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Tashiro Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Future
Hi, please help me.
My English texbook says a present sentence can represent the future if the sentence represents a unchangeable future, for example, "I turn thirty in October." The textbook continues that it is possible only if the verb in the sentence is not a statal verb but a action verb. So "I'm thirty in October." is wrong. "I'll be thirty in October.", "I turn thirty in October." ,or "I'll turn thirty in October." is OK. But I came across these sentences below.
"What time is the documentary on?"
"Is Mr. Arnold in tomorrow?"
"Work is over at five."
"The blossoms will be out in a few days."
I think these sentences are contradictory to the interpretation above. If they are OK, is it possible to change them into below sentences?
"What time will the documentary be on?" or "What time is the documentary going to be on?"
"Will Mr. Arnold be in tomorrow?" or "Is Mr. Arnold going to be in tomorrow?"
"Work will be over at five." or "Work is going to be over at five."
"The blossoms are out in a few days." or "The blossoms are going to be out in a few days."
My English texbook says a present sentence can represent the future if the sentence represents a unchangeable future, for example, "I turn thirty in October." The textbook continues that it is possible only if the verb in the sentence is not a statal verb but a action verb. So "I'm thirty in October." is wrong. "I'll be thirty in October.", "I turn thirty in October." ,or "I'll turn thirty in October." is OK. But I came across these sentences below.
"What time is the documentary on?"
"Is Mr. Arnold in tomorrow?"
"Work is over at five."
"The blossoms will be out in a few days."
I think these sentences are contradictory to the interpretation above. If they are OK, is it possible to change them into below sentences?
"What time will the documentary be on?" or "What time is the documentary going to be on?"
"Will Mr. Arnold be in tomorrow?" or "Is Mr. Arnold going to be in tomorrow?"
"Work will be over at five." or "Work is going to be over at five."
"The blossoms are out in a few days." or "The blossoms are going to be out in a few days."
Top answer
" The only one of your sentences I don't like - but someone else of course may - is the one above. English is a language of fixed expressions and phrases and some of your suggestions may not be commonly used or there may be subtle changes in connotations. For example, Is Mr.
- " The only one of your sentences I don't like - but someone else of course may - is the one above.
- English is a language of fixed expressions and phrases and some of your suggestions may not be commonly used or there may be subtle changes in connotations.
- For example, Is Mr.
- Arnold going to be in tomorrow?
- seems to ask whether it is Mr.
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1 Answers
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tashiro"The blossoms are out in a few days."The only one of your sentences I don't like - but someone else of course may
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