Will have + participle

Question

hello, I think I am going to apply for a account.

I feel sorry to have asked so many questions before.

this is my last question before using my own account.

1. You have had dinner already, I suppose.

2. You will have had dinner already, I suppose.

To me, actually the first sentence without "will" is clear enough to express my message, however why is "will" inserted in the second sentence?

Thank you so much.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

They are different times, Anon.

#1-- S/he is asking about a dinner in the past.
#2-- S/he is asking about a dinner in the future.

Anonymous · Answer

thank you, Mister Micawber.

By the way, what is the meaning of this Japanese word - Anon?

I didn't mean to be rude, but I am afraid that this sentence can also refer to the present.

S/he will have had dinner already, I suppose.

another similar example:

They will have reached by now, I suppose.

Therefore, hopefully no offence given, could you tell the difference between

1. S/he have had dinner already, I suppose. (present)

2. S/he will have had dinner already, I suppose. (present & future)

When the "will" in the 2nd sentence is used in the present sense, could you tell me their difference?

I think maybe this difference is the same as the difference between 2 sentences below stating general truths.

3. A baby recognises its mother's voice soon after it is born.

4. A baby will recognises its mother's voice soon after it is born.

I would imagine that the "wiil" is used for certainty purpose in these contexts of the present tense.

However, I am not very sure of it. Could you give me confirmation?

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

By the way, what is the meaning of this Japanese word - Anon?-- It is not Japanese; it is a nickname for Anonymous. I do not use Japanese here; this is an English language website.

I didn't mean to be rude, but I am afraid that this sentence can also refer to the present. S/he will have had dinner already, I suppose.-- No; as it stands it refers to the future, as I said: the perceived future as viewed from farther in the future (sometimes called 'the past in the future'). Although the result in real life may refer to a real present situation, it is not a grammatical present. Nowhere is the present indicated here.

another similar example:
They will have reached by now, I suppose.-- The same applies here, in spite of 'now'. And here it is just as vague: 'by now' could easily place the real event in the real past-- yet the grammar of the future perfect verb aspect remains the view of a future event from a vantage point farther in the future.

Therefore, hopefully no offence given, could you tell the difference between
1. S/he have had dinner already, I suppose. (present)-- No good. The verb should be 'has'. (You should not be worried about future perfect, a rare verb form, until your present perfect is solidly established. Present perfect is much more useful.) This is not a present, but a form of the past. The meaning is that she probably ate dinner.

2. S/he will have had dinner already, I suppose. (present & future)-- See my comments above regrarding future perfect.

When the "will" in the 2nd sentence is used in the present sense, could you tell me their difference?-- Not applicable, in my view.

I think maybe this difference is the same as the difference between 2 sentences below stating general truths.-- I think it is unrelated.

3. A baby recognises its mother's voice soon after it is born.-- A general truth, yes.

4. A baby will recognises its mother's voice soon after it is born.-- The grammar is not good. 'Will recognize'. -- A general truth again, in a less common expression. This is a future form unrelated to the function of the future perfect. The form is based on the fact that the baby recognizes mum after it is born.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, Mister Micawber.

Thanks again.

English 1b3 · Answer

Mister MicawberAlthough the result in real life may refer to a real present situation, it is not a grammatical present.

Hi,

Are you rerferring to this sentence? S/he will have had dinner already, I suppose.

Are you talking about a situation where she laready would have had dinner, but using 'will' stresses that this is true, rather than expressing a future time?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Oh, I see. Yes, I guess that's what it does:

She will have had dinner by now. (more certain)

She would have had dinner by now. (more tentative)

English 1b3 · Answer

Mister MicawberShe will have had dinner by now. (more certain)
She would have had dinner by now. (more tentative

So we wouldn't call the former the future perfect--even though it has the same structure?

Mister Micawber · Answer

I think we must keep the name.  The form has a name; it just serves various purposes.  That is why contemporary grammarians are trying to get rid of the word 'gerund', for instance, in favor of '-ing verb form'.

English 1b3 · Answer

Mister MicawberI think we must keep the name. The form has a name; it just serves various purposes. That is why contemporary grammarians are trying to get rid of the word 'gerund', for instance, in favor of '-ing verb form'.

True. Good point. Cheers.

English 1b3 · Answer

I would like to investigate this further.

If you have any texts I could read, it would be great to have a squiz. A simple google search is the extent of my research usually--probably why I get myself into trouble.

Will have + participle

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