0
Hanuman_2000 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Future perfect

Hello,

1. In twenty years' time, I shall have written a novel.

I am not able to understand the meaning of this sentence.

I guess the meaning as ---

The speaker/writer is in the process of writing a novel and predicting that he will complete this novel with twenty years from the time of speaking/writing.

Is my guess correct?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

The speaker/writer is predicting that he will complete a novel some time within twenty years of the time of speaking/writing. It does not necessarily mean that he is in the process of writing it now. "shall" in this kind of usage is becoming less common and may look old-fashioned.

— GPY

  • The speaker/writer is predicting that he will complete a novel some time within twenty years of the time of speaking/writing.
  • It does not necessarily mean that he is in the process of writing it now.
  • "shall" in this kind of usage is becoming less common and may look old-fashioned.
  • In modern English most people would use "will".
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
The speaker/writer is predicting that he will complete a novel some time within twenty years of the time of speaking/writing. It does not necessarily mean that he is in the process of writing it now.

"shall" in this kind of usage is becoming less common and may look old-fashioned. In modern English most people would use "will".
0
0
Hello, Is it correct to say 'If I get a fine, the outing today will have cost me a lot'

Thanks
0

Related Questions