... tomorrow we'll take/be taking the train.

[Marika33]

Could you please explain to me the difference between these two?

• Today we're taking the bus but tomorrow we'll be taking the train.
• Today we're taking the bus but tomorrow we'll take the train.

 

[Marika33]

Considering no answer has been given yet, there's no actual difference, I suppose.

 

[jutfrank]

The difference should be revealed through context.

It would make a difference who's talking to whom, and in what situation.

 

[Marika33]

The difference should be revealed through context.

It would make a difference who's talking to whom, and in what situation.

Understood. Would it be possible if I asked you what those situtations would be, but in simple words that would give me some basic guidance?

I found that sentence here, and there was no context.

 

[jutfrank]

Remember what I've said previously about the future continuous being used for non-negotiable future scheduled arrangements with some kind of third-party authority. I think the context I suggested before was to think of a tour guide telling a group of tourists about an itinerary. That would work in this case, too.

 

[Marika33]

Got it. What about "Today we're taking the bus but tomorrow we'll take the train"?

 

[jutfrank]

Well, that's not future continuous, obviously, so it's not the same usage.

Can I ask why you've used a continuous aspect in the first clause and not the second?

 

[Marika33]

Can I ask why you've used a continuous aspect in the first clause and not the second?

I found that sentence with the(a?) continuous aspect in both clauses here, and I got wondering what difference it would make if I just used the simple aspect in the second clause. My guess is that the present continuous is used in the first clause because it is one way of talking about the future when it is already fixed or arranged, for example, you have arranged to go somewhere or meet somebody "I'm leaving next week. I've booked my flight" or "What time are you meeting Mary this evening?".

 

[jutfrank]

My guess is that the present continuous is used in the first clause because it is one way of talking about the future when it is already fixed or arranged, for example, you have arranged to go somewhere or meet somebody "I'm leaving next week. I've booked my flight" or "What time are you meeting Mary this evening?".

That could be the case, yes. Or it could be that the speaker is talking while the action of taking the train is currently in progress at the time of speaking. Without any useful context, we just can't know, which is why context is so important to reveal the meaning (the aspect) inside the mind of the speaker.

In future, for any sentence you study, think carefully about:

• what the situation is
• who is speaking
• to whom it said
• what the speaker is trying to do with the utterance

All of these things count as part of the meaning/use of the utterance. You usually need to understand all of these things in order to understand the utterance fully. From now on, please don't offer uncontextualised sentences. Thanks.