Could you help me?

Question

Could you explain to me what are differences among following sentences?

I know all of them can express future tense, but don't know what are the exact differences of them in term of nuance.

Thank you.

===

1. The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

3. The president Barack Obama is to make a statement tomorrow.

Terryxpress · Accepted Answer

Only one (1) expresses Future tense!
(2) and (3) introduce the 'gerund versus infinitive' issue.

To understand the differences, you need to be very VERY clear on the uses of the Present Tense, and Present Continuous.

So - what sense do you make of (2)?

Dimsumexpress · Answer

lucas21c

1. The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

3. The president Barack Obama is to make a statement tomorrow.

# 1 is for sure "future".
# 2 is present progressive with a futuristic overtone ..."tomorrow"
It is common to express upcoming event with present progressive tense. For example: The "Eagles" is comingto the Bay Area next month to do a few concerts. (I made that up!)

So in # 2, "....is making a statement ", " is making" is not a gerund.
#3 to me is mandative (if I could use this word) becasue in a work place, if the manager said " every employee is to follow the protocol as stated in the manual ", he is saying no one is to differ from the rules.
contrastively, # 3 used this form to express that a plan has been devised for the president to appear at a press conference to issue a statement tomorrow.

Terryxpress · Answer

So - we've gone full circle, without any real understanding!

You've written:
"It is common to express upcoming event with present progressive tense. For example: The "Eagles" is/are coming to the Bay Area next month to do a few concerts."
BUT
Why not, "The Eagles come to the Bay Area next month..."
OR
"The Eagles will be coming..."

All have 'futuristic overtones'. The question really is, why would a speaker choose one instead of either of the other two?

We'd better sort out your understanding of Present Tense first. Give me a chance to have another wake up cup of coffee - it's only 7 a.m. here - and I'll start on it.

James do · Answer

1. The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow.

This isn't a planed event or the speaker doesn't press that the president make a statement tomorrow is planed event.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

This event was planed.

Your sentence is similar to "the president is going to make a statement tomorrow."

3. The president Barack Obama is to make a statement tomorrow.

This kind of sentence is usually seen in newspapers. Some time they can omit the verb "be".

It represents a plan too. However, the structure "be+to infinitive" can convey orders or instructions as in the sentence below

He is to make a statement tommorrow. (He must do it. Someone order him to do it.)

Terryxpress · Answer

"The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow."

This isn't a planed event or the speaker doesn't press that the president make a statement tomorrow is planed event.

Sorry - NO.

We have a lot of work to do together!

Don't worry - it'll fun.

James do · Answer

Terryxpress"The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow."

This isn't a planed event or the speaker doesn't press that the president make a statement tomorrow is planed event.

Sorry - NO.

We have a lot of work to do together!

Don't worry - it'll fun.

Hi Terryxpress,

I'm not a native english speaker. So I can't fell the differences between those sentences as english speakers. I just accept the differences that I read in English Gramar books. They explain some cases that we should use "will" or not.

-Why did you make this cake?

-We are going to have a party tomorrow. (the party was planed before)

-Could anyone help me with it?

-I will help you. (I didn't plan to help that person)

Can I use "will" in the first case, and "is going to" in the second one?

Terryxpress · Answer

No.
But hold your horses(=wait a moment) - give me a chance to start explaining. We need to go back to basics(=start from the beginning in understanding the tenses).

Dimsumexpress · Answer

TerryxpressWhy not, "The Eagles come to the Bay Area next month..."

Uh Terry,
Interesting! Though I am a bit hesitant to use present tense (come) to express future event or activity personally. Of course given the proper context, you may be able to deliver the meaning.

Terryxpress"The Eagles will be coming..."

I have no objection to this -

TerryxpressWe'd better sort out your understanding of Present Tense first.

You are kidding, right? What influenced you to believe that I have problem with understanding the present tense? Even though I am not a born native, I did learn my grammar from a highly qualified professor who had taught in Beijing University for 5 years. I am pretty confident that my English is beyond getting stuck at present tense. But just to satisfy your doubts, I'd do this much:

I come to the forum everyday because I like to share what I know, as well as to learn from the experts. I make mistakes sometimes but I also benefit in the process.

Did I pass ?

Oh, by the way, remember this? You said " (2) and (3) introduce the 'gerund versus infinitive' issue ".
Well, as far as I am concerned, I'll point it out again, # 2 is a present progressive sentence, and in no way "making" is a "gerund". I suppose someone needs to sort it out ?

The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

Terryxpress · Answer

...was it the same professor who told you:

"The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow."

This isn't a planed event ...

...or just YOUR understanding of what he was saying?!

Not planned? Then how can the White House have announced to the press of Obama "He WILL make a statement"...that is, he plans to make a statement tomorrow.

If giving you information that contravenes what you THIINK you have understood your professor to say, then I don't want to raise the spectre of any disrespect to authority. I would merely suggest that what this erudite gentleman has said...and what you think you have understood, may differ!

You sound a bit too 'prickly' - such indignation that I should suggest that you may need to clarify your understanding of the Present Tense.

Let's let it go.

James do · Answer

Terryxpress...was it the same professor who told you:

"The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow."

This isn't a planed event ...

...or just YOUR understanding?!

Not planned by whom? Certainly, Obama plans to: "He WILL make a statement"...or some White House misinformation is being spread!

Let's let it go.

Hi Terryxpress,

I followed this topic and I found you edited your post at least 2 times. But it is likely that you mistook me with dimsumexpress. The explanation "this isn't a planed event..." is mine, not dimsumexpress.

May be I didn't understand the present tense very well. But I wonder how "is making" in that sentence is a gerund? It must be the present progressive tense.

Could you help me?

1. The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

3. The president Barack Obama is to make a statement tomorrow.

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1. The president Barack Obama will make a statement tomorrow.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

3. The president Barack Obama is to make a statement tomorrow.

2. The president Barack Obama is making a statement tomorrow.

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