[Grammar] I will be writing my exam this time

Status
Not open for further replies.

shibli.aftab

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Hindi
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
What is the difference in the meaning in below written sentences?

I will be writing my exam this time next week.

I will write my exam this time next week.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
With the construction "This time next week/month/year" etc, we almost always follow it with "I will be", then an adjective or the -ing form of a verb, but not "I will + infinitive".

This time next week, I'll be flying to America.
This time next month, I'll be 45 years old.
This time next year, I'll be running my own business.
This time tomorrow, I'll be on my way to Belgium.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
What is the difference in [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] meaning [STRIKE]in below written[/STRIKE] of the following sentences?

I will be writing my exam this time next week.

I will write my exam this time next week.

The second is unnatural.

We don't write an exam, so the first would be OK as

'I will be taking my exam this time next week'.
 

shibli.aftab

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Hindi
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
But I think sentence " I will write my exam this time next week." is in simple future tense, grammatically correct, explain meaning well.
Then what is the need of future continuous?
Thanks
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
It's the structure we use for a current activity or something which will be a current activity at the time being referred to. If someone asks you about the activity in which you are engaged at this exact moment (ie right now), they don't ask "What do you do right now?" (simple present interrogative), they ask "What are you doing right now?" (present continuous interrogative) and you answer "I am reading a book" (present continuous), not "I read a book" (present simple).

The same goes for statements about the future. The statement you gave refers to an activity in which you will be engaged at this moment in time but in one week. If you were asked the question "What are you doing?" (present continuous interrogative) in the middle of your exam, you would say "I'm taking my exam" (present continuous). The future form is "What will you be doing this time next week?" (future continuous interrogative) and the answer is "I will be taking my exam this time next week" (future continuous).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top