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Nkspb Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Talking about the future
Hello! Help me, please. I am confused with tenses again 
Is it correct to use present tenses in a sentence like this, when talking about the future?
"People will understand what he says/is saying/has said."
Is there any difference between the three?
Does it have any difference from saying
"People will understand what he will say/will be saying"
?
Thanks!
Is it correct to use present tenses in a sentence like this, when talking about the future?"People will understand what he says/is saying/has said."
Is there any difference between the three?
Does it have any difference from saying
"People will understand what he will say/will be saying"
?
Thanks!
Top answer
Yes, ‘people will understand’ – future tense. ‘what he says’ then becomes an event in the future; ‘what he is saying’ is present continuous tense (and will be understood afterwards) and ‘what he has said’ is perfect tense (and will be understood afterwards). “People will understand – future tense.
- Yes, ‘people will understand’ – future tense.
- ‘what he says’ then becomes an event in the future; ‘what he is saying’ is present continuous tense (and will be understood afterwards) and ‘what he has said’ is perfect tense (and will be understood afterwards).
- “People will understand – future tense.
- ‘what he will say’ is future tense (and will be understood at that time) ‘what he will be saying’ is future continuous tense (and will be understood at that time).
- Note that this last one is unlikely since ‘what he will say’ is usually used.
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3 Answers
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Yes, ‘people will understand’ – future tense.
‘what he says’ then becomes an event in the future;
‘what he is saying’ is present continuous tense (and will be understood afterwards)
and ‘what he has said’ is perfect tense (and will be understood afterwards).
“People will understand – future tense.
‘what he will say’ is future tense (and will be understood at that time)
‘what he says’ then becomes an event in the future;
‘what he is saying’ is present continuous tense (and will be understood afterwards)
and ‘what he has said’ is perfect tense (and will be understood afterwards).
“People will understand – future tense.
‘what he will say’ is future tense (and will be understood at that time)
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Thanks One thing is not clear yet, could you clarify please?
One thing is not clear yet, could you clarify please?wilpeter‘what he is saying’ is present continu
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Regardless what tense you choose, the situation described is:
He says something and people understand.
When he says it can be yesterday, today, tomorrow so it will be understood at that time.
More commonly, "People understood what he said" is past tense.
"People understand what he says" is present tense.
"People will understand what he says" is future tense.
He says something and people understand.
When he says it can be yesterday, today, tomorrow so it will be understood at that time.
More commonly, "People understood what he said" is past tense.
"People understand what he says" is present tense.
"People will understand what he says" is future tense.
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