“Future” can be used as an adjective or a noun. In this Ed’s Elevenses blog post, let’s look at some examples and find out whether or not “future” takes any article, and if so, when.
“Future” as an adjective
When “future” is used as an adjective, it takes no article. The article — definite (the) or indefinite (a / an) — we see in a sentence (if any) where “future” is used as an adjective is the article of the noun it modifies:
➡️ Let’s talk about it at a future date.
➡️ I saw the future CEO this morning.
➡️ We have to protect future generations. [no article]
“Future” as a noun
When “future” is used as a noun, it is when we have to pay extra attention.
Future vs The future
When “future” means “time regarded as still to come” or “events that are likely to happen”, we usually use the definite article as in “the future”, and sometimes, the indefinite article, too, depending on the context:
✅ Can you predict the future?
❌ Can you predict future?
✅ Let’s think about the future of tourism.
❌ Let’s think about future of tourism.
✅ We plan on living together in the near future.
❌ We plan on living together in near future.
✅ He has a bright future ahead of him.
❌ He has the bright future ahead of him.
❌ He has bright future ahead of him.
In future vs In the future
Now, let’s focus on the phrase “in (the) future”. In usage that is chiefly British, “in future” is different from “in the future”.
“In future” means “from now onwards”, whereas “in the future” means “at a certain point in future time”:
In future:
✅ You should be more careful in future. (= You should be more careful from now on.)
❌ You should be more careful in the future.
✅ No more walking to work, I will be taking the train in future. (= I will take the train from this point onwards.)
❌ No more walking to work, I will be taking the train in the future.
In the future:
✅ We would like to get married in the future. (= We will get married at some point.)
❌ We would like to get married in future.
✅ There will be another chance in the future. (= There will be another opportunity some time in the future.)
❌ There will be another chance in future.
Near and foreseeable
To say something that will happen soon, we can use phrases such as “in the near future” and “in the foreseeable future”:
➡️ We looking forward to working with you again in the near future.
➡️ Coal will run out in the foreseeable future.
Edison Tam MA MCIL CL is a Translator, Proofreader, and Copyeditor (zh-hk/en) who works with students, independent non-fiction writers, academic researchers, and clients from businesses and organisations of all sizes.
He is Chartered Linguist and Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), and has undergone wide-ranging academic training in Business, Modern Languages, and Applied Linguistics in Hong Kong, London, and Barcelona.
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