future present continus

Question

can you tell me how this  sentence  do in future present continus : they have clear career plans

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Have is not normally used in the continuous tenses.
Future and present are two different options. There is no such thing as "future present".
Are you referring to "be going to"?

Deadrat · Answer

In English, you can speak in the present tense (meaning right now) of having plans, which by their nature are things to be completed in the future.

Remember that English speakers pick a reference point for the present, and speak of things before the reference point as the past and things happening after the reference point as the future. But the reference point itself may be in either the past or the future, and the tenses of verbs will reflect that.

Let me alter your example to "They plan to attend law school."

If you keep right now as the reference point, you use the future tense to say "They will attend law school next spring."

You can also move the reference point to next spring and say "They attend law school next spring." "Next spring" is the reference point and is concurrent with attendance at law school. English speakers will understand that attendance is in the future because the present tense is relative to the future reference point.

Since law school is an extended event, you can also use the progressive form. With reference point right now: "They will be attending law school next spring." With reference point moved to next spring: "They are attending law school next spring."

"Going to x" is an English idiom for "intends to do x." So you can also say "They are going to attend law school next spring" There's a lot of nonsense written in cyberspace trying to incorporate this idiom into the progressive tense forms.

Unfortunately "going to" also means attending, so "I am going to law school" means "I am attending law school (now)."

I don't know how anybody learns English as a second language. I doubt I could.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousfuture present continuous

There is no such thing.

AnonymousThey have clear career plans.

The future continuous of your sentence is

They will be having clear career plans.

However, it is not correct, so it can't be used.

CJ

Deadrat · Answer

I think he's asking about the present progressive with a future meaning:

What are your plans?
I am attending law school next year.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

deadratI think he's asking about the present progressive with a future meaning:

It's dangerous to make assumptions. It's better to ask the poster to rephrase the question.

future present continus

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