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Elena Menshikova Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Future tense

Please help me to feel the difference between two sentences:
1. Sit down and fasten your seat belt. We'll take off in a few minutes
2. Sit down and fasten your seat belt. We'll be taking off in a few minutes
As I understood it, the 2nd sentence = We are taking off in a few minutes.
But what is the difference in the 1st?
In Murphy's Grammabook i've read that we may use "we will do" in such cases:
1. spontaneous decision
2. If we offer, agree, promise or ask
3. If we predict the future.
I wonder which case is here? Or here is just my misunderstanding of gramma?
PS. if you see are any mistakes in any my posts, please tell me )))
  

Top answer

I wouldn't use the first one, because it sounds like an instant decision. It has already been decided what time the plane will take off, so use the second one.

— TeacherShannon

  • I wouldn't use the first one, because it sounds like an instant decision.
  • It has already been decided what time the plane will take off, so use the second one.
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24 Answers
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I wouldn't use the first one, because it sounds like an instant decision. It has already been decided what time the plane will take off, so use the second one.
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Oh, thank you, Shannon!
I also felt that the second one is OK. But these two sentences are from the exercise in my book.

The original task was to fill the gup with "will+verb" or with "will be + -ing". Where both were possible to see the different effect of the simple future compared with the progressive.

Sit down and fasten your seat belt. We.............. in a few minut
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Oh, I already have found mistake in my previous post.)))
(I check the answere on the last page - both variants are possible.) I checked the answer on (in)? the last page - both vatiants were possible.
Is it right now?
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Elena MenshikovaI check the answere on the last page - both variants are possible. May be the misprint is there?
It's very rare for only one way of expressing the future to be correct and for all the other ways to be unacceptable.

Sit down and fasten your seat belt. We.............. in a few minutes (take off)
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fivejedjon will take off is the least likely
But what is the difference in... not meaning... but feeling of the phrase?
mmmm... How to explain...
When I use synonyms in my native language I feel the microscopic difference among them on the level of feelings. The meaning could be the same but I use one word not another precisely because I want to give
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Elena Menshikova(I check the answere on the last page - both variants are possible.) I checked the answer on (in)? the last page - both vatiants were possible.
If you are asking whether the on is the appropriate prepostion. It is. For learners, who have a difficult time with using prepositions, this trick may be helpful. Generally speaking, if yo
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Elena MenshikovaBut what is the difference in... not meaning... but feeling of the phrase?
The 'prediction, assumption; spontaneous action, instant decision' meanings of will + bare infinitive cover many of the ideas; I'd add 'volition'.

Speakers sometimes use will + progressive infinitive if they are more co
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grammarfreakIf you are asking whether the on is the appropriate prepostion. It is.
I've caught it. If there is a flat surface - say ON. Very usefull Thank you
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fivejedjonby its lack of reference to intention, volition or arrangement, a 'casual' future.
In my case there are no any stewardess' intention or volition to take off ))) May be just she has the arrangement with the pilot )))
So, as I think, the phrase Sit down and fasten your seat belt. We'll be taking off in a few minutes might be correct.
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Given the stewardess scenario, unlike the old days, such announcement is typically played through a video clip on the screens nowadays between the plane taxiing toward the runway and waiting in a queue position for the control tower instruction. In this context, "We will be taking off in a few minutes/ shortly " is more correct, in the sense that it is mo
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