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Howard
Wait, hold on. Pause.
[music stops]
Howard
Something doesn’t make sense. Look. In 2015 Biff steals the Sports Almanac and takes the time machine back to 1955 to give it to his younger self. But as soon as he does that he changes the future, so the 2015 he returns to would be a different 2015. Not the 2015 that Marty and Doc were in.
Something doesn’t make sense. Look. In 2015 Biff steals the Sports Almanac and takes the time machine back to 1955 to give it to his younger self. But as soon as he does that he changes the future, so the 2015 he returns to would be a different 2015. Not the 2015 that Marty and Doc were in.
Leonard
This is Hot Tub Time Machine all over again. Look. If future Biff goes back to 2015 right after he gives young Biff the Almanac, he could get back to the 2015 with Marty and Doc in it. Because it wasn’t until his 21st birthday that 1955 Biff placed his first bet.
This is Hot Tub Time Machine all over again. Look. If future Biff goes back to 2015 right after he gives young Biff the Almanac, he could get back to the 2015 with Marty and Doc in it. Because it wasn’t until his 21st birthday that 1955 Biff placed his first bet.
Sheldon
But whoa, whoa. Is placed right?
But whoa, whoa. Is placed right?
Leonard
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Sheldon
Is placed the right tense for something that would’ve happened in the future of a past that was affected by something from the future?
Is placed the right tense for something that would’ve happened in the future of a past that was affected by something from the future?
Leonard
[thinks] Had will have placed?
[thinks] Had will have placed?
Sheldon
That’s my boy.
That’s my boy.
Leonard
OK. So, it wasn’t until his 21st birthday that Biff had will have placed his first bet and made his millions. That’s when he alters the timeline.
OK. So, it wasn’t until his 21st birthday that Biff had will have placed his first bet and made his millions. That’s when he alters the timeline.
Sheldon
But he had will haven’t placed it.
But he had will haven’t placed it.
Howard
What?
What?
Sheldon
Unlike Hot Tub Time Machine, this couldn’t be more simple. [laugh track] When Biff gets the Almanac in 1955, the alternate future he creates isn’t the one in which Marty and Doc Brown ever used the time machine to travel to 2015. Therefore, in the new timeline, Marty and Doc never brought the time machine.
Unlike Hot Tub Time Machine, this couldn’t be more simple. [laugh track] When Biff gets the Almanac in 1955, the alternate future he creates isn’t the one in which Marty and Doc Brown ever used the time machine to travel to 2015. Therefore, in the new timeline, Marty and Doc never brought the time machine.
Leonard
Wait, wait, wait. Is brought right?
Wait, wait, wait. Is brought right?
Sheldon
[thinks] Marty and Doc never had have had brought?
[thinks] Marty and Doc never had have had brought?
Leonard
I don’t know, you did it to me.
I don’t know, you did it to me.
Sheldon
I’m going with it. Marty and Doc never had have had brought the time machine to 2015. That means 2015 Biff could also not had have had brought the Almanac to 1955 Biff. Therefore, the timeline in which 1955 Biff gets the Almanac is also the timeline in which 1955 Biff never gets the Almanac and not just never gets: never have, never hasn’t, never had have hasn’t.
I’m going with it. Marty and Doc never had have had brought the time machine to 2015. That means 2015 Biff could also not had have had brought the Almanac to 1955 Biff. Therefore, the timeline in which 1955 Biff gets the Almanac is also the timeline in which 1955 Biff never gets the Almanac and not just never gets: never have, never hasn’t, never had have hasn’t.
Raj
He’s right.
Links
- Focus on the three most important ways to talk about the future
- Watch a video and identify five ways to talk about the future
- Learn more at www.edufind.com/english-grammar/future
- Print or download an exercise to practice the future tenses