future tense
English
editNoun
editfuture tense (plural future tenses)
- (grammar) The tense or time form of a verb used to refer to an event or occurrence that has not yet happened or is expected to happen in the future.
- 1985, Robert Burchfield, The English Language, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 157:
- The future tense came into being as the verbs sculan and willan lost their ancient power as finite verbs and turned into future auxiliaries.
Usage notes
editThe future tense in English is indicated with compound verbs made up of a main verb plus auxiliary verbs or helper verbs.
The simple future tense is made up of shall plus the infinitive (without "to") in the first person, and will plus the infinitive in the second and third persons.
- I shall go, we shall go
- You will go
- He, she, it, they will go
The emphatic future tense reverses the auxiliary verbs:
- I will go, we will go
- You shall go
- He, she, it, they shall go
Another form uses the progressive form of go plus the infinitive:
- I am going to walk, we are going to walk
- You are going to walk
- He, she, it is going to walk, they are going to walk
Besides these examples, there are other periphrastic forms to indicate future tense.
Translations
edittime form of a verb
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