11/10/2025
grammar
The Future Tense
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 tenses.
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 me 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.
