[Grammar] Future: Expressing orders, commands and giving threats and instructions

[just.learning]

Hello all

I’m trying to get the hang of ”the future” – grammatically speaking anyway. I’m sitting here with “Cambridge Grammar in Use” and “Oxford Practical English Usage”.

Both books agree, that we use ‘will’ when talking about impulsive decisions made right here and now, whereas ‘going to’ (and future continuous) are used when talking about decisions already made.

However!


Oxford says that ‘going to’ can be used with commands:

You’re going to finish that soup / You’re finishing that soup
You’re going to take that medicine / You’re taking that medicine

BUT, that ‘will’ is often used giving promises and threats AND instructions and orders:

I’ll hit you if you do that again
You’ll suffer for this
Will you be quiet, please!

Wouldn’t it then be just as appropriate to use ‘will’ when commanding someone to do something? Like:

You will eat that soup
You will take that medicine

Can anyone sort this out for me? Or is it just one of many “grey” areas?

Kind regards

 

[5jj]

Oxford says that ‘going to’ can be used with commands:

You’re going to finish that soup / You’re finishing that soup
You’re going to take that medicine / You’re taking that medicine

BUT, that ‘will’ is often used giving promises and threats AND instructions and orders:

I’ll hit you if you do that again
You’ll suffer for this
Will you be quiet, please!

Wouldn’t it then be just as appropriate to use ‘will’ when commanding someone to do something? Like:

You will eat that soup
You will take that medicine

Can anyone sort this out for me? Or is it just one of many “grey” areas?

It's a 'grey area' only if you think that in any particular situation only one construction is possible. There is a difference in the way speakers have approached a situation when when choose to say "You are going to eat that soup" or "You will eat that soup". However, at the moment of the words being uttered, there is no practical difference between 'going to' and 'will'.

 

[abaka]

In all of these constructions, it is the tone of the human voice that makes the imperative clear.

When such phrases are written, the skill of the writer and the imagination and training of the reader create the context necessary to understand the command.

 

[Barb_D]

And you can using "going to" for threats as well. You're going to regret the day you were born.

 

[SoothingDave]

Both books agree, that we use ‘will’ when talking about impulsive decisions made right here and now, whereas ‘going to’ (and future continuous) are used when talking about decisions already made.

I really don't believe that this distinction between will/going to is actually followed by native speakers. They're pretty much interchangeable to me.

 

[charliedeut]

And you can using "going to" for threats as well. You're going to regret the day you were born.

:shock: Me? Why? ;-)

 

[just.learning]

Nice, guys! Thank you for your inputs!

 

[Tdol]

:shock: Me? Why? ;-)

Since when did threats require explanations? Because- that's why. ;-)

 

[charliedeut]

Since when did threats require explanations? Because- that's why. ;-)

uppydog:

 

[5jj]

uppydog:

So that's what you look like. ;-)

 

[charliedeut]

So that's what you look like. ;-)

Just before my morning coffee. Not all of us can boast a physique like yours. :loling: