Will V vs will have Vpp

Question

Hi, please help me.This tree will double in length in Summer.This tree will have doubled in length in Summer.Could you teach me the difference between the sentences above?

Matthewetta · Accepted Answer

There is no difference. Both sentences are using the future tense to tell us that the tree's length will be doubled by summer.

CalifJim · Answer

Vertical length (as with a tree) is normally called "height". Here's how a native speaker might say these:

1. This tree will double in height this summer.

2. This tree will have doubled in height by the end of this summer.

1 predicts what will happen during the summer.

2 predicts that at the end of the summer we will be able to say, "This tree has doubled in height".

CJ

Tashiro · Answer

Thank you both of you for the quick reply.

My grammar book says the first sentence means the tree suddenly doubles in height on a certain day and the second means the tree gradually doubles by a certain day.

Is this explanation right?

I am sorry. I've changed the original sentence in the grammar book.

The original sentence is "By the time it is a month old, it will have doubled in length." ( it=lizard)

The book says if "will have doubled" is changed into "will double", the sentence sounds like the lizard will suddenly doubled on a certain day.

CalifJim · Answer

tashiroMy grammar book says the first sentence means the tree suddenly doubles in height on a certain day and the second means the tree gradually doubles by a certain day.
Is this explanation right?

I can't judge because it's not clear, in view of the rest of your post, whether you're talking about the tree or the lizard!

tashiroBy the time it is a month old, (the lizard) will have doubled in length."

~ When the lizard is a month old, we will be able to say, "The lizard has doubled in length". [There is nothing in this sentence that specifies how this happens - whether suddenly or gradually. See the discussion below.]

By the time it is a month old, the lizard will double in length.

Not really idiomatic, but basically the same meaning as above.

When it is a month old, the lizard will double in length.

At the age of one month the lizard will (suddenly) double in length.

The lizard will double in length before it is a month old.

Between its birth and the age of one month the lizard will double in length.

We assume that this cannot happen suddenly, so we believe the sentence means the doubling will take place gradually. This happens because of our knowledge of the world - not because of anything in the sentence. The sentence does not specifically state how the change will occur - whether the change will be sudden or gradual.

CJ

Tashiro · Answer

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation.

Will V vs will have Vpp

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