[General] I thought I'd have a family by now.

[kompstar]

Are the sentences below correct?

1. I thought I'd have a family by now. < -Am I right the sentence refers to the present?
2. I think I will have a family by now. <- Am I right the sentence refers to the future?

 

[kompstar]

And If I would say:

1) "I think I will have a family up to then." ?
2) "I think I will be have a family up to then." ?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think #1 would be correct if 'by then' was used instead of 'up to then'.

 

[kompstar]

OK. And if I would use "utnil then" instead of "by then" e.g. I think I will have a family until then. Would it be correct, too?

 

[MikeNewYork]

No.

 

[emsr2d2]

I thought I would have a family by now. (Refers to the present.)
I thought I would have a family by then. (Refers to the past.)
I think I will have a family by then. (Refers to the future.)

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think I will have a family until then.

Could it mean 'I think I will have lost my family by then'?

 

[emsr2d2]

No. It's an unnatural sentence but I'll have a go at making an unlikely argument for it.

I plan to get married and have two children. However, my children will have moved out and I will be divorced from my wife by 2027. So I think I will have a family until then. (then = 2027)