[Grammar] You want to be looking ahead

[kadioguy]

(In Cambridge Grammar of English)

Want to is used in informal spoken language to advise, recommend or warn (most commonly with a second person subject). It is almost always in present tense, and is often followed by a be + -ing verb form:

[...]

[talking about whether young people should look to the future or more to their
present needs]
At that age you need a bit of both. You want to be looking ahead and you want
to be improving your skills as well.

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1. What does the effect exist in the "-ing" form?

a. You want to look ahead and you want to improve your skills as well. (my sentence)

b. You want to be looking ahead and you want to be improving your skills as well.

2. What different effect exists between (a) and (b)?

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(Source)

 

[kadioguy]

Can the following about the progressive aspect (the green part) apply to my question?

That is, (b) is more expected to happen than (a).

a. You want to look ahead and you want to improve your skills as well. (my sentence)

b. You want to be looking ahead and you want to be improving your skills as well.
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Practical English Usage 3rd

220.2
events that are fixed or expected to happen

The future progressive is also used (without a progressive meaning) to refer to future events which are fixed or decided, or which are expected to happen in the normal course of events.

Professor Baxter will be giving another lecture on Roman glass-making at the same time next week.

I'll be seeing you one of these days, I expect.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

(In Cambridge Grammar of English)

Want to is used in informal spoken language to advise, recommend or warn (most commonly with a second person subject). It is almost always in present tense, and is often followed by a be + -ing verb form:

[...]

[talking about whether young people should look to the future or more to their
present needs]
At that age you need a bit of both. You want to be looking ahead and you want
to be improving your skills as well.

-------
1. What does the effect exist in the "-ing" form?

a. You want to look ahead and you want to improve your skills as well. (my sentence)

b. You want to be looking ahead and you want to be improving your skills as well.

2. What different effect exists between (a) and (b)?

Example a says to do it now. Example b says to continue doing it over time.

To be doing something is to do it continuously — forever or for a given period.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Can the following about the progressive aspect (the green part) apply to my question?

That is, (b) is more expected to happen than (a).

No. Both of your sentences say you should look ahead and improve.

a. You want to look ahead and you want to improve your skills as well. (my sentence)

b. You want to be looking ahead and you want to be improving your skills as well.
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Practical English Usage 3rd

220.2
events that are fixed or expected to happen

The future progressive is also used (without a progressive meaning) to refer to future events which are fixed or decided, or which are expected to happen in the normal course of events.

See the "or"? It can be used either way.

Professor Baxter will be giving another lecture on Roman glass-making at the same time next week.

Baxter's lectures are scheduled for a fixed time.

I'll be seeing you one of these days, I expect.

I expect to see you in the normal course of events — not at a fixed time.

There you go!

 

[jutfrank]

Good question. I think Charlie Bernstein's right that the form with -ing provides a sense that the action progresses over time.

I think also that the -ing form works better to give a sense of futurity that the simple form doesn't. In the looking 'ahead' example, for example, the advice seems to be for the listener later in life. I'm not too sure about this, though.