Could Anyone tell me the difference between "Will do something" and "Will be doing"

[engee30]

Originally Posted by Niall Beag

OK, an example.

1 "Janet will be cooking dinner when Mike arrives."
vs
2 "Janet will cook dinner when Mike arrives."

In 1,
Janet starts to cook before Mike arrives.
She is still cooking dinner when he arrives. As Mike walks in he can see that she is cooking.
She finishes cooking after he arrives.

In 2,
Janet waits until Mike gets home before starting.
He arrives, then she starts to cook.

I hope that's clear enough,

Niall,
Trainee teacher.

Looks perfect to me!

But how will you explain the differences between the following sentences?

I fly to Mexico next week.
I'll fly to Mexico next week.
I'm flying to Mexico next week.
I'll be flying to Mexico next week.
I am going to fly to Mexico next week.

I just wonder in what circumstances I should use each of the above example sentences. That's a real problem to students learning English.

[shinji002]

About this Q:"Could Anyone tell me the difference between "Will do so"
in fact I had refered grammers about "Future Continuous Tense-->The future continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the future. The action will start before that moment but it will not have finished at that moment. For example, tomorrow I will start work at 2pm and stop work at 6pm:"
i know the expression,but i think "I'll be watching you" that should be followed by a specific time point. i don't know what the superman wants to say.in fact , i just wnat to know why he said "I'll be watching you",why didn't use "I'll watch you." In what situation shoud i use "i'll be watching you" or "i'll watch you." i know there must be some difference .but i just can't catch it .this is what i want.thank you.

[Harry Smith]

Hi, Engee30!
I fly to Mexico next week. (timetable)
I'll fly to Mexico next week.(perhaps you'll fly...)
I'm flying to Mexico next week.(fixed future action)
I'll be flying to Mexico at 8.30a.m next Wednesday .
I am going to fly to Mexico next week.(a plan)

If you wish we could discuss these sentences through Yahoo messenger.

[albertino]

Disclaimer: I am not a teacher.

1. I'll be watching you!!
2. I'll watch you!!

Can I say
"will" can be a modal indicating a sense of "determination", so we use "will be +ing" to represent "future" to avoid confustion?

[shinji002]

Originally Posted by Niall Beag

"I'll be watching you" is a bit of an exception as it's a fixed phrase.

Why "I'll be watching you"?
This is quite a complicated one:

The simple future can be used for a promise or a threat
(EG. "I'll kill you!")
so Superman's use of "I'll" threatens Luthor.

As you say, it is normal for the future continuous to be followed by a time. You expect one, so when you leave it out, it feels uncertain and it's more scary -- more threatening.

He could have said "I'm watching you", but that feels like now the near future. "I'll be watching" feels far longer -- you're forced to assume he means always.

oh,thank you.English is sometimes so strange.

[october67]

'will do something' is a reference to an action that will happen at some point in the future; usually with a time reference e.g. 'I'll watch that film tonight.' or 'We'll meet at 7pm tomorrow.' As it is clear to see, there is actually 'no action' happening at the time of these plans, only the suggestion of 'starting' an action at the given time.

'will be doing' is a reference to a future action that will be 'in progress' at a specific time in the future e.g. ' Don't call me tonight because I'll be watching a film.' or ' We'll be playing football at 11 tomorrow morning.'

To clarify: 'will do something' refers to a future plan, arrangement etc. that will commence at a particular time.
'will be doing' refers to a future action that will be in progress at a particular time.