English has no future tense.” How then can we speak or write in English about the future?

... 1. English has no future tense." How then can we speak or write in English about the future? Introduction Despite the fact that for several decades linguistic analysis has supported that English has no future tense, people, even native English speakers, tend to consider this at least unacceptable. 'How then can we speak or write in English about the future?', is the most common response. Are there indeed any languages that lack specific tenses or even don't have tenses at all? And if so, then how is time indicated? Tense Vs Time The first thing we need to do is establish the definition of and consequently the distinction between these two terms. 'Tense' refers to the inflected forms in the conjugation of a verb, such as past or present, as well as the continuance or completion of the particular action or state; it indicates time, but it is not the time reference.

want to read more? →