will reach vs will be reaching

Question

It seems very likely that domestic toy sales ____ into the billions.

a. have
b. expensive.
c. will be reaching
d. will reach
The answer is C,
but I do think that C and D both are the answers.

Because both mean the future
and C is, as far as I know, 'a matter of course'
and D is just 'a simple announcement' or something.

If you think C is better than D in this context,
please tell me why and the difference between C and D.

Always grateful to you for teaching me a lot of things
I've not known from other study materials.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousThe answer is C,but I do think that C and D both are the answers.

I agree.

Anonymous C is, as far as I know, 'a matter of course'and D is just 'a simple announcement' or something.

I have not heard that. To me, continuous just shows greater involvement by the writer.

AnonymousIf you think C is better than D in this context,

No, I don't see any advantage for either C or D, really.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Mister Micawber.
I might want to get a bit more explanation.

By greater involvement, did you mean that
'will be doing ' puts more vividness, change or emphasis on the statement than 'will do'?
Is there any chance that the statement 'will be reaching' is connected with the present?
I mean, is it quite similar to 'its current state is just going on and on to the state of reaching into...'?
If it was right, 'will be doing' structure might well be like 'be going to'.

I read somethiing about this and it was like, maybe,
'will do' is more forceful than 'will be doing',
stresses the length of the action and its possibly repetitive nature as well.'
So I thought 'will be doing' could be used as a softened version of 'will do'.

Did you agree with this? Or Did you have anything else to say about this question?
The expressions of the future in English is very, very difficult to understand.

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousBy greater involvement, did you mean that'will be doing ' puts more vividness, change or emphasis on the statement than 'will do'?

Yes.

AnonymousIs there any chance that the statement 'will be reaching' is connected with the present?I mean, is it quite similar to 'its current state is just going on and on to the state of reaching into...'?

I don't see that and have not heard it.

Anonymous'will be doing' structure might well be like 'be going to'.

No, the 'be going to' future is idiomatic...and is not particularly connected with the present, either.

AnonymousI read somethiing about this and it was like, maybe,'will do' is more forceful than 'will be doing',

I see it simply as more formal (having less emotional content).

AnonymousSo I thought 'will be doing' could be used as a softened version of 'will do'.

Only in that it can be more familiar.

AnonymousThe expressions of the future in English is very, very difficult to understand.

Most of them are not as important as ESL teachers and prescriptivists would like to make them. As you can see, both C and D work fine in your original question.

will reach vs will be reaching

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions