Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Prospective

Definition: 

A prospective is a grammaticalization of the relationship of a present state to a future situation. It indicates that one is in a present state of being about to do something.

Examples: 

(English)

Bill is going to throw himself off the cliff.

The item going to is a statement of Bill’s present state and is true irrespective of whether he is stopped or not.

Source: 
111–112
64–65, 106

Glossary Hierarchy