English Language: Expressing Future Time, Dispense di Lingua Inglese

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Lingua Inglese B

Forms of the Future

Lesson 7 – 21 March 2019

Future time: Definitions

English grammar provides a number of ways to indicate the future nature of an occurrence. Some argue that English does not have a future tense—that is, a grammatical form that always indicates futurity—nor does it have a mandatory form for the expression of futurity. However, there are several generally accepted ways to indicate futurity in English, and some of them—particularly those that use will or shall —are frequently described as future tense. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_tense

Future time: Definitions

"[T]he future^ tense^ has a different status from the other tenses. Rather than being a form of the verb, it is expressed by the modal auxiliary will. It's no accident that the future shares its syntax with words for necessity ( must ), possibility ( can, may, might ), and moral obligation ( should, ought to ), because what will happen is conceptually related to what must happen, what can happen, what should happen, and what we intend to happen. The word will itself is ambiguous between future tense and an expression of determination (as in Sharks or no sharks, I will swim to Alcatraz ), and its homonyms show up in free will, strong-willed , and to will something to happen. The same ambiguity between the future and the intended can be found in another marker for the future tense, going to or gonna. It's as if the language is affirming the ethos that people have the power to make their own futures.” Steven Pinker, The Stuff of Thought. Viking, 2007

Ways to refer to Future time

Simple Present:

• The company board meets tomorrow at 3.00 pm.
• Interest is paid at the end of each month.

Function: a scheduled, often repeated event

Ways to refer to Future time

Be to/Be about to:

• Twenty-five junior managers are to be promoted next week.
• The company is about to make a major investment.

Function: realisation of a previous decision

Ways to refer to Future time

Going to/Planning to/Intending to/Expecting to:

• A new headquarters is going to be built next year. We are planning to

expand into Asia.

• We are intending to recruit 100 new staff.
• We are expecting to make a substantial profit.

Function: a programmed objective that is likely to happen

Ways to refer to Future time

Hope to/Mean to/Would like to:

• We hope to reduce costs considerably.
• We mean to fight the hostile takeover bid.
• We would like to set up a joint venture.

Function: a desire for the future

Ways to refer to Future time

May, Might:

• Prices may increase in the third quarter.
• Unemployment might decline towards the end of the year.

Function: indication of level of probability of a future occurrence

Ways to refer to Future time

Must:

• Sales must expand in the coming year if we are to survive.

Function: indication of level of probability (obligation) of a future

occurrence

Ways to refer to Future time

Shall, Should:

• Shall we ask for a bank loan?
• We should consider the possibility of reducing expenses.

Function: suggestions/recommendations for future action

Ways to refer to Future time

Will:

• Next year, I think your contract will be renewed.
• I will contact you tomorrow.
• We will offer better conditions.
• Will you let me know what you think?
• If I can help, I will.

Function: predictions and promises about the future (probability);

willingness

Future time: usage examples in business communication

Mission and Vision statements

Presentations

Vision Statements

Five years from now, Paula’s will be rated as a “five star” restaurant in the Greater Toronto area by consistently providing the combination of perfectly prepared food and outstanding service that creates an extraordinary dining experience. Within the next five years, Metromanage.com will become a leading provider of management software to North American small businesses by providing customizable, user-friendly software scaled to small business needs. https://www.thebalance.com/vision-statement- 2947999

Amazon

Amazon’s mission statement (^) is: “ We strive to offer our customers the lowest possible prices, the best available selection, and the utmost convenience. ” Amazon’s vision statement (^) is “ To be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. ” http://panmore.com/amazon-com-inc-vision-statement-mission-statement- analysis