The expression of the future in contemporary spoken French

Abstract

This investigation will be based on a consensus of majority opinions expressed by the grammars listed in the bibliography. This consensus may be summarised as follows: A Temporal Future (i) by the present tense to denote immediacy. (ii) by aller + infinitive to denote a near and immediate future. (iii) by the inflected future to express a more general, remote and hypothetical future. (iv) by devoir + infinitive and the constructions etre en passe de, etre sur le point de, etre pres de and etre pour'. These will be termed 'demi-auxiliaires'. Devoir + infinitive to express near and indeterminate future actions. The demi-auxiliaires to express temporal futures. B Modal Future (i) by the inflected future used as an imperative. (ii) by the inflected future used as an attenuated affirmation. (iii) by the inflected future used to denote a possibility, an eventuality (conjectural future).The consensus will be set against the findings of the grammars. It will form a basis of comparison for the listing of those grammatical statements which differ from it. The consensus itself will then be examined in the light of examples from contemporary French speech to see if it is upheld. The divergencies will also be examined in the same way to see if any of them are supported by current usage. If so, they may well indicate a new trend in the spoken language. Some examples of recorded French speech will then be looked at which express future constructions which werenot specifically mentioned in the grammars. These, too, may indicate new ways of expressing the future. Finally, an attempt will be made to establish a number of tendencies which reflect the way in which the future is expressed in contemporary, spoken French.