Futur vs Futur Anterior after Quand.

Jamie J.B2Kwiziq community member

Futur vs Futur Anterior after Quand.

I share James' question.  I initially thought the difference must be as Jim describes, but the more I looked at examples the more they all seemed to be the same.  In fact, the future anterior seemed to me to be an unnecessary complication of a pretty straightforward situation.  The Future/Future examples just sound better to me than the Future Anterior/Future.  When an answer will have been offered, I will understand fully.  (Doesn't sound any better in English)!  

Many thanks, Jamie



Asked 3 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Either sentence discussed by Jamie, James and Jim, could be in (quand) future/future or (quand) future anterior/future in French. Likewise, either could be in (when) present/future or (when) present perfect/future in English with different meanings, as Jim has concisely covered. 

That difference can be more or less obvious or important depending on the action/verb. Both languages have the possibility of making this clearer distinction of completed or not, so any discussion on its utility or otherwise applies to both.

The reason for the marking in the quizzes is that it is based on the tenses used, and highlights that an English present tense after “when” translates to a future tense in French after “quand”. 

If present perfect is used in English, future anterior in French conveys the similar notion that one “action” is fully completed before the other commences. The assumption is that the original words are deliberate and elucidate the intended meaning, and conveying the meaning is the aim of translation.

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I would have said the same as Maarten, but perhaps there is not an exact 1-1 mapping between English and French. According to the following lesson, the present tense in English sometimes becomes futur anterieur in French. The only examples given, however, are with the verb "to arrive".

Quand/lorsque/après que/une fois que + future perfect (Le Futur Antérieur) = When/after I've done something in the future (Sequence of Tenses in French)

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thanks Alan - missed those, although  looking at the examples, I think the difference is in the translation, not the initial meaning. Translation is subjective, of course - hence the translator gets to put their own understanding in. 

I guess my main point that both English and French have both options in use - this is unlikely to occur/persist in language development unless it has “value”. 

Jamie J. asked:

Futur vs Futur Anterior after Quand.

I share James' question.  I initially thought the difference must be as Jim describes, but the more I looked at examples the more they all seemed to be the same.  In fact, the future anterior seemed to me to be an unnecessary complication of a pretty straightforward situation.  The Future/Future examples just sound better to me than the Future Anterior/Future.  When an answer will have been offered, I will understand fully.  (Doesn't sound any better in English)!  

Many thanks, Jamie



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