present perfect for future

[lycen]

In the near future, we'll see what he has done.

Does present perfect here refer to the future and not the past in such a context? I've checked my grammar books but none could help me in verifying this.

Thank you.

 

[Barb_D]

It is referring to a time in the future when what he does will be in the past.

You don't know if he has already done it now, and you are just waiting for a time in the future to see what it is, OR
If he is currently working on it, and in the future, you'll see it completed, OR
If he hasn't started yet, and in the future you'll see it completed, OR
Any of these things and it will still be a work in progress then.

Since it says "near future" I would guess that whatever it is, it's already done, and very soon you'll see what.

 

[lycen]

It is referring to a time in the future when what he does will be in the past.

You don't know if he has already done it now, and you are just waiting for a time in the future to see what it is, OR
If he is currently working on it, and in the future, you'll see it completed, OR
If he hasn't started yet, and in the future you'll see it completed, OR
Any of these things and it will still be a work in progress then.

Since it says "near future" I would guess that whatever it is, it's already done, and very soon you'll see what.

So are you saying it is context specific and that basically it may mean "we'll see what he has done(now)" or "we'll see what he has done(then)"?

 

[Barb_D]

At that time, we'll see what he has done. It's simply not known what has been done NOW.

 

[lycen]

At that time, we'll see what he has done. It's simply not know what has been done NOW.

Do you mean that "has done" is referring to the future just as how present tense is used for the future in "we'll see how it goes"?

 

[Barb_D]

I'm no longer sure what you are asking.

Some test is running tonight. Tomorrow we will review the results to see if we need to make changes to our process. Someone suggests we should change the process now. I think we should wait until we see the results.

Let's wait until to tomorrow when we can see how it's going. (The overall, on-going process, not the test.)
Let's wait until tomorrow when we can see how it went. (The test)
Let's wait until tomorrow and we can see how it goes. (The entire situation)

 

[Tdol]

Do you mean that "has done" is referring to the future just as how present tense is used for the future in "we'll see how it goes"?

I think it could mean either that he has already done it but we won't be able to see it yet, or that we will see the results of an action not done yet.