Relative Future Tense
Relative Future Tense
Relative future tense is a relative tense that refers to a time located after a contextually determined temporal reference point, regardless of the latter’s relation to the moment of utterance .
- Passengers about to depart on Flight 26 proceeded to Gate 5.
- Passengers about to depart on Flight 26 should proceed to Gate 5.
- Passengers about to depart on Flight 26 will proceed to Gate 5.
| The time of departure is, in each case, in the future relative to a temporal reference point. In these cases, the temporal point is likely that of the action expressed by the main verb phrase. |
Page/s: 59–60
Source: Comrie 1985b
Comrie, Bernard. 1985b.Tense. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University.
Broader Terms
- BT↑ Relative Tense
Related terms
- RT⇆ Utterance
