Re: future past

Trebor Jung wrote:
> Ray wrote: "Yep - by using the modal verbs 'shall' & 'will'. English
> strictly has no future tense; it uses different moods."
>
> So what should it be called? Futuritive mood?
AIUI it's a volitive. Or it was. Nowadays "will" isn't really modal even
though it acts like a modal verb. The past tense ("would"), however,
still has a volitive meaning.