"Does English have a future tense?"

MELINA PORTO

The English Teacher

Año: 2000 vol. 3 p. 106 - 111

1513-0630

Careful examination of English textbooks currently in fashion reveals that most have adopted the threefold system of past, present, and future tense. However, sound linguistic evidence is available in support of a binary system with no future tense. This disparity, not yet bridged and usually unnoticed, is a source of uneasiness for some informed teachers. This paper aims to reconcile these opposing perspectives realistically. The linguistic arguments in favour of a binary system are examined. Pedagogic considerations in support of a threefold system, notoriously lacking in available textbooks, are inspected. An alternative perspective is explored.