have to/will have to

[diamondcutter]

Come on, Emily. That’s our plane. We’ll have to run.

We’ve only got enough food and water for three days, so you’ll have to work quickly, Diggory.

Source: Kid’s Box 6, an English textbook for children, CUP

In these two examples, I think the ‘will’ in ‘will have to’ could be omitted. Could you tell me the difference between ‘have to’ and ‘will have to’ in these two examples?

 

[emsr2d2]

"Will" is included because the running and the working haven't started yet so they are still in the future, albeit (certainly in the case of the first example), the very near future.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, Emsr.

I think ‘have to’ can also indicate the sense of future. For example, I’m sorry I have to go. It’s not necessary to say I’m sorry I’ll have to go. Am I right?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks, Emsr2d2.

I think ‘have to’ can also indicate the sense of future. For example, I’m sorry. I have to go. It’s not necessary to say I’m sorry. I’ll have to go. Am I right?

"I'm sorry. I'll have to go" isn't natural. It's a different scenario. The "having to go" is happening right now.

Also, it might help if you think about the first two examples as a type of conditional.

1. We'll have to run if we are going to catch the plane.
2. You'll have to work quickly if you don't want to run out of food and water.

With "I have to go", there is no "if" involved. It's a simple statement of fact.

 

[jutfrank]

Hmm. I'm not sure I agree with emsr2d2 that both these wills express futurity. There is certainly likely to be a sense of futurity in the second example, but I can't see it in the first. I'd really expect the first sentence to be We have to run, stating a simple fact of the matter.

 

[Morgan]

Hey there,
As far as I'm not a teacher, I'm not sure if it's right:lol:
But isn't that about the First Conditional where if-clause is omitted?
Like, If you don't hurry, We’ll have to run.

 

[GoesStation]

Hey there,
As far as I'm not a teacher, I'm not sure if it's right:lol:
But isn't that about the First Conditional where if-clause is omitted?
Like, If you don't hurry, We’ll have to run.

Hi, and welcome to the forum. :hi:

Please correct the information in your profile. Your native language is clearly not English, and you aren't in France.