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16. The problem of the Future Tense.

One more problem is to be tackled in analyzing the English future tenses: the status of the verbs shall/will and should/would. Some linguists, O. Jespersenand L. S. Barkhudarov among them, argue that these verbs are not the auxiliary verbs of the analytical future tense forms, but modal verbs denoting intention, command, request, promise, etc. in a weakened form, e.g.: I’ll go there by train. = I intend (want, plan) to go there by train. On this basis they deny the existence of the verbal future tense in English. As a matter of fact, shall/will and should/would are in their immediate etymology modal verbs: verbs of obligation (shall) and volition (will). But nowadays they preserve their modal meanings in no higher degree than the future tense forms in other languages: the future differs in this respect from the past and the present, because no one can be positively sure about events that have not yet taken place or are not taking place now. A certain modal coloring is inherent to the future tense semantics in any language as future actions are always either anticipated, or foreseen, or planned, or desired, or necessary, etc. On the other hand, modal verbs are treated as able to convey certain future implication in many contexts, cf.: I may/might/ could travel by bus. This does not constitute sufficient grounds to refuse shall/will andshould/would the status of auxiliary verbs of the future. The homonymous, though cognate, verbs shall/will and should/would are to be distinguished in contexts, in which they function as purely modal verbs, e.g.: Payment shall be made by cheque; Why are you asking him? He wouldn’t know anything about it, and in contexts in which they function as the auxiliary verbs of the future tense forms with subdued modal semantics, e.g.: I will be forty next month.

17.The Inherent category of mood in English

Mood = a way to express the attitude of the speaker to what is being said. English moods include the indicative mood, the imperative mood and thesubjunctive mood.  Indicative means "stating a fact."The indicative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to state facts. Examples:"Joe plays outside." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.);"It will rain soon." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.);"She was studying all day long." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)The indicative mood is the basic mood of verbs in English.Imperative means "expressing an order."The imperative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express orders, instructions, commands or requests.Examples: "Go outside!" (This is a command.);"Close the door, please." (This is a request.);"Don't move the object." (This is an instruction.)Subjunctive means "subordinate" (less important than something else) or "dependent" (needing something/someone else).The subjunctive mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express things that are not facts: wishes, possibilities, doubts, suggestions, conditions, etc. Examples: "It may snow tomorrow."(It is not a fact yet. It is a possibility in the speaker's mind.)(Incorrect: "It will snow tomorrow.");"I would do it if I had the time."(It is not a fact. It depends on me having the time.);"You should listen to your parents." (It is not a fact. It is a suggestion.)

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