Will spend vs. be spending

Question

Here's a dialogue between two people.A: I am leaving for Taipei next Monday.B: How long will you be there?A: A week. I am spending the first few days with my brother.Here's the question. Take a look at the line 3 of this dialogue, "I am spending the first few days with my brother. "I think it is right to say "I will spend the first few days ~" instead of "I am spending the first few days ~."Do you think I'm right?Thanks in advance.

Holyduke · Accepted Answer

For future:

3 common constructions

will

be going to

be Ving

will - is less sure, plan not set in stone yet.

be going to - planned out, more sure.

be Ving - imminent, cannot be changed, and absolutely sure will happen. (plan set in stone)

In your case, 'will spend' and 'am going to spend' are better alternatives to 'am spending' since it is not a strict or unchangeable plan. (the event of spending time with your brother is also not imminent)

Mister Micawber · Answer

Holyduke is correct that there are a number of future form that can be used; however, they are not so strictly divisible as learners would like to think. All of the following are possible for your dialogue, presuming that you have contacted your brother, asked to stay with him, and he has happily agreed:

1-- I'm spending the first few days with my brother.

2-- I'm going to spend the first few days with my brother.

3-- I'll (Note: not 'I will') spend the first few days with my brother.

4-- I spend the first few days with my brother.

5-- I'll be spending the first few days with my brother.

and even

6-- I'm to spend the first few days with my brother.

Of those, the ones that seem to fit the register of your dialogue are #1 (notice that your dialogue begins with 'I'm leaving'!), #5, #2 and #3, in approximately that order of naturalness.

Will spend vs. be spending

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