Future with article or without article ?

[mikko4]

Hi,
could you please tell what are differencies between "the future" "a future" and "future" without article and possibly give examples so I can imagine the usuage of the word in particular sentence.

For example what would be the best choice in this sentence: [FONT=&quot]The mother (the mother, because she is mentioned before in text that I didn't paste here) immediately begins to plan a/the/-/ future for her children.

Thank you very much in advance.


[/FONT]

 

[Anglika]

Welcome to the forums.

Hi,
could you please tell what are differencies between "the future" "a future" and "future" without article and possibly give examples so I can imagine the usuage of the word in particular sentence.

For example what would be the best choice in this sentence: [FONT=&quot]The mother (the mother, because she is mentioned before in text that I didn't paste here) immediately begins to plan a/the/-/ future for her children.

Thank you very much in advance.


[/FONT]

In your sentence, "a future" means there could be more than one choice of future; "the future" means that the mother considers there is only one way forward for her children. You would not have zero article in this context.

"In future, you will do as you are told"/"The children saw that in future they must obey" = "In future" is a common collocation, and indicates from this point on in time.

"We have no future in this situation." = we cannot expect to continue with whatever it is

 

[mikko4]

Thank you very much it was helpful