[Grammar] Future tense

[albeit]

I came across this Language Log entry and I thought it contained a number of excellent points regarding language. One, the main focus is something that students often raise, "Does English have a future tense?"

The title is also intriguing considering traditional grammar's prohibition against using 'which' with people.

THE LORD WHICH WAS AND IS

Language Log: The Lord which was and is

[ymnisky]

Originally Posted by albeit

I came across this Language Log entry and I thought it contained a number of excellent points regarding language. One, the main focus is something that students often raise, "Does English have a future tense?"

The title is also intriguing considering traditional grammar's prohibition against using 'which' with people.

THE LORD WHICH WAS AND IS

Language Log: The Lord which was and is

Very interesting Albeit, thank you.

It is something I will keep on thinking about for some time, for sure.

[soutter]

English has only two tenses: the simple present and past.

All the others are really compound tenses.

‘So what?’ I hear!

Well, it makes a big difference: let’s not forget that it is in these two tenses when using their negative and interrogative forms that we have to use the auxiliary verb do.

All the other tenses (and I include the present and past continuous tenses) just need a not after the auxiliary verb and an inversion of the usual order of pronoun and auxiliary verb for the negative and interrogative forms respectively.

I understand – I do not understand – do I understand?

I understood – I did not understand – did I understand?

I have understood – I have not understood – have I understood?

I will understand – I will not understand – will I understand?

[soutter]

As for 'the Lord which,' Biblical English (KJV) does not recognise today’s distinction between who for people and which for things.