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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/26/2009
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R.Close writes in his book that 'in an example like 'I'll be writing to you about that soon' the speaker may be making a plain statement about the future, without wishing to emphasise the idea of action in progress and without wishing to make the particular modal emphasis that would be contained in 'I'll write'. Or he may be adding an expression of his present intentions to his statement about the future'.
I cannot understand it. As I got it such a sentence expresses less willingness than 'I'll write to you about that soon'. But how is it possible to emphasize the idea of action in progress in this case?
And how the sentence differs from 'I'm going to write to you about that soon'?
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Al Blanco wrote:R.Close writes in his book that 'in an example like 'I'll be writing to you about that soon' the speaker may be making a plain statement about the future, without wishing to emphasise the idea of action in progress and without wishing to make the particular modal emphasis that would be contained in 'I'll write'. Or he may be adding an expression of his present intentions to his statement about the future'.
I cannot understand it. As I got it such a sentence expresses less willingness than 'I'll write to you about that soon'. But how is it possible to emphasize the idea of action in progress in this case?
And how the sentence differs from 'I'm going to write to you about that soon'? Grammatically speaking, I'm not sure that there really is much of a difference in meaning among these sentences:
1. I'll [I will] be writing to you about that soon.
2. I'll [I will] write to you about that soon.
3. I'm [I am] going to write to you about that soon.
Although I'm a bit surprised that this would actually be written down in a book somewhere, I think the author may be pointing out a difference that sometimes occurs in practical usage. From that perspective, sentence #2 may sound a little more definitive than #1. Saying you will do something sounds like you've already put it on your definite "to do" list. Changing the wording to say that you will be doing something sounds like you're still thinking about it and likely intending to do that thing, but the chances of it actually happening may be a little lower than if you've already made up your mind entirely. In other words, it hasn't quite made it to the official "to do" list yet.
To me, sentence #3 carries much the same connotation as #2; however, I can imagine scenarios in which it may come across as more similar to #1. Perhaps #3 is more dependent on the way in which it is spoken and which words are stressed.
As you can see, the differences are subtle and inconsistent, at that. It all depends on the way the person being spoken to hears it.
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Thanks a lot, Grammargeek, for such detailed explanation. I think that I understand it now.
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grammargeek wrote:
As you can see, the differences are subtle and inconsistent, at that. It all depends on the way the person being spoken to hears it.
Actually, in my EFL training I learned a lot about these subtle differences because learners need explanations. However, whenever I ask native speakers about the differences between "I will do sth / I am going to do sth / I will be doing something" they usually don't see much difference. I learned that "will be doing" is used for slightly more polite questions (Will you be staying this evening?) or for talking about fixed events without suggesting the idea of personal intention: He'll be phoning tomorrow = in the normal course of events. He's going to phone you tomorrow = because he wants to / it's his intention. Most of these subtle differences can be explained by the basic meaning of tense and aspect. Basically, progressive aspect means that something is going on. Combined with "will" it expresses that something will be going on at a certain point in the future. "This time tomorrow I'll be lying on the beach" "I'll be seeing you" does not explicitly state the point in time, but it is implied that at some given point in the future, I'll be seeing you; hence it implies the idea of "course of events".
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Al Blanco wrote:R.Close writes in his book that 'in an example like 'I'll be writing to you about that soon' the speaker may be making a plain statement about the future, without wishing to emphasise the idea of action in progress and without wishing to make the particular modal emphasis that would be contained in 'I'll write'. Or he may be adding an expression of his present intentions to his statement about the future'.
I cannot understand it. As I got it such a sentence expresses less willingness than 'I'll write to you about that soon'. But how is it possible to emphasize the idea of action in progress in this case?
And how the sentence differs from 'I'm going to write to you about that soon'?
The progressive or continuous tense is sometimes used to express actions or events in the near future. Like, i'm watching movies tonight.
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I think there is a difference between action in progress and progessive action. Progressive actions are actions that last (I know but never I am knowing). Present progressive and present perfect usually express actions in progress, but future progressive expresses progressive action (will last when in action but not now). Does this make sense to anyone?
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curiousb wrote:I think there is a difference between action in progress and progessive action. Progressive actions are actions that last (I know but never I am knowing). Present progressive and present perfect usually express actions in progress, but future progressive expresses progressive action (will last when in action but not now). Does this make sense to anyone? Not really. Let me try how much I understood. "action in progress" is expressed by "(to) be doing sth" [progressive aspect] (?) "progressive actions" is expressed by "(to) do sth" simple aspect (?) Your example "I know" (and not "am knowing"), however, does not fit because "know" belongs to a group of verbs that usually is not used with progressive forms (non-progressive or state verbs). Examples of these verbs are know, doubt, feel, imagine, like, love, hate, appear, matter...
If these verbs are used to express emotional or mental states they are not used in the progressive form, even if that emotional state is going on right now.
If these verbs are used in the progressive they take on a different meaning.
I feel we shouldn't do it (that's my opinion, state of mind)
I'm feeling fine (talking about health).
Can your concept of "progressive action" (lasting action) be compared to the concept that the simple present is used to talk about permanent situations (we live in London, I go to Paris every summer, Jeff works at an office)? Now, your idea is that the future progressive form is used in the same sense as the present simple - it focuses on a general situation in the future? So, "I'll be seeing you" means that I am going to see that person in general?
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"It will please me to have my subjects greet Princess Dorothy, the bearer of this royal missive, with the same courtesy and consideration they would extend to me." Frank Baum - The Emerald City of Oz
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