in future/in the future ¹

利用现代语言学家们对 in future 与 in the future 所作的阐述,似乎能够回答你的问题: in future 指今后的时间段(from now onwards——今后,从今以后,将来),而 in the future 虽然也可以指今后的整个时间段(=in future)或将来的某一时间段,但更常见的是指时间位置(time position),即将来的某个时间点(at some time in the future)。下面让我们用实例来验证一下:

1. In future you'd better get his permission first. (FWF) (in future 指今后的整个时间段) 以后你最好首先得到他的允许。

2. I hope you will be more careful in future about the things you say. (Shaw) 我希望你今后更加注意你说的话。

3. In future, astronauts will be required to descend from a spaceship while it is still in space and to return to it. (New Concept English, Book 2, L.61) 将来,要求宇航员从停在太空中的宇宙飞船里出来,然后再回到船上去。

4. She would see less of him in the future. (London) (in the future 指以后的整个时间段) 以后她将较少见到他了。

5. In the future travel agencies may be organising trips to the moon. (Wood) 在将来旅行社有可能组织到月球的旅行。(in the future 指将来的某个时间段)

6. No one knows what will happen in the future. (in the future 指将来的某个时间点) 谁也不知道将来会发生什么事。

7. You will have to treat me with more respect in the future. (Wilde) 今后你必须用比较尊重的态度来对待我。(in the future 指今后的整个时间段)

8. In the future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy far more leisure than they do today. 到了将来，自动化的发展将使得人类享受到比现在所享受到的更多的闲暇。(in the future 指将来的某个时间段)

9. I want to buy a car in the future. (in the future 指将来的某个时间点) 我想将来买辆汽车。

10. Eventually, and not too far in the future, they will make decisions on the production line currently delegated to a supervisor. (The Guardian) (in the future 指将来的某个时间段) 最终, 在不太远的将来, 它们将在生产线上代替目前的管理人员作决定。(卫报) (译文引自《现代英语报刊阅读词典》)