Future Tense
by Ryan Baber
The Future Tense in Latin is little more than what its name suggests.
In a simple sentence, the Future Tense indicates action which takes place
at some subsequent time. The only real variety of expression allowed
in the Future is in the aspect of an action (whether it is ongoing, repeated,
or simple) and its force. Although Latin verbs convey aspect in a
less pronounced way than other ancient languages, some consideration of
the concept is helpful for making sense of the Latin future.
The aspect can be either simple, progressive or repeated. In the
simple aspect the action is presented plainly:
-
Te amabo- I will love you
In the progressive aspect, the aciton is conitnuous, as if an action in
progress and not confined to one future instance:
-
Exercitum ducet- He will lead the army.
Finally, in the repeated aspect implies habitual action, happening more
than once at times hereafter:
-
Dabit aurum- He will give gold(repeatedly)
The other way in which the Future Tense can be interpreted in the Simple
Sentnce is in its force. Sometimes the Future can have the force
of the Imperative mood, though it is in the Indicative:
-
Pugnabis in bello- You will fight in the war.
As far as the Simple Sentence goes, the Future Tense has a relatively straightforward
use, with few nuances. However, it is more complex in its uses in
Subordinate Clauses, which are in the domain of Complex Sentences.