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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Is stopping vs. is going to stop vs. will stop
A. The train is stopping at X station.
B. The train is going to stop at X station.
C. The train will stop at X station.
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise or a voluntary action. However, I believe this applies only when the subject is a person.
1. What is the rule as to which form should be used if the subject is not a person?
2. Which of the sentences above are natural?
3. If two or all are possible, how are they different in meaning?
Please advise. Thank you.
B. The train is going to stop at X station.
C. The train will stop at X station.
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise or a voluntary action. However, I believe this applies only when the subject is a person.
1. What is the rule as to which form should be used if the subject is not a person?
2. Which of the sentences above are natural?
3. If two or all are possible, how are they different in meaning?
Please advise. Thank you.
Top answer
Hi, A. The train is stopping at X station. B.
- Hi, A.
- The train is stopping at X station.
- B.
- The train is going to stop at X station.
- C.
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6 Answers
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Hi,
A. The train is stopping at X station.
B. The train is going to stop at X station.
C. The train will stop at X station.
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise or a voluntary action.
A. The train is stopping at X station.
B. The train is going to stop at X station.
C. The train will stop at X station.
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise or a voluntary action.
00
Thanks so much, Clive. That was really helpful.
As to certainty of happening, do you think the present continuous is more certain than 'will', and 'will' more certain than 'going to'?
As to nearness of happening, is one sooner than the other?
As to certainty of happening, do you think the present continuous is more certain than 'will', and 'will' more certain than 'going to'?
As to nearness of happening, is one sooner than the other?
00
Hi,
As to certainty of happening, do you think the present continuous is more certain than 'will', and 'will' more certain than 'going to'? Very broadly speking, and looking at your examples, no. I'd rely more on the context to figure that out.
As to nearness of happening, is one sooner than the other? Same comment.
Clive
As to certainty of happening, do you think the present continuous is more certain than 'will', and 'will' more certain than 'going to'? Very broadly speking, and looking at your examples, no. I'd rely more on the context to figure that out.
As to nearness of happening, is one sooner than the other? Same comment.
Clive
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Hi Clive,
Thank you for your response to my additional questions. If there was no further context, would you say that all the tenses have no difference in meaning and can be used interchangeably?
By the way, which sentence is commonly heard from native speakers?
Thank you for your response to my additional questions. If there was no further context, would you say that all the tenses have no difference in meaning and can be used interchangeably?
By the way, which sentence is commonly heard from native speakers?
00
Hi again,
If there was no further context, would you say that all the tenses have no difference in meaning No. You answered this yourself when you said
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise
If there was no further context, would you say that all the tenses have no difference in meaning No. You answered this yourself when you said
In a future sense, I understand that the present continuous suggests a settled plan or an arrangement, 'going to' suggests an intention, while 'will' suggests a promise
00
Hi Clive,
Thanks for the explanation. I guess my overanalyzing the topic made me forget what I wrote earlier.
Anyway, I really appreciate your assisting me. Again, thank you.
Thanks for the explanation. I guess my overanalyzing the topic made me forget what I wrote earlier.
Anyway, I really appreciate your assisting me. Again, thank you.
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