Does the English language have a future – tense, that is? Most grammarians keep things simple and answer yes. A few, though, see the future as an aspect of present tense, based on the fact that the verb form does not change in a sentence about what has yet to happen, as it does when, for example, “walk” turns into “walked” in a sentence about the past. To talk about the future, the main verb simply acquires “shall” or “will” — helping verbs, in this sort of analysis.
For the record, I think future tense does exist. But I’m intrigued by the philosophical implications of the other way of thinking – that the future, as we conceive it, is solely an aspect of what is happening right now. From that perspective, present actions carry more weight. Or, as thousands upon thousands of coffee mugs put it, “The past is gone. The future has yet to come. Only the present moment is real.” Or something like that.
I thought about future tense when I encountered this sign in the emergency entrance to a hospital:
Will be.
As everyone who’s ever rushed to an emergency room knows, ten minutes of terror precede five hours or so of tedium (if you’re lucky). So I had a lot of time to think about the statement that “the nursing station will be on the left.” Why not “is”? Why future tense? Are workers scurrying around with hammers and dry wall, constructing the nursing station as you open the door?
Eventually I realized that the sign speaks to the state of mind of the people who are reading it. Most likely they’re scared because of what’s happening in the present moment and hoping that the moments, hours, days or even years to come will be better. No general-purpose sign can promise that everything will be all right — not in a hospital. Uncertainty is king. But the sign supplies one small concrete truth to hang onto. Follow the hallway, and the nursing station — and the help it provides — will be on the left. Not much, maybe, but in that moment, that present moment, enough to keep you going.
Love your reading of that sign, especially that frenzied activity before my elevator arrives! I read it as an elliptical conditional: [If] you do this it will [would?] be on your left/right/straight ahead. (I once suggested to Tek that beginning a sentence with “hopefully” was an elliptical expression for “speaking hopefully”; he considered it for about fifteen seconds (which I took to be a minor victory) before saying “no” and leaving the mailroom.
Italians have an interesting relationship to their future tense: the sign is perfectly grammatical in Italian – the future can stand for the conditional any time (though im not sure about formal writing). It also can express probability: “I’ll be home early after work” (but don’t hold dinner!).
However, they can be sticklers for the subjunctive, and there are three past tenses – perfect, imperfect and one (passato remoto) reserved for historical use. If you use it, say, to say you got married it implies you are now divorced. Best saved for Julius Caesar & friends!
Tek was wrong; you were right.
I agree with Bill Cooper (HM alum); you were right about “hopefully” and Tek was wrong. The term I’ve heard for such usage is “sentence adverb.” Also, love the “passato remote.” I can think of a few events I’d like to see in the “done, over, history!” category.
I see it as the sign pointing the way for the journey (journey…gurney… hmm) you’re about to undertake. if you turn here, this place will be there. Much like a GPS making a promise to you. 🙂
The GPS analogy is perfect. Thanks, Ellie.
I love your soulful reading.
Thanks, Bill!