Or stop making that noise.

f) REFUSAL:

- I won't obey such stupid orders ( reason ).

- However hard you try, this door won't open. ( no idea of future ).

+ Won't means don't want, refuse.

g) HABIT:

  Will can be used to talk express about Characteristic behavior or Present Habits. This is not a very frequent use of will in English. It is more common in the Past, where will is a synonym of used to.

- Whenever she goes to the seaside, she will sit & look at the sea for hours.

- When nobody is looking, she will go into the kitchen & bring biscuits ----> No idea of Future at all here.

- Will = want; will this is one of her - his characteristic habits.

h) IF & WILL ( Willingness ):

There generally no plain Future in an if clause.

- If he invites me, I will come.

+ WILL however possible in if clause if it indicates willingness.

- If you will want a moment, I will fetch you a chair.

- If you will help us, we can finish in time.

--------> No idea of Future in the examples up.

+ IF YOU WILL can be replaced by = IF YOU ARE WILLING TO

 = IF YOU WANT TO.