future tense

Share on Facebook

Lynn3

#333638 Tue, 27 Feb 07 08:10 AM

It is Rachel's birthday tomorrow and I have not bought her a present.

In this sentence tells about future, but why is it used present tense?

Thanks,

Lynn

Lynn3

Joined on Fri, Aug 19 2005

Taiwan

Full Member (135)

Inchoateknowledge

#333643 Tue, 27 Feb 07 09:20 AM

In main clauses with time adverbials (tomorrow) we use simple present to denote something is certain to happen in the future.

Inchoateknowledge

Joined on Wed, May 3 2006

Senior Member (2,536)

Beep! Beep! :)

Simple present, Clauses

Yoong Liat

#333646 Tue, 27 Feb 07 09:23 AM

Lynn3 wrote:

It is Rachel's birthday tomorrow and I have not bought her a present.

In this sentence tells about future, but why is it used present tense?

Thanks,

Lynn

A verb in the present tense can be used to refer to the future.

Besides your sentence, you can say, "I shall be 12 tomorrow." Or you can say, "I am 12 tomorrow."

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,085)

Yoong Liat

Verbs, Tenses, Present tenses

Fleder_m@u_S

#333649 Tue, 27 Feb 07 09:38 AM

Lynn3 wrote:
It is Rachel's birthday tomorrow and I have not bought her a present.

In this sentence tells about future, but why is it used present tense?

Hi Lynn

This is because the difference between tenses and time, I mean... the name of a verb tense with the way we use it to talk about time. A present tense does not always refer to present time as well as a past tense does not always refer to past time...ect.
For examble:
- I hope it rains tomorrow.
"rains" is present simple, but it refers here to future time (tomorrow)
- He takes the exam tomorrow.

I hope this explaination can help you to some extent...And thank you because I could also review something I might forget since I left high school.