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4.2. The near future
The near future means a strong relationship between the speaker's mind and the present, that is, there are causes or plans in the present. This expression has three forms.


4.2.1. The present tense representing the future expression
The present tense treats the event as the present fact as you know, moreover, it can express the future event. This was already explained in 1.2.3, the time representation is shown one more below.

(4)


The above is parallel to this expression. The time representation of the present tense is shown below.

(5)


In the above, when E of the present shifts to the future, (4) is seen. See the following examples.

(6)
a. The train leaves from Tokyo at 5:30 tomorrow.
b. We leave here for the meeting next Monday.

As you know, it is thought that this is parallel to the meaning of the present tense which treats the event as the present fact, rather than the future expression.

Now, the future time adverbs, "5:30 tomorrow" and "next Monday", are co-occurred. Although these are parallel to M, it is put at the present. Such adverbs are often used to avoid interpreting them as the present tense usage. But the meaning of the present fact is not changed, therefore, the focus is put at the present strongly.




Time feeling






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