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JohnKeats Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
"Will" future / be going to
Context:
One of my students is taking his final exam.
I ask a question which he does not understand.
I say:
(1) Do not worry. I’ll reformulate the question.
(2) Do not worry. I’m going to reformulate the question.
I think either alternative could work.
(1) is surely OK (decision made at the moment of speaking / unpremeditated decision).
(2) too is OK because my students know that I’m in the habit of reformulating questions if they don’t understand them (premeditated decision).
What do you think?
Thank you.
JK
One of my students is taking his final exam.
I ask a question which he does not understand.
I say:
(1) Do not worry. I’ll reformulate the question.
(2) Do not worry. I’m going to reformulate the question.
I think either alternative could work.
(1) is surely OK (decision made at the moment of speaking / unpremeditated decision).
(2) too is OK because my students know that I’m in the habit of reformulating questions if they don’t understand them (premeditated decision).
What do you think?
Thank you.
JK
Top answer
Hello, John, I agree with you in that both seem acceptable, but the former seems to me the more acceptable of the two. Will/shall express pure future or neutral prediction without attitudinal implications when the post-present actualisation (the act of your explanation) depends upon external factors (their not understanding the subject). '.
- Hello, John, I agree with you in that both seem acceptable, but the former seems to me the more acceptable of the two.
- Will/shall express pure future or neutral prediction without attitudinal implications when the post-present actualisation (the act of your explanation) depends upon external factors (their not understanding the subject).
- '.
- How is the addressee supposed to respond?
- With will , according to the strong teaching tradition.
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1 Answers
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Hello, John,
I agree with you in that both seem acceptable, but the former seems to me the more acceptable of the two. Will/shall express pure future or neutral prediction without attitudinal implications when the post-present actualisation (the act of your explanation) depends upon external factors (their not understanding the subject). I would object to the second one as follows:
I agree with you in that both seem acceptable, but the former seems to me the more acceptable of the two. Will/shall express pure future or neutral prediction without attitudinal implications when the post-present actualisation (the act of your explanation) depends upon external factors (their not understanding the subject). I would object to the second one as follows:
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