Will be wanting?

Question

Hi people!I've found an exercise on the future continuous tense and I think one of the sentences in it is wrong or, at least, not usually heard. Here it is:Andrew will be wanting to hear all the news about Sandra.Is this sentence acceptable in any context? I thought that some verbs, namely the so-called "stative verbs" were not usually used in the progressive aspect. I also know that there are some cases in which we may use these verbs in the progressive. E.g.:I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays.I'm really enjoying this party!They will surely enjoy the experience.This time next year, we will be enjoying a wonderful holiday in Paris.But I just don't think "want" belongs to this kind of verbs and the sentece above sounds awkward to me. What do you think?Thanks a lot!Mara.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi Mara,

Andrew will be wanting to hear all the news about Sandra.

Is this sentence acceptable in any context? Sounds OK to me. It seems a little colloquial, but it's a common usage. It has the suggestion that the 'wanting' has begun at the time of speaking.

'I have to leave now. My wife will be wondering where I am'.

I thought that some verbs, namely the so-called "stative verbs" were not usually used in the progressive aspect. I also know that there are some cases in which we may use these verbs in the progressive. Yes E.g.:

I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays. 'Going' is a gerund here, not progressive.

I'm really enjoying this party! OK

They will surely enjoy the experience. This is not progressive.

This time next year, we will be enjoying a wonderful holiday in Paris. OK

Best wishes, Clive

Riglos · Answer

Thanks Clive!

I think I should have expressed myself better. I didn't mean to give sentences #1 and #3 as an example of progressive uses. My aim was just to contrast the use of the verb "enjoy" in both stative and progressive forms.

Regards,

Mara.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Mara

I'm not so sure what you are asking for. But let me throw my two cents.

English progressive tense is a peculiar operator. {Prog [dynamic Verb]} elongates the duration of the activity expressed by the dynamic verb (or one-time verb). That is, {Prog [dynamic verb]} gives a notion of continuousness or repetition to dynamic verbs. On the other hand, {Prog [stative verb]} shortens the duration of the state expressed by the stative verb. In another words, {Prog [stative verb]} gives a notion of temporariness to stative verbs.

So, as Clive said, "Andrew will be wanting to hear all the news about Sandra" means "Andrew will be <temporarily> wanting to hear all the news about Sandra." because "want" is a stative verb. "Enjoy", on the other hand, is a one-time verb. So if you want to express a continuous state of enjoying something, you have to say "I am enjoying it". As for your example sentence "I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays", this is not a statement telling a state. It is a statement in present tense to mean a habitual activity.

paco

Pinenut · Answer

Paco2004Hello Mara

I'm not so sure what you are asking for. But let me throw my two cents.

English progressive tense is a peculiar operator. {Prog [dynamic Verb]} elongate the duration of the activity expressed by the dynamic verb (or one-time verb). That is, {Prog [dynamic verb]} gives a notion of continuousness or repetition to dynamic verbs. On the other hand, {Prog [stative verb]} shortens the duration of the state expressed by the stative verb. In another words, {Prog [stative verb]} gives a notion of temporariness to stative verbs.

So, as Clive said, "Andrew will be wanting to hear all the news about Sandra" means "Andrew will be <temporarily> wanting to hear all the news about Sandra." because "want" is a stative verb. "Enjoy", on the other hand, is a one-time verb. So if you want to express a continuous state of enjoying something, you have to say "I am enjoying it". As for your example sentence "I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays", this is not a statement telling a state. It is a statement in present tense to mean a habitual activity.

paco

I think Mara is not happy about 'stative verbs' being used in a progressive form. One wants something or does not at least for a short perioid of time. Therefore, one need not use it in a progrssive form. I felt the same way.

pine

Paco2004 · Answer

I too was unhappy when I was told "I am loving you" by my ex-partner. I am a kind of person who believes "love" should continue, should be stative. I am not fond of temporary loves.

paco

Riglos · Answer

Hi Paco! I really liked your enlightening comments! Now, I don't seem to understand some points and would like to ask you some questions, if you don't mind.

My comments will be in blue.

I agree with everything you wrote up to the last two sentences:

You wrote:

"So if you want to express a continuous state of enjoying something, you have to say "I am enjoying it"." OK, I see that "I am enjoying" is in the progressive for it ends in -ing and we are focusing on the action in progression. Now, I think we are kind of messing things up here, for we should be cautious when using the words "continuous state". I though that the so-called "stative verbs" were the ones which expressed a "continuous state". The progressive with dynamic verbs may express the continuity of an "action". But if the verb is "stative" it already implies "continuity", "uninterruption". What the progressive does in a way (with stative verbs) is to shorten that sense of coninuity, doesn't it? If not, it seems a bit contradictory to me.

"As for your example sentence "I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays", this is not a statement telling a state. It is a statement in present tense to mean a habitual activity." I see what you mean. But if "enjoy" in my example sentence is not a state, then what is it? Since "verb" has been proverbially defined as "a content word that denotes an action or a state" then all verbs must necessarily fall into one of the two categories. I know my sentence implies a habitual activity, but does that exclude the possibility of "enjoy" being a state?

I'd be really glad if you can help me out with this. I'm a bit confused.

Thanks a lot!

Mara.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Mara

As you know well, "like" is a stative verb. Please compare.
(1) Yesterday I liked seeing the cinema.
(2) Yesterday I enjoyed seeing the cinema.
To me #1 sounds unnatural but #2 is OK. How come the difference?
I think it is because "enjoy" is a dynamic verb.

paco

Will be wanting?

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