Expressing the future
by Ann Langton ©
It is disconcerting for the student of English, when he has mastered the conjugation of the simple future tense, to find that English people appear to do their best to avoid it. Certainly in conversational English there is a choice of alternatives which are perfectly good English. Perhaps it is because meanings other then futurity have attached themselves to will and shall, perhaps it is because idiom once again triumphed over grammar. A close look at everyday usage of the various future forms is especially worthwhile to the advanced student.
Consider first the future which simply states what we expect to happen: I shall, you (singular and plural) will, he will, we shall, they will. A tourist might say: “We'll see windmills and tulips in Holland,” or, “It will be hot and sunny in Italy.” Notice the contraction which is often used: “I will” and “I shall” both become “I'll”, a useful point if you're doubtful about what auxiliary to choose!
SHALL, however, is used in all persons when there is a sense of promise. “Cinderella shall go to the ball,” cries the fairy-godmother in the fairy-tale. “You shall have an ice-cream if you are good,” says a mother to her small child.
Sometimes, too, shall expresses the idea of “should”, “ought”, even “must” in the sense of obligation. “Shall I get you some aspirin for your headache?” “We gave decided you shall accompany us.”
“Shall I?” is generally a polite way of asking, “Would you like me to?” The negative is stringer: “I shan't” means that I refuse, and “he shan't” means that I refuse permission for him to do something.
WILL, as used in all persons, is better understood if you recall that our will (noun) is our faculty for decision. It is this idea that intrudes on that pure futurity.
By stressing the auxiliary we can suggest the exercising of the will to the point of obstinacy. “She will telephone me at mealtimes.” “The children will leave their toys all over the floor.” It is similarly emphasised to express determination. “I will work harder and do better at school.” “We will have a good holiday this year.”
“Will” can also be used to indicate willingness. “I'll come to the theatre with you.” “They'll do what they can to help him.”
Returning to the expression of the future in terms of time only, what does then an English speaker do? One solution is to use the present continuous tense and couple with it a word or a phrase that places the action in the future. “I am seeing my dentist tomorrow.” “She is returning to Hungary when she has finished her studies in England.” In cases like the latter sentence, where two future clauses are joined by when (as here), until, if and so on, the second must be in the present or present perfect tense. “We shall have a picnic if the weather stays fine.”
When there is an implication that some arrangement has been made, the simple present tense can be used. “The play opens on 30 September.” “John comes to stay with us next month.” Again, specific reference to the future makes all clear. This is not a very common form, however.
Lastly, you can employ go to express the future, and this usage is becoming increasingly popular. “I'm going to get up early tomorrow.” “John is going to see his boss about a rise.” Here again the idea of intention has crept in. I intend to get up early. John intends to see his boss about an increase in pay.
It is as if the very nature of the future, its uncertainty and its dependence on circumstances both within and outside our control, conspire to prevent its fitting neatly into any simple grammatical slot. A