The five robbers have robbed/will rob five banks this week.

[Fadli Sheikh]

Please consider the following grammar choice question.

The five robbers ... five banks this week. They are in another city. How are they carrying the money?
a. have robbed
b. will rob

Which one is the answer? I do understand that a. have robbed sounds better, but the last sentence is in the present continuous and I do think that it is loosely connected or it actually means "are they going to carry"?

 

[Barque]

"How are they carrying...?" implies they have the money, which means the robbery has already occurred. So "have robbed" is the right answer in this context.

"Will rob" could fit in a different context.

For "will rob" to fit, you'd need "How will they carry the money?" and "They're going to another city".

 

[Fadli Sheikh]

"How are they carrying...?" implies they have the money, which means the robbery has already occurred. So "have robbed" is the right answer in this context.

"Will rob" could fit in a different context.

For "will rob" to fit, you'd need "How will they carry the money?" and "They're going to another city".

 

[Fadli Sheikh]

What about the continuous form which is the same in meaning as going to? Can't we interpret that it refers to what they have planned to do in the future and the robberies are part of the plan?

 

[Barque]

There's a big difference between "How are they carrying....?" and "How will they carry...?"

I'm afraid your question isn't very clear.

 

[Fadli Sheikh]

I got confused with the last sentence. If they have robbed the banks, then they have got the money. The action carrying should refer to a past action, right? Why is it in the progressive form? Shouldn't it be in the simple past?

 

[Barque]

It could be the simple past.
How did they carry the money there?

It can also be progressive.
How are they carrying the money?
Meaning: How are they (continuously) moving around from place to place with all that money, without being spotted?

English is a very flexible language.

 

[Fadli Sheikh]

I see. Thanks a lot for your explanation.

 

[Tdol]

What about the continuous form which is the same in meaning as going to? Can't we interpret that it refers to what they have planned to do in the future and the robberies are part of the plan?

It doesn't work for me.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't use "have planned to do". Instead, I would say (for example), "I plan to go shopping today." Or: "I plan to go to the store today." Or: "I plan to go to the restaurant." Or: "I plan to get some exercise."