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future tense

American  
[fyoo-cher tens] / ˈfju tʃər ˈtɛns /
future

noun

Grammar.
future tenses plural
  1. in English, the simple future.

  2. any verb formation or construction used to express an action or state that is to occur at a time after the present, such as, in English, the future perfect or future progressive tenses.

  3. an instance or form of a verb expressing an action or state that is to occur at a time after the present.

    “I will go” is the first person singular future tense of “go.”

    Find all the future tenses in the following paragraph.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of future tense

First recorded in 1550–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In post-interviews, contestants are asked to answer questions in past, present and future tense.

From Seattle Times Dec. 1, 2023

The text next to an image of Halley’s Comet refers to its 1986 appearance in the future tense.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 3, 2023

This Is the process whereby pain of the past in its pastness May be converted into the future tense.

From Salon Sep. 17, 2022

"In previous reports, we've been largely talking about the impacts of climate in the future tense," Professor Emma Johnston, another report chief author, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2022

If you’re uncomfortably on the spot about something in the past, move to the future tense.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

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