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Cho7712 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

By now?

i.e. He will have finished his assignment by now.
Is this sentence can make sense?
I don't see how the present expression 'by now' occrurs in the future time.
Or else native speakers take 'by now' to be deitic expression so that it refers to not the real time but the pre-organized some time in the future?
  

Top answer

Hi, One function of the Future Perfect is to predict or deduce that an action has already taken place. Usually, that prediction / deduction has some importance to the present situation. eg I know Tom's exam started at 5 pm and was scheduled to last one hour.

— Clive

  • Hi, One function of the Future Perfect is to predict or deduce that an action has already taken place.
  • Usually, that prediction / deduction has some importance to the present situation.
  • eg I know Tom's exam started at 5 pm and was scheduled to last one hour.
  • So, at 6:05pm, I say Tom's exam will have finished by now.
  • I'm going to call him about it.
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2 Answers
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Hi,

One function of the Future Perfect is to predict or deduce that an action has already taken place.
Usually, that prediction / deduction has some importance to the present situation.

eg
I know Tom'
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Thank you,Mr.Clive.
I get straightly clear understanding what usage the future perferct has from your explanation.
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