Future time, volition and intentions

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Future time, volition and intentions
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four? Lennon and McCartney
1. Future time and attitudes to the future
English verbs are marked only for the present and past tense. Technically, there is no
tense to signal future time. Future time, and the different attitudes to the future, are
indicated by the modal verbs will or shall, and various present-tense forms.
Future time exists only as a possibility. We can never make statements of fact about
the future, because the future must become past before it can be realized. So references
to the future are nearly always expressions of attitudes to the future, usually with some
subjective "colouring". Where the future is seen as relatively "near", and therefore
more “certain", present-tense forms of the main verb are used; where it is “remote” in
time, and therefore remote in probability and reality, the modal verbs will and shall
(and also may and might) are used.
There are five forms to indicate future time, or present attitudes to the future. Stative
verbs cannot be used with verbs in the simple aspect, or with a progressive form:
dynamic stative
I go *I know
Exercise 15I am going *I am knowing
I'm going to go I'm going to know
I will (shall) go I will (shall) know
I will (shall) be going *I will (shall) be knowing
Take care with future time; each of the above forms, and their related "future-in-thepast"
indirect discourse forms (see p. 000), has its own specific future meaning, as well
as grammatical limitations as to the kind of verb that can be used. The various forms
are not often in completely free variation.
The present-tense forms follow the principle of "current orientation", i.e. the future is
seen as oriented in some way on the present, whether in terms of present plans,
intentions, or sense of inevitability concerning the future (see p.000; see also the
present perfect as opposed to the past, p. 000).
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Remember that will and shall are true modal verbs, which by their very non-actual
nature cover future time as part of their range of meaning.
2. Will and shall as future and modal
2.1. Structure
Will and shall are the main core modal verbs used to indicate the future (but also may
and might). Both verbs have the usual structural properties of core modal verbs (cf.
p.000):
I will (shall) do it He will do it
I will not (shall not) do it He will not do it
Will (shall) I do it? Will he do it?
Won’t (Shan’t) I do it? Won’t he do it?
(Will (Shall) I not do it? Will he not do it?)
The contracted affirmative form is 'll for all persons.
The contracted negative forms are won't, and shan't for the 1st person, singular and
plural.
2.2. Will (shall) as prediction and "future tense"
The meanings of "prediction" cover a range that has personal prediction at one pole,
and no more than "weak" future marking at the other. These meanings often overlap
with modal predictability (epistemic) and volition:
They'll make fools of themselves (prediction? predictability?)
She'll show you how it's done (prediction? volition?)
Predictive shall is more restricted in use than will, being used (optionally) with only
1st-person (singular and plural) subjects:
We shall / will report the matter to the authorities
I shall / will inform them as to how to proceed
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2.2.1. Will, shall and ‘ll and pronunciation
Historically, the contracted 'll form has had the effect of making much of the difference
between will and shall as temporal markers disappear, a difference which has always
been taught as part of the prescriptive grammar tradition (given its final formulation in
the 17th century), but which has never had any real, wholehearted support from the
speaking populace!
Remember that writing is only an imperfect reflection of the variety of spoken
language. So there is a range of pronunciation of will, which takes on different nuances
of meaning. In the same way, shall with a strong pronunciation has a strong modal
meaning, whereas for the first-person “future” meaning its pronunciation is weak. See
also must.
Will and shall are most important as weakly predictive “future tense” markers. This is
the nearest they come to being temporal markers, a kind of "future tense":
I shall be there next year
Tomorrow will be the day!
What will the world of tomorrow be like?
2.3. Core modals will and shall
Will (with optional shall for the 1st person) is used as a predictive “future” tense.
But there are two core modals verbs, will and shall, which behave exactly like all core
modals, and indeed have a separate paradigm all to themselves (cf. would and should):
Will you marry me? Yes, I will / *shall (modal volition)
Will you be free next week? Yes, I will / shall (“future tense”)
Keep them distinct!
Future will (shall) is usually found in contracted forms. Modal will and shall never.
Remember: modal verbs never contract.
Modal will ranges from root to epistemic meaning (we are always inside the modal
core, as on p. 000).
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2.4. Root will
The root meaning of will (grammatical subject’s volition) covers several meanings:
2.4.1. Volition and intention
I can't find anyone who will do it for me (is willing to)
Will you marry me? Yes, I will (*shall)
I will be there as soon as possible (intention, promise)
Do that again and I'll hit you (threat)
2.4.2. Characteristic or typical behaviour
He'll drink anything
He'll do anything you ask him to do (is prepared to? characteristic)
When he comes here, he will just sit down, light up his pipe and gaze at the horizon
Boys will be boys
Oil will float on water
(See back to p.000, and would on p.000)
2.4.3. Requests and commands
Will you come with me?
Won't you say yes?
Will you stop making that dreadful row? (implied command)
Will you sign this for me? Yes, I will (*shall)
I will help you, really! (emphatic)
Root will is stressed in only two cases:
- In negative forms, to indicate refusal:
I won't do it!
That door won't shut
- To indicate "insistence", "persistence" (reinforced meaning of "characteristic"), the
speaker's reproach in the face of the subject's persistence in some course of action with
which the speaker does not agree:
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They will say such stupid things!
He will turn up at the most awkward moments!
If you will play with matches, of course you'll get burnt!
(Cf. would, p. 000)
2.5. Epistemic modal will
Epistemic will (but not shall) covers a range of meaning from predictability to
prediction:
Ah! That will be the children
Children will often say things which make adults gasp
Shall is not used in this way.
2.6. The neutrality of will
All forms of the future are "coloured" to some extent by some extra-temporal element
("arrangement", "plan", "intention", sense of the inevitability of events on the part of
the speaker, and so on - see below). Will itself has strong modal meanings (volition,
intention; and also epistemic meanings of predictability, as seen above). But when will
is used as a temporal marker, prediction merges with a "pure future" sense, with no
extra “colouring”. This is why will is usually found in "official", formal, or scientific
language, as well as horoscopes, weather forecasts, and so on. It can give a sense of
impersonality and detachment in its prediction, in which nothing of the speaker's
subjectivity transpires.
Will is generally used when the marked meanings of "arrangement", "plan",
"intention", etc., expressed by the simple and progressive present and the be going to
future (see below) are in some way weakened or eliminated, by adverbial expressions
of doubt and uncertainty, including contexts dependent on events in time, and
conditions:
They're arriving at dawn
They're going to arrive at dawn
They will probably arrive at dawn
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They will arrive at dawn if there is a train
I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll probably go by bus
It's going to rain. It probably won't last long
She'll probably be sick if she eats that
I wonder if it will rain
I don't know if I'll manage
As soon as he comes I'll tell him
Hurry, or else you'll be late
I'll give you a hand if I have time
The "marked" forms of the future can also be substituted for stylistic reasons. A series
of "coloured" future forms would become heavy, and stylistically awkward; so the
"scene is set" by the "marked" forms, and the more neutral will then takes their place
(cf. used to and the principle of "scene-setting", p.000).
He’s going to come tomorrow – but he won’t be staying long. He’ll be here for a
couple of days
Reading passages
The weather forecast
It will be a dry night in most parts of England. Temperature will be the seasonal
average. There will be frost in the morning, especially heavy in the North East and
Scotland. In the South East there may be patches of freezing fog in some areas near the
coast, but these will clear by midday. There will be slight rain in some parts of the
South, but this too will clear up for the afternoon. The other areas of Great Britain will
have a dry and sunny day, with temperature rising to 7°C.
Your horoscope
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
You will feel like burning bridges and expressing your opinions today, but previous
commitments and personal loyalties will dictate your actions.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Your commitments and obligations will weigh heavily today, and you will even
consider abandoning an important plan. Hold on to your money and your beliefs.
Pisces (February 20-March 20)
You may feel you have reached a crossroads in emotional or partnership matters. There
are deceptive influences which will make you miscalculate the determination of others.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
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This will be a highly-charged day emotionally, and partners won't understand either
your point of view or your feelings.
2.7. Modal shall
As we saw above, the first-person singular and plural shall as a temporal future marker
leads an uneasy existence by the side of will. The existence of the contracted form 'll
means the inevitable drift away from the prescriptive tradition which allotted shall to
the first persons, and will to the others, towards the more common and comprehensive
form 'll.
As a modal verb, shall is most used in interrogative forms with the first person singular
and plural when the modal impulse is discourse-oriented, that is, when it is oriented on
the addressee’s volition:
Shall I help you? Yes, please!
Shall we stay here? Yes, let’s!
This use corresponds to volitional will (offer) and exhortative Let’s:
I’ll help you. That’s very kind of you!
Let’s stay here!
The "necessity" use of shall in affirmative forms has been eroded away. Today, it is
used mainly in very formal contexts like legal English or religious English (The
Insured shall…, or Thou shalt not kill), unless it is in the negative, in which case it is
still used in everyday discourse:
You shan’t get away with this!
Cf. deontic be going to below)
2.7.1. Summary of meanings of shall
a. "Weak", 1st-person prediction (future)
Here, shall is no more than a "future tense":
I shall call you as soon as I arrive
We shan't have time to stay long
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b. Addressee's volition (modal)
"Necessity" coincides with the addressee's volition. Always in the interrogative form:
Shall I help you? (Do you want me to help you?)
Shall we try again? (Do you want us to try again?)
What shall it be? (What do you want it to be? What shall we drink to? See the 1984
reading passage, p. 000)
Compare Will you?:
Will you have a beer, or shall my wife make you a cup of tea?
Try applying this modal rule:
If the volition comes from the grammatical subject, use will. (Will you come?)
If the volition comes from the addressee, use shall. (Shall I invite you?)
c. "Necessity" in "frozen", formal language – legal, financial, and so on.
Here we often find a declarative affirmative shall, strongly deontic:
What is required is that the total sum shall be paid in total at the end of the tax year
Compare the use of will for formal commands, usually of a military kind:
Recruits will report for barrack duty at 0830 hours
d. Deontic negative shall not/shan’t to indicate "threat" and "promise"
You shan't get away with this!
They shan't win!
However, this meaning is now more commonly expressed in modern English by
deontic be going to or the progressive present:
You're not going to say that to me!
They're not getting away with this!
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Exercise 1
Use either will or shall in the following:
1. What (I, get) you? A whisky and soda?
2. (You, tell) me what's on your mind?
3. She's such a patient person. She (listen) to you for hours, and (never, interrupt).
4. (You, get off) my car, or (I, call) the police?
5. (You, have) a sandwich? Or (the maid, bring) you something more substantial?
6. The window's jammed. It (not, open).
7. If you (kindly, help) me, I (drag) the body into the garage.
8. (We, stay) here? Or (we, leave)?
9. I'm sure the car (hold) all seven of us.
Exercise 2
Complete the following sentences:
1. You (get) into trouble if you do that.
2. (You, please, close) that door at once!
3. It serves you right! If you (play) with fire, what do you expect?
4. What (I, get) you? A Rum and Coke?
5. The window is jammed. It (not, open).
6. (You, get) a new motor-bike? Yes, a Honda I think.
7. Let's just take this bag - it (hold) everything, I'm sure.
8. If you answer back like that I (have to) speak to your father.
9. Tell me if the others (be) there tomorrow.
3. Progressive present tense as future
The progressive present tense, used with a suitable future-time adverbial, indicates
plans, and arrangements for the (near) future:
We're leaving next week
?We're moving house in 20 years' time
3.1. Grammatical limitations on verbs
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There are strong grammatical limitations on the choice of verbs (unlike in the case of
be going to).
3.1.1. Only the sphere of human influence
Only verbs that indicate the sphere of human influence (direct or indirect) may be used;
so only human agents are possible (or human by extension):
We're having fish for dinner
The school is closing down next week
?The dog's coming out in a minute (But, Fido is having his food soon)
3.1.2. With central dynamic verbs
The main verb must be one of the central dynamic verbs like come, go, arrive, do,
leave, depart. No stative verbs are used (these are used with will and be going to):
The show's starting at 8
*It's raining tomorrow
*She's being 25 next month
3.1.3. A not-too-remote future
Furthermore, being in a present tense, the verb must not refer to a future that is too
remote. It indicates relatively certain plans, which usually imply a near future:
Where are you going tonight?
I’m working tomorrow
Compare the indication of past plans:
I was going to go to the concert, but I didn't go
They were going to the theatre tonight, but they’ve changed their minds
3.1.4. Future time adverbial necessary
A future time adverbial must be used, as with all present-tense forms of the "future", in
order to disambiguate:
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She's playing the piano
She's playing the piano at the concert tomorrow
Exercise 3
Form sentences with the following words, using the progressive present tense to
indicate plans and arrangements for the future:
1. Mary / start / school / tomorrow.
2. Mr Sachs / go / on holiday / June.
3. The Smiths / move house / Monday.
4. My sister / leave / 5 o'clock this afternoon.
5. She / get here / midnight.
6. They / go away / April 1.
7. The term / finish / summer.
8. The family / come back / a month's time.
9. He / study / tomorrow evening.
4. Be going to
She is going to do it
She is not going to do it
Is she going to do it?
Isn’t she going to do it?
(Is she not going to do it?)
Be going to is technically a semi-modal verb. But in its various meanings it is found all
over the modal diagram: the core for epistemic, and the periphery for root meanings.
Its main characteristic is "current relevance", that is, an attitude, at the moment of
utterance, to the future, or the description of present intentions, always the future seen
as oriented on the present:
It’s going to rain (epistemic)
He’s going to come tonight (root? epistemic?)
4.1. Root modal be going to
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4.1.1. Present intentions concerning the future
As a root modal, be going to indicates the grammatical subject’s present intentions
concerning the future (compare intend):
What are you going to do tomorrow? (What do you intend to do?)
I'm not going to tell you
He's going to be more careful
Here the intention is clearly on the part of the semantic "actor", the grammatical
subject of the sentence (so a dynamic verb, on the periphery).
4.1.2. Unfulfilled past intentions
Unfulfilled past intentions are expressed by the past-tense was/were going to:
I was going to take it away, but I haven't had time
4.1.3. Be going to and will - expressions of intentions (root modality)
Both be going to and will can indicate intentions. But whereas will is used for
unpremeditated intentions, sudden decisions or spontaneous offers, be going to is used
to indicate intentions already formed, premeditated intentions, not spontaneous offers.
This reflects their respective positions on the modal diagram. Will is a performative
core modal signalling spontaneous decisions (“offers”); be going to is nonperformative,
descriptive, signalling a decision already taken, and now just being
described.
The difference between the two is clear from the following example:
We haven't got any salt. Haven't we? I'll go and get some (spontaneous offer)
(cf. Shall I get some?)
We haven't got any salt. I know. I'm going to get some this afternoon
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In the first example, will is right in the middle of the performative core; be going to is
on the “descriptive” periphery.
Cf. must and have got to, for the same kind of dynamic, p. 000.
4.1.4. Will as “offer” and the progressive present as “sudden decision”
In the spontaneous “offer” meaning of the first example above, will differs from the
progressive present verb in expressions of spontaneous decision like the following:
I've had enough. I'm going (*I’ll go)
I'm not doing it, and that's final (?I’ll not go)
These affirmations of strong decision, or "plan", are unpremeditated and "sudden" like
expressions with will, but there is a difference: they contain no element of “offer”.
Don't you understand it? I'll explain again (*I'm explaining again) (offer)
Everything’s falling down here! I’m going! (*I’ll go) (sudden decision)
4.2. Epistemic be going to
In its epistemic meaning, be going to acts as a core modal and expresses a present
judgement on the part of the speaker as to the inevitability of a future event:
I'm going to be sick!
Look at the sky! It's going to rain
He drives so fast - He's going to kill himself
Contrast temporal will, which normally indicates the future as "out there", detached
from the moment of utterance and from any emotional colouring:
She'll be 30 next birthday
When you come, she'll tell you
Be going to is similar to the progressive present as future (see below), but there is an
important difference: for the progressive present, as we have seen, there are strong
grammatical limitations on the kind of verb that can be used, while be going to, given
its two meanings of root and epistemic modality, can be used with almost any kind of
verb, with or without human agency, dynamic or stative, and so on.
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The future time indicated by be going to is always "near"; indeed, be going to can
often be re-phrased approximately with be about to or be on the point of:
He is going to jump off that bridge
He is about to jump off that bridge
He is on the point of jumping off that bridge
4.3. Deontic be going to (and progressive present)
In modal terms, deontic be going to, which expresses obligation or threat or promise, is
discourse- or speaker-oriented. The modality is now very much on the part of the
speaker (command, threat):
You're going to do it again and again until you get it right!
You're going to regret saying that!
The progressive present can also be used similarly to this:
You’re not going, and that’s that!
The government is not taking away my rights!
4.4. Be going to: an "all-purpose" future
Be going to is perhaps the most widely-used indicator of the future, especially in the
spoken language. There is a reason for this. Most references to the future are
"coloured" in some way by the speaker's attitudes, and in particular in the two large
areas of awareness of others’ intentions, or the sense of the inevitability of events.
If we put together these two meanings of be going to, (root) volition of the
grammatical subject (which must be animate and personal) + the (epistemic) speaker’s
certainty of the inevitability of an event (which covers any subject), we have covered
100% of our needs! And, as we have seen above, it can also be deontic.
It is interesting to note how be going to also acts as a "predictive", "generic future"
marker, similar to will, but different in its colloquial, informal force. For example a
formal message expressed by will, as for instance a news bulletin or a weather forecast,
in informal speech will probably be re-worded with be going to, will sounding as
though the message is being quoted:
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"Tomorrow will be a hot and dry day..."
Did you hear that? It's going to be a nice day tomorrow.
Corpus findings are revealing that the distribution of be going to is increasing all the
time, even though will is still the most used modal.
Exercise 4
Transform the following in the way indicated:
1. What do you intend to do? What are you going to do?
2. Where do you intend to go?
3. Who does he intend to go with?
4. Do they intend to leave early?
5. Why does she intend to stay at home?
6. How many times do you intend to try?
7. How many people intend to come?
8. Who intends to help me?
9. What time does the electrician intend to arrive?
Exercise 5
Complete the exercise in the way indicated, to express current orientation:
1. Look at the sky! (rain) It's going to rain!
2. The ship is rolling. (be sick)
3. That tree is dead. (fall)
4. That plane is flying too low. (crash)
5. He drinks too much. (ruin his liver)
6. She drives too carelessly. (kill)
7. There's a hole in the boat. (sink)
8. We haven't done enough work on this. (fail the exam)
9. We've missed out half the syllabus. (do the exams again)
Exercise 6
Use either will or be going to to indicate spontaneous offers (will) or descriptions of
intention (be going to), or a sense of inevitability (be going to):
1. Waiter, there's a fly in my soup. One moment, sir. I (take) it out.
2. I've got rats in the garage. I (bring) my cat. She (get) rid of them.
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3. Peter (get married) to my sister. Really? I (bring) some flowers.
4. I (look) for my camera. Why? (You, use) it in this light?
5. I (get) some cigarettes. Oh really? I need some, too.
I (get) some for you, if you like.
6. I want a fishing-rod. I (lend) you mine. Where (you, fish)?
7. I (not, drive). It's too slippery. I (drive) if you like.
8. (You, eat) all that? It's much too heavy. Yes, you're right. I (eat) only half of it.
9. (You, jump) off that wall? Yes, why?
You (kill) yourself) We (see).
5. Simple present tense as future
The simple aspect of the present tense is mostly used to indicate timetable futures or
definite fixed plans for the future, or to indicate that the event in question is
unalterably fixed in advance, or immutable. Time adverbials must always be used:
The train leaves at 9.30
The show starts tomorrow night
She gives her first lesson next week
It is typical of radio and TV broadcasting:
Roger Norrington, who conducts this evening’s concert, is here in the studio
Next week we look into the influence of music on the visual arts
5.1. Italian presente indicativo and modal meanings
The Italian presente indicativo often has a modal meaning, usually expressing requests
and offers. This never corresponds to a simple present tense in English. The English
present tense only indicates time:
Te lo mando? Shall I send it to you?
Ti aiuto se vuoi. I’ll help you if you like.
Vieni con noi? No, rimango qui. Are you coming with us? No, I’m staying / I’ll
stay here.
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The only exception is when the present tense neutralizes an existing modal
"addressee’s volition" sense, to give a sense of “emptiness”, even despair:
E adesso cosa facciamo?What do we do now? (cf. What shall we do now?)
dove andiamo adesso? Where do we go from here? (cf. Where shall we go from
here?)
Exercise 7
Translate:
1. Dove vai? Vado a casa. Vieni con me?
2. Attento! Cadi!
3. Le porto la borsa, signora. Grazie giovanotto!
4. Me ne vado. Qui cade tutto!
5. Chi è? Siamo noi. Vieni giù? No, rimango qui. Venite su voi!
6. Ti metto un cerotto. Grazie!
7. Cosa facciamo? Usciamo? Sì, andiamo al cinema.
8. Cosa prendi? Prendo quello che prendi tu. Va bene un Martini?
9. Mi tieno questo mentre lo chiudo?
6. Progressive will (shall) future
The progressive will (shall) future is formed by adding the participial -ing form of the
main lexical verb to the auxiliary verb phrase will (shall) be:
will (shall) + -ing form of the main verb (participial)
They will be working
They will not be working
Will they be working?
Won’t they be working?
(Will they not be working?)
The progressive will future has a literal temporal meaning, and an extended meaning,
in which interpersonal relationships, and the pragmatics of discourse, come strongly
into play.
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6.1. Progressive will (shall) future with a literal meaning
Used for actions or processes in progress in the future, the progressive aspect creates,
as always with progressive aspect, a “time frame":
At this time tomorrow it will be raining
While you are working tomorrow, I shall be sunbathing
The children will already be sleeping when you get back
6.2. Progressive will (shall) future with an extended meaning
The progressive aspect indicates the future “as-a-matter-of-course”. It is also a
disambiguating agent: it eliminates any residual "volitional" meaning inherent in
simple will. It is perhaps the best example of a "pure" future. The speaker does not
commit him/herself: all the "coloured" future meanings, especially that of volition, are
neutralized, thus making the progressive will future sound matter-of-fact and casual,
just an indication of an agenda:
I shan't see my students tomorrow (a refusal?)
I shan't be seeing my student tomorrow (circumstances compel)
Will you come on Monday? (a request?)
Will you be coming on Monday? (Is that part of the agenda? Progressive aspect
neutralizes volitional meanings)
I'm going to see him tomorrow (my intention)
I'll be seeing him tomorrow (as a matter of course, I see him every day, - the sense of
intention is weak)
By extension, progressive will can be used as a "distancing", "polite" form:
Will you do that? (a request? a veiled command?)
Are you going to do that? (I want to know about your intentions)
But,
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Will you be doing that next week? (I don't want to intrude and ask you about your
plans or intentions)
Will you be paying that money? (Are you going to pay? would sound brusque and
rude)
Exercise 8
Use the progressive will future in the way indicated:
1. I'm studying German. I'll probably still be studying German at this time next year
2. It's raining.
3. She's learning that piece by Stravinsky.
4. They're living in a caravan.
5. She's working for the BBC.
6. I'm wasting my time.
7. They are doing nothing.
8. We are trying to resolve the problem.
9. He's making a boat.
Exercise 9
Use a suitable will form, with either simple or progressive aspect:
1. When they arrive I (work).
2. I (wait) for you when you come out.
3. I (wait) for you when I come out.
4. Hurry up! Everyone (wait).
5. When we get back, they (all, shout) at us.
6. All right, I (go) and see him; what do you think he (say)?
7. I've got mice in the house. Soon they (come) into the kitchen.
8. I (not, teach) next week. I (drink) coffee in a Paris bar.
9. I (give) her your regards. I (see) her tonight.
7. Perfective will (shall) have
Perfective will (shall) have is formed by adding the past participle (simple or
progressive) of the main verb to the perfective will (shall) have; the progressive aspect
by adding the -ing form of the lexical verb to future perfective form of be:
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will (shall) have + past participle of the main verb
will (shall) have been + -ing form of the main verb
simple aspect progressive aspect
They will have come They will have been waiting
They won't have come They won't have been waiting
Will they have come? Will they have been waiting?
Won’t they have come? Won’t they have been waiting?
(Will they not have come? Will they not have been waiting?)
7.1. Will (shall) have as "prediction"
Will (shall) have indicates events or actions which will already be in progress or
completed at some point in the future:
By that time I may be dead, or I shall have become a different person, with a different
face
By next year they will have been here for 10 years
By the end of this week they will have been working for three months
7.2. Will have as "predictability" (epistemic will)
Will have is also the perfective form of epistemic will:
You will have heard rumours of the existence of that society
If they're in the garden they will have been playing with the goat again
If he went to that school he will have learnt discipline
(See also epistemic forms of will, p.000)
Exercise 10
Transform the following in the way indicated:
1. Finish it and then I'll tell you if it's right.
When you've finished it I'll tell you if it's right.
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I won't tell you if it's right until you've finished it.
2. You do it and then I'll correct it.
3. You play it first and then I'll sing it.
4. You pack it up and I'll post it.
5. You decide the date and I'll tell them.
6. You write the book and I'll publish it.
7. You eat it and I'll tell you what's in it.
8. You shut your eyes and I'll lead you to the place.
9. You promise to keep it a secret and I'll tell you.
8. Indications of future time
8.1. Future time adverbials
Typical adverbials of future time include:
in a minute / moment / second / a day's / week's time / in
three months' time
at 5 o'clock / 6.30 / midnight / noon / midday / night
on Monday / Tuesday / the 5th of February /
Friday night / Saturday morning
in the
this morning / afternoon / evening
tonight / tomorrow night / Friday night / Saturday afternoon
8.2. Subordinate time clauses with future reference
The present tense is used in the subordinate clauses:
If you don't hurry I shall have to do it myself (temporal)
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unless will is being used with a "strong", volitive modal meaning:
We’ll help you if only you’ll let us
If you won't behave yourselves, I will have to report you
Cf. the present perfect. Will have, in the same way as will, is not used in the
subordinate clause:
When we've finished, we'll go and have an ice-cream
When you've been doing this as long as I have, you know what I mean!
But see be going to, which may indicate intention in the subordinate clause:
If you're not going to behave yourselves, I’m going to have to report you
If you're going to get the Beethoven sonatas, make sure you buy the Backhaus edition
8.3. Time clause subordinators
The most common future-time clause subordinators are:
when, as, while, before, after, as soon as, until (till)
when we arrive
as we are leaving
while we are here
before we leave
It will happen
after we have left
as soon as we go
until we stop it
8.3.1. As long as and until
The difference between the two subordinators as long as and until (till) (finché) is
crucial:
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The wolves will not attack as long as the fire is alight
until (till) the fire goes out
As long as there is life, there is hope
8.4. The importance of aspect
Progressive aspect may be used in both main and subordinate clauses (remember the
whole verb system rests on the simple and progressive aspects: you must choose the
correct aspect at all times):
If he's reading when you arrive, don't disturb him
I won't speak to them unless they are behaving themselves
While you are working, I shall be sleeping
While he cuts the grass, she will pick the flowers
This engine won't work properly until the car is moving
Reading passage
Nineteen Eighty-Four.
(Winston, the main character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, is being
briefed by O’Brien as to the terms of his membership of a secret society inside the
totalitarian state.
Notice the dry and matter-of-fact tone, and how O'Brien's weariness, and his desire to
convince Winston of the uselessness of all resistance, is brought over by the
unemotional, matter-of-fact, resigned will-forms.)
"You understand that you will be fighting in the dark. You will always be in the dark.
You will receive orders and you will obey them, without knowing why. Later I shall
send you a book from which you will learn the true nature of the society we live in,
and the strategy by which we shall destroy it. When you have read the book, you will
be a full member of the Brotherhood. I tell you the Brotherhood exists, but I cannot tell
you whether it numbers a hundred members or even a million. From your own personal
knowledge you will never be able to say how many it numbers. You will have three or
four contacts, who will be renewed from time to time as they disappear. As this was
your first contact, it will be preserved. When you receive orders they will come from
me. If we find it necessary to communicate with you, it will be through Martin. When
you are finally caught, you will confess. That is unavoidable. But you will have very
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little to confess, other than your own actions. You will not be able to betray more than
a handful of unimportant people. Probably you will not even betray me. By that time I
may be dead, or I shall have become a different person, with a different face.
You will have heard rumours of the existence of the Brotherhood. … The Brotherhood
cannot be destroyed because it is not an organization in the ordinary sense. Nothing
holds it together except an idea, which is indestructible. You will never have anything
to sustain you, except the idea. You will get no comradeship and no encouragement.
When finally you are caught, you will get no help. We never help our members. You
will have to get used to living without results and without hope. You will work for a
while, you will be caught, you will confess, and then you will die. Those are the only
results that you will ever see. There is no possibility that any perceptible change will
happen within our own lifetime. We are the dead. Our only true life is in the future.
We shall take part in it as handfuls of dust and splinters of bone. But how far away
that future may be, there is no knowing. It might be a thousand years. At present
nothing is possible except to extend the area of sanity little by little. We cannot act
collectively. We can only spread out our knowledge from individual to individual,
generation after generation. In the face of the Thought Police there is no other way."
He halted and looked for the third time at his wristwatch.
"It's almost time for you to leave, comrade," he said. "Wait. The decanter is still halffull."
He filled the glasses, and raised his own glass by the stem.
"What shall it be this time?" he said, still with the same faint suggestion of irony. "To
the confusion of the Thought Police? To the death of Big Brother? To humanity? To
the future?"
"To the past," said Winston.
"The past is more important," agreed O'Brien gravely.
George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four
Exercise 11
Transform the following in the way indicated:
1. He'll come and then he'll tell us. As soon as / When he comes, he will tell us
2.The train will arrive and we'll get on it.
3.The bus will stop and we'll jump off.
4. They'll tell us and so we'll know.
5. The children will get here and we'll shout at them.
6. She'll hear about it and she'll be sorry.
7. He'll drink that awful medicine and he'll feel sick.
8. I'll realize, but then it will be too late.
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9. They'll press the knob and nothing will happen.
Exercise 12
Transform the following in the way indicated:
1. He'll do it only when she comes He won't do it until / till she comes
2. It will happen only when they want it to happen.
3. She'll ask you only when she feels secure.
4. The boys will come only when the work is finished.
5. Mr Bailey will mend the roof only when the house gets flooded.
6. Mrs Locke will hang out the washing only when it is dry.
7. That dog will bite you only when you provoke it.
8. Those cats will scratch you only when you try to play with them
9. Your children will obey you only when they respect you.
Exercise 13
Insert one of the following time-clause subordinators - as long as, as soon as, until -
and make any other changes necessary:
1. They won't get in ... we (keep) the doors locked.
2. The wolves won't attack ... we (put) the fire out.
3. They'll attack ... we (put) the fire out.
4. ... these things (go on), the country (go) from bad to worse.
5. ... these things (stop), the country will go on getting worse.
6. ... these things (stop), everything (be) better.
7. The students won't pay attention ... the lessons (be) so boring.
8. The students won't pay attention ... the lessons (get) better.
9. ... you pull your socks up, young man, you (not, get) anywhere!
Exercise 14
Instructions as above:
1. Someone's knocking. It (be) the postman.
2. (You, let) me know soon if you (buy) that radio, because if you ... (not), I (sell) it to
someone else.
3. Be careful, or I (lose) my temper.

4. Look out! You (fall)!

5. (We, stay) here? Or (we, move on)?
6. I feel dizzy - I (fall). wait a minute - I (get) you a chair.
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7. If you (kindly, help) me sir, we (pull) the body inside.
8. If you (please, stop) making that din I (tell) you what our plans are.
9. (You, marry) me, darling? I (marry) you only if my mother (come) to live with us.
Exercise 15
Transform the following into a passive form, using the auxiliaries in brackets:
1. When it is finished it ...(sell). (will)
2. (It, be) ready for tomorrow? (going to)
3. When (the house, clean)? (going to)
4. What time (the milk, deliver) (will)
5. (That poor animal, kill)? (going to)
6. Jones (chose) for the job. (prog. present)
7. The cows (milk) at 6 tomorrow morning. (prog. present)
8. Then they (take) out into the fields. (prog. present)
9. They (inform) of every move we make. (will)