Doesn't or won't

Question

Hi! Which one of the followings is correct?

1. I'm going to Kyoto in a week. I hope it doesn't rain.
2. I'm going to Kyoto in a week. I hope it won't rain.

If 1 is correct, why is it in the present tense although it is about the future?

If I put 1 in the past tense, should I say as below?
I was going to Kyoto in a week. I hoped it didn't rain.

Thanks in advance!

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

1. I'm going to Kyoto in a week. I hope it doesn't rain. 2. I'm going to Kyoto in a week. I hope it won't rain. If 1 is correct, why is it in the present tense although it is about the future? English does not have future tense. That's why we say things like 'will' and 'won't'. Sentence 1 means 'I hope it doesn't rain (then)(at that time).'

AnonymousIf I put 1 in the past tense, should I say as below?I was going to Kyoto in a week. I hoped it didn't rain. No, that's not correct.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I frequently use present tense after "hope" when referring to conditions that I want to exist at a time in the future.
I use the future tense for a duration of time in the future.

I'm going to Kyoto in a week.
I hope it doesn't rain. (implies when I leave or arrive.)
I hope it isn't raining when we arrive.
I hope the weather is nice. (at that time)
I hope the weather will be nice. (for the duration of my trip)

In the past, you have to use "would" which is the future relative to a past time.
I was going to Kyoto in a week. I hoped it wouldn't rain.

Canadian45 · Answer

AlpheccaStarsI use the future tense

Which "future tense" is that?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

canadian45Which "future tense" is that?

Sorry. In traditional grammars, the modal "will" and sometimes the modal "shall" + the base form of the main verb is denoted the "future tense." Modern grammars apparently deny its existence.

I was using the poster's terminology.

Canadian45 · Answer

AlpheccaStarsModern grammars apparently deny its existence.

I believe that they are referring to the fact that English doesn't have a 'specifically designated' future tense, as some languages do. So we have to use other terms, such as 'will' and 'going to' when talking about the future. And this will be confusing to some students of English.

Fivejedjon · Answer

canadian45I believe that they are referring to the fact that English doesn't have a 'specifically designated' future tense, as some languages do.

Unfortunately for some learners, some course books and student grammars still use the term 'future tense' when talking of 'will'. As far as these learners are concerned, there is a 'specifically designated' future tense.

I think that those of us who believe that English does not have a future tense need to be aware of this.

For learners who are confused already, there are at least five common ways of expressing the future in English, which I have noted at the end of this post. There are differences in the meanings they convey, but that is beyond the scope of this thread. Whether or not you use the term 'future tense' for 'will' depends on what your teachers or reference books tell you.

The five common ways are:

The present simple: Emma flies to Prague next week.
The present progressive: Emma is flying to Prague next week.
BE + going to + infinitive: Emma is going to fly to Prague next week.
WILL + infinitive: Emma will fly to Prague next week.
WILL + progressive infinitive: Emma will be flying to Prague next week.

CalifJim · Answer

Two replies above suggest the following:

I hope it doesn't rain. OK / I hoped it didn't rain. Not OK.
I hope it won't rain. ??? / I hoped it wouldn't rain. OK.

If I were learning English, this would send me around the bend.

Besides, of the four, one of them, as far as I can see, was never even addressed in the replies, so let me ask it:

Is it OK to say "I hope it won't rain?"

CJ

Canadian45 · Answer

CalifJimIs it OK to say "I hope it won't rain?"

Canadian45 · Answer

Is it OK to say "I hope it won't rain."?

CalifJim · Answer

canadian45 Is it OK to say "I hope it won't rain."?

OK. Revised chart.

I hope it doesn't rain. OK / I hoped it didn't rain. Not OK.
I hope it won't rain. OK / I hoped it wouldn't rain. OK.

So what about that sore thumb sticking out there?

If the present is OK, why isn't the past OK? And it's only a problem on the first line, not on the second.

CJ

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