future tense formation
Answers
Answer:
When the activity you describe isn’t happening right now (present tense) and didn’t happen yesterday (past tense), perhaps it’ll take place tomorrow (future tense).
Other Ways of Expressing Futurity
♦ In English, we have several ways of expressing futurity. We can use the present tense and write:
♣ Tip-off is tonight at 7:00 on ESPN. The game begins tomorrow night.
♦ Or we can use what’s called the present-progressive tense and write:
♣ The game is being televised tonight at 7:00 on ESPN.
♦ Or we can turn to a variety of verb combinations and write,
♣ The game is about to be broadcast. The game is going to be broadcast.
♦ Or in the South, where I come from:
♣ The game’s fixin’ to be broadcast.
All these, and more, can show the future.
Explanation:
Forming the Future Tense
The future tense that we remember from grade school, however, is the one formed with the words shall and will. For most writing in American English, we simply insert the verb will before the base infinitive verb and produce the future tense in all persons—singular and plural. If you want to form the future tense of write for the first person in most writing that uses American English, then say:
I will write the book. (singular) We will write the book. (plural)
At least that’s the American rule.
If you live in England or other British Commonwealth country, if you wish to speak or write British English, or if you routinely want to produce a highly formal tone, then you should use shall to form the future tense in the first person. Thus:
I shall write the book. (singular) We shall write the book. (plural)