Future Tense vs. Past Future

Attribute	Future Tense	Past Future
Time Frame	Refers to actions that will happen in the future	Refers to actions that were planned or expected to happen in the future from a past perspective
Verb Form	Uses auxiliary verbs like "will" or "shall" followed by the base form of the verb	Uses auxiliary verbs like "would" or "was/were going to" followed by the base form of the verb
Example	I will go to the store tomorrow.	I was going to go to the store yesterday.

Introduction

When it comes to discussing time in language, two common tenses that are often compared are the future tense and the past future tense. Both tenses are used to talk about events that have not yet happened, but there are key differences in how they are formed and the nuances they convey. In this article, we will explore the attributes of both tenses and compare their usage in different contexts.

Formation

The future tense is typically formed by using the auxiliary verb "will" or "shall" followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, "I will go to the store tomorrow." In contrast, the past future tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb "would" or "should" followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, "I would have gone to the store yesterday if I had the time." The use of "would" or "should" in the past future tense indicates that the action was conditional or hypothetical.

Usage

The future tense is commonly used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future. It is often used to make predictions, state intentions, or talk about scheduled events. For example, "She will graduate next year." On the other hand, the past future tense is used to talk about hypothetical or imagined events that could have happened in the past but did not actually occur. For example, "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."

Expressing Probability

One key difference between the future tense and the past future tense is how they express probability. The future tense is often used to express certainty or high probability about future events. For example, "It will rain tomorrow." In contrast, the past future tense is used to express lower probability or uncertainty about hypothetical events in the past. For example, "If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a new car."

Conveying Politeness

Another difference between the future tense and the past future tense is how they convey politeness in language. The future tense is often used to make polite requests or offers. For example, "Will you please pass the salt?" On the other hand, the past future tense is used to express polite hypothetical situations or regrets. For example, "I would have helped you if I had known you needed assistance."

Narrating Stories

Both the future tense and the past future tense can be used in storytelling, but they convey different tones and perspectives. The future tense is often used to create a sense of immediacy and excitement in storytelling. For example, "The hero will defeat the villain and save the day." In contrast, the past future tense is used to create a reflective or regretful tone in storytelling. For example, "If only I had known the truth, I would have acted differently."

Conclusion

In conclusion, the future tense and the past future tense are two important tenses in language that are used to talk about events that have not yet happened. While the future tense is used to talk about future events with certainty or probability, the past future tense is used to talk about hypothetical or imagined events in the past. Understanding the differences between these two tenses can help language learners communicate effectively and convey the right nuances in their speech and writing.