Uses of Future Progressive / Continuous

[CarlaSofia]

Hello you all!

I'm struggling to understand what the real difference is between Present Continuous and Future Continuous when referring to fixed plans and arrangements. I'm going nuts! Some books mention the use of Fut. Progr. for fixed plans, others don't. Does any of you know the exact difference? Will you please enlighten me???

[Summer1963]

Let's look at two sentences:

1) I'm sewing a flag for the party.

2) I will be sewing a flag for the party.

Sentence #1 can mean that I'm doing it now OR that is my plan to do so (probably in the near future).

Sentence #2 can mean that I plan on sewing the flag, but in the future. Or, if paired with an explanatory sentence like, "Sorry, I can't make it to lunch tomorrow," that it will be an action I will be busy with at the same time as another future action.

[Humble]

Hi,
Summer, you seem to misunderstand the question. CS talks about fixed plans. I'd also like to know the difference:
We are leaving on Thursday.
We'll be leaving on Thursday.
I don't see any, but native speakers may.

[Tdol]

There's not a great deal of difference, but if the focus is on the arrangements, then the present progressive sounds better to me.