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Makski Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Will have?

Hi I began using this app called Duolingo, but it doesn't feel like it builds sentences in the right tense. Here's an example: "We will have called the doctor." I never heard anyone to talk like that.
  

Top answer

"We will have called the doctor" (future perfect tense) is not very usual, but it is possible in the right context. More information about the context is required.

— GPY

  • "We will have called the doctor" (future perfect tense) is not very usual, but it is possible in the right context.
  • More information about the context is required.
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26 Answers
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"We will have called the doctor" (future perfect tense) is not very usual, but it is possible in the right context. More information about the context is required.
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"We will have called the doctor."
The above sentence is in Future Perfect Tense.

Grammatical Syntax Explanation:
Here is a little comparison with Present Perfect, to help you understand better:

Present Perfect:
"We have called the doctor."
Subject + has/have (past participle) + Object
Here, "have called" puts the sentence into the Present Perfect.
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makski "We will have called the doctor." I never heard anyone to talk like that.
This can also be will expressing certainty.

A: I saw Fred an hour ago. I think he needs medical attention.
B: Don't worry. His wife will have called (= I am certain that she has called) the doctor by now.
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fivejedjonThis can also be will expressing certainty.
Strangely enough, I've often heard it called the will of probability, which is what I've always called it.

His wife will have called ~ His wife has probably called.

If it's so certain, why not She has called?


Are Americans just less certain about 'will'?
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CalifJim fivejedjonThis can also be will expressing certainty.Strangely enough, I've often heard it called the will of probability, which is what I've always called it.His wife will have called ~ His wife has probably called.If it's so certain, why not She has called? Are Americans just less certain about 'will'? CJ
I see it as implying strong probability in t
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GPYI see it as implying strong probability in the opinion of the speaker.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but do you regard 'strong probability' the equivalent of 'certainty'?

CJ
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CalifJimNot to put too fine a point on it, but do you regard 'strong probability' the equivalent of 'certainty'?
Not quite.
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CalifJimStrangely enough, I've often heard it called the will of probability, which is what I've always called it.His wife will have called ~ His wife has probably called.If it's so certain, why not She has called?
For me, wiil shows the speaker's certainty. There is a difference about presenting information as a certainty (she will have calle
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fivejedjonThere is a difference about presenting information as a certainty (she will have called) and as a fact (She has called). ...
Huddleston & Pullum (2002.189) say 'semantically, will is strong, entailing the factuality of the situation".
So will doesn't present information as a fact, but it entails factuality?
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