Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
anything our hearts desire
English answer:
Future tense not possible
Added to glossary by
literary
Jul 15, 2009 19:00
14 yrs ago
English term
anything our hearts desire
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Just put it into Google
Can this refer to the future?
I believe that Future Simple is not possible here, but why - can you find me the rule. It's probably like "hope" - I hope it doesn't rain, no future tense.
Can this refer to the future?
I believe that Future Simple is not possible here, but why - can you find me the rule. It's probably like "hope" - I hope it doesn't rain, no future tense.
Responses
+3
2 mins
jccantrell
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
sounds fine to me
"What did the king promise you?"
"Anything our hearts desire."
Makes sense, however, while fulfillment of the promise is in the future, the answer actually is referring to the past.
"Anything our hearts desire."
Makes sense, however, while fulfillment of the promise is in the future, the answer actually is referring to the past.
Note from asker:
| Tina: "desire by definition refers to something in the future." - incorrect, and not the rule I was looking for. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Richard McDorman
: Sounds fine to me too (and I agree with asker that using "will" would be ungrammatical here).
3 mins
|
| agree |
Lirka
: fine fine fine
48 mins
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: Don't need future tense because desire by definition refers to something in the future.
1 hr
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "OK, Future Simple impossible here, but generally it's "will desire""
-1
8 mins
Maria Paz Olivares Seminario
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Professional, Punctual & Perfectionist!
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
cualquier cosa/lo que nuestro corazón deseara
Es cierto, se refiere al futuro pero sucedió en el pasado...
Note from asker:
| I get it, but don't create chaos, Maria |
Discussion
e.g., not
*"When he will come, he'll tell you"
but
"When he comes...."
The future tense is a late (and usually artificial i.e. compound) development in virtually all languages. Again, in almost any language the present is often used with future meaning.