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Thread: Present continuous or Future Simple?

  1. #1
    marin123 is offline Newbie
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    Default Present continuous or Future Simple?

    Correct if I’m mistaken in the choice of prepositions, please:
    Our machines are in great demand at this price.
    Is it convenient for you to have talks with them?
    *****
    Correct if I’m mistaken in the choice of Present Continuous or Future Simple, please:
    1) I am not coming to the plant tomorrow.
    2) I think Tina will go on business to Italy next week..
    3) Will you have talks the day after tomorrow?
    4) Maybe, I shall stay at home next Sunday.
    5) The representatives of Simpson and Co. are not arriving tonight.
    6) Do you think you will sign the contract next Friday?
    7) Who is leaving for London this afternoon?
    8) When are you meeting Mr. Bell?
    9) He is not working today.
    10) I am sure their manager is coming to our office tomorrow.

  2. #2
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Present continuous or Future Simple?

    Quote Originally Posted by marin123 View Post
    Correct if I’m mistaken in the choice of prepositions, please:
    Our machines are in great demand at this price.
    Is it convenient for you to have talks with them?
    *****
    Correct if I’m mistaken in the choice of Present Continuous or Future Simple, please:
    1) I am not coming to the plant tomorrow.
    2) I think Tina will go on business to Italy next week..
    3) Will you have talks the day after tomorrow?
    4) Maybe, I shall stay at home next Sunday.
    5) The representatives of Simpson and Co. are not arriving tonight.
    6) Do you think you will sign the contract next Friday?
    7) Who is leaving for London this afternoon?
    8) When are you meeting Mr. Bell?
    9) He is not working today.
    10) I am sure their manager is coming to our office tomorrow.
    1-2 correct
    3 also "going to" is possible: Are you going to have talks the day after tomorrow?
    4 "will" is more used in this sense.
    5-6 correct
    7 also "going to" is possible: Who's going to leave for London...?
    8 also "will" is possible in this sentence, I think.
    9-10 correct

    Not a teacher.

  3. #3
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: Present continuous or Future Simple?

    I have looked at only the first two:
    1) I am not coming to the plant tomorrow. Also: I won't be coming, I'm not going to come, I won't come.
    2) I think Tina will go on business to Italy next week..Also: goes, is going, will be going, is going to go.

    The problem with this sort of exercise, is that there is rarely one absolutely and exclusively correct form. All the alternatives I have given you are perfectly acceptable in these sentences. Some people don't like the two I have coloured blue, but they are fine.
    Last edited by 5jj; 08-Nov-2011 at 17:12. Reason: typo

  4. #4
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Present continuous or Future Simple?

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    I have looked at only the first two:
    1) I am not coming to the plant tomorrow. Also: I won't be coming, I'm not going to come, I won't come.
    2) I think Tina will go on business to Italy next week..Also: goes, is going, will be going, is going to go.

    The problem with this sort of exercise, is that there is rarely one absolutely and exclusively correct form. All the alternatives I have given you are perfectly acceptable in these sentences. Some people don't like the two I have coloured blue, but they are fine.
    I think it depends on what he wants to mean...on the basis of what he means, he can choose the most correct and suitable form of future tense.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Present continuous or Future Simple?

    Quote Originally Posted by dilodi83 View Post
    I think it depends on what he wants to mean...on the basis of what he means, he can choose the most correct and suitable form of future tense.
    There are situations in which the difference between the meanings of two or more forms is so slight as to be non-existent.

    In #3, for example, (...... you .... talks the day after tomorrow?) are you having suggests that the question is about a present arrangement for the future meeting; are you going to have suggests that the question is about present evidence of the existence of a future meeting (such as, for example, an arrangement).

    For this particular situation, there is no practical difference in meaning between the two forms.
    dilodi83 likes this.

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