'Will' or simple present: Why there is a difference in these two sentences?
Consider these two sentences from the book Grammar in Use:
- Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week.
- The new drug goes on sale in the USA next year.
As you see, the authors of the book recommend to use "will" in the 1st sentence, because there is "less routine arrangement" and present simple in the 2nd because it's a "fixed event".
I do not see any difference between these two sentences from this aspect. Both events are planned and will take place only once in future.
The book says that 'will' is also useable in the second sentence, but then why is present simple not possible in the first one?
syntax will-future
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
Consider these two sentences from the book Grammar in Use:
- Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week.
- The new drug goes on sale in the USA next year.
As you see, the authors of the book recommend to use "will" in the 1st sentence, because there is "less routine arrangement" and present simple in the 2nd because it's a "fixed event".
I do not see any difference between these two sentences from this aspect. Both events are planned and will take place only once in future.
The book says that 'will' is also useable in the second sentence, but then why is present simple not possible in the first one?
syntax will-future
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
Consider these two sentences from the book Grammar in Use:
- Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week.
- The new drug goes on sale in the USA next year.
As you see, the authors of the book recommend to use "will" in the 1st sentence, because there is "less routine arrangement" and present simple in the 2nd because it's a "fixed event".
I do not see any difference between these two sentences from this aspect. Both events are planned and will take place only once in future.
The book says that 'will' is also useable in the second sentence, but then why is present simple not possible in the first one?
syntax will-future
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
Consider these two sentences from the book Grammar in Use:
- Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week.
- The new drug goes on sale in the USA next year.
As you see, the authors of the book recommend to use "will" in the 1st sentence, because there is "less routine arrangement" and present simple in the 2nd because it's a "fixed event".
I do not see any difference between these two sentences from this aspect. Both events are planned and will take place only once in future.
The book says that 'will' is also useable in the second sentence, but then why is present simple not possible in the first one?
syntax will-future
syntax will-future
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
edited Feb 23 at 14:28
Lordology
1,404217
1,404217
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
asked Feb 23 at 10:33
JanJan
133
133
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
English, like other languages, uses tense semiotically as well as semantically. Thus, when context clearly establishes the time in question, we can use tense to signal something about the focus of our remarks. The so-called historical present is an example.
I have found no discussion of the historical present being used to bring the future into tighter focus, but there is no reason why is shouldn't be, and so it is. If important things happen in 1848, they can happen in 2048. How would we describe the future portrayed in science fiction? The world is at war or peace, money is or isn't still a thing, etc. History is a work in progress, after all.
Like the traditional historical present, using the present tense to talk about the future helps focus our attention on things right before us:
"We are lucky to have Fred join us; he is well-educated, accomplished, and starts on Wednesday."
Note how I have treated "starts on Wednesday" as if it were an adjective. I am not trying to communicate something about the timeline, viz., that he won't be here until Wednesday. That intention would call for the future tense. Rather, I am trying to communicate something about the new guy that explains why we are lucky today, viz., that he will be here so soon.
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
add a comment |
The phrase while we are away next week is a specific situation not a "general state of affairs", and for that reason we would not use the simple present.
Alex looks after our cats whenever we're away. OK
Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week. not quite idiomatic*
Alex is looking after our cats while we're away next week. OK
Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week. OK
We use will + bare infinitive or is + participle if we wish to express the idea of an isolated event or action in the future, that is, something that is not on a timetable ("The train arrives in Berlin at 6AM tomorrow" or "the drug goes on sale next year").
*Not unless Alex's care of the cats is being cast as part of a timetable or as part of a plan or arrangement made in advance:
While we're away next week Alex looks after our cats and John brings in the mail, and I will mow the lawn before we leave.
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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English, like other languages, uses tense semiotically as well as semantically. Thus, when context clearly establishes the time in question, we can use tense to signal something about the focus of our remarks. The so-called historical present is an example.
I have found no discussion of the historical present being used to bring the future into tighter focus, but there is no reason why is shouldn't be, and so it is. If important things happen in 1848, they can happen in 2048. How would we describe the future portrayed in science fiction? The world is at war or peace, money is or isn't still a thing, etc. History is a work in progress, after all.
Like the traditional historical present, using the present tense to talk about the future helps focus our attention on things right before us:
"We are lucky to have Fred join us; he is well-educated, accomplished, and starts on Wednesday."
Note how I have treated "starts on Wednesday" as if it were an adjective. I am not trying to communicate something about the timeline, viz., that he won't be here until Wednesday. That intention would call for the future tense. Rather, I am trying to communicate something about the new guy that explains why we are lucky today, viz., that he will be here so soon.
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
add a comment |
English, like other languages, uses tense semiotically as well as semantically. Thus, when context clearly establishes the time in question, we can use tense to signal something about the focus of our remarks. The so-called historical present is an example.
I have found no discussion of the historical present being used to bring the future into tighter focus, but there is no reason why is shouldn't be, and so it is. If important things happen in 1848, they can happen in 2048. How would we describe the future portrayed in science fiction? The world is at war or peace, money is or isn't still a thing, etc. History is a work in progress, after all.
Like the traditional historical present, using the present tense to talk about the future helps focus our attention on things right before us:
"We are lucky to have Fred join us; he is well-educated, accomplished, and starts on Wednesday."
Note how I have treated "starts on Wednesday" as if it were an adjective. I am not trying to communicate something about the timeline, viz., that he won't be here until Wednesday. That intention would call for the future tense. Rather, I am trying to communicate something about the new guy that explains why we are lucky today, viz., that he will be here so soon.
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
add a comment |
English, like other languages, uses tense semiotically as well as semantically. Thus, when context clearly establishes the time in question, we can use tense to signal something about the focus of our remarks. The so-called historical present is an example.
I have found no discussion of the historical present being used to bring the future into tighter focus, but there is no reason why is shouldn't be, and so it is. If important things happen in 1848, they can happen in 2048. How would we describe the future portrayed in science fiction? The world is at war or peace, money is or isn't still a thing, etc. History is a work in progress, after all.
Like the traditional historical present, using the present tense to talk about the future helps focus our attention on things right before us:
"We are lucky to have Fred join us; he is well-educated, accomplished, and starts on Wednesday."
Note how I have treated "starts on Wednesday" as if it were an adjective. I am not trying to communicate something about the timeline, viz., that he won't be here until Wednesday. That intention would call for the future tense. Rather, I am trying to communicate something about the new guy that explains why we are lucky today, viz., that he will be here so soon.
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
English, like other languages, uses tense semiotically as well as semantically. Thus, when context clearly establishes the time in question, we can use tense to signal something about the focus of our remarks. The so-called historical present is an example.
I have found no discussion of the historical present being used to bring the future into tighter focus, but there is no reason why is shouldn't be, and so it is. If important things happen in 1848, they can happen in 2048. How would we describe the future portrayed in science fiction? The world is at war or peace, money is or isn't still a thing, etc. History is a work in progress, after all.
Like the traditional historical present, using the present tense to talk about the future helps focus our attention on things right before us:
"We are lucky to have Fred join us; he is well-educated, accomplished, and starts on Wednesday."
Note how I have treated "starts on Wednesday" as if it were an adjective. I am not trying to communicate something about the timeline, viz., that he won't be here until Wednesday. That intention would call for the future tense. Rather, I am trying to communicate something about the new guy that explains why we are lucky today, viz., that he will be here so soon.
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
answered Feb 23 at 14:32
remarklremarkl
67619
67619
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
add a comment |
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
Thank you for your explanation. In the first sentence, the "while we are away next week" indicates the time. Yet, saying "Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week." is not recommended and "will look" is still used to indicate the tense.
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:36
add a comment |
The phrase while we are away next week is a specific situation not a "general state of affairs", and for that reason we would not use the simple present.
Alex looks after our cats whenever we're away. OK
Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week. not quite idiomatic*
Alex is looking after our cats while we're away next week. OK
Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week. OK
We use will + bare infinitive or is + participle if we wish to express the idea of an isolated event or action in the future, that is, something that is not on a timetable ("The train arrives in Berlin at 6AM tomorrow" or "the drug goes on sale next year").
*Not unless Alex's care of the cats is being cast as part of a timetable or as part of a plan or arrangement made in advance:
While we're away next week Alex looks after our cats and John brings in the mail, and I will mow the lawn before we leave.
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
add a comment |
The phrase while we are away next week is a specific situation not a "general state of affairs", and for that reason we would not use the simple present.
Alex looks after our cats whenever we're away. OK
Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week. not quite idiomatic*
Alex is looking after our cats while we're away next week. OK
Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week. OK
We use will + bare infinitive or is + participle if we wish to express the idea of an isolated event or action in the future, that is, something that is not on a timetable ("The train arrives in Berlin at 6AM tomorrow" or "the drug goes on sale next year").
*Not unless Alex's care of the cats is being cast as part of a timetable or as part of a plan or arrangement made in advance:
While we're away next week Alex looks after our cats and John brings in the mail, and I will mow the lawn before we leave.
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
add a comment |
The phrase while we are away next week is a specific situation not a "general state of affairs", and for that reason we would not use the simple present.
Alex looks after our cats whenever we're away. OK
Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week. not quite idiomatic*
Alex is looking after our cats while we're away next week. OK
Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week. OK
We use will + bare infinitive or is + participle if we wish to express the idea of an isolated event or action in the future, that is, something that is not on a timetable ("The train arrives in Berlin at 6AM tomorrow" or "the drug goes on sale next year").
*Not unless Alex's care of the cats is being cast as part of a timetable or as part of a plan or arrangement made in advance:
While we're away next week Alex looks after our cats and John brings in the mail, and I will mow the lawn before we leave.
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
The phrase while we are away next week is a specific situation not a "general state of affairs", and for that reason we would not use the simple present.
Alex looks after our cats whenever we're away. OK
Alex looks after our cats while we're away next week. not quite idiomatic*
Alex is looking after our cats while we're away next week. OK
Alex will look after our cats while we're away next week. OK
We use will + bare infinitive or is + participle if we wish to express the idea of an isolated event or action in the future, that is, something that is not on a timetable ("The train arrives in Berlin at 6AM tomorrow" or "the drug goes on sale next year").
*Not unless Alex's care of the cats is being cast as part of a timetable or as part of a plan or arrangement made in advance:
While we're away next week Alex looks after our cats and John brings in the mail, and I will mow the lawn before we leave.
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
edited Feb 23 at 12:08
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
answered Feb 23 at 11:26
TRomanoTRomano
17.8k22248
17.8k22248
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
add a comment |
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
However, if the cats are looked after by Alex whenever we are absent from home we can say "Alex looks after the cats while we are away". I think this is what the grammar book is saying. The choice of the new drug release is not a good example in my opinion.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 12:20
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
@BoldBen: Yes, "while we are away" can be a synonym for "whenever we're away", but not when the phrase also contains "next week".
– TRomano
Feb 23 at 12:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
True, but in my opinon we should say "Will look after" or "is looking after" when speaking of a single occurrance. "Looks after" implies repetetive or habitual circumstances, which is what the OP's grammar book was saying.
– BoldBen
Feb 23 at 19:23
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
So, let 's say there are two trips, one is with the family and the second organized by the school. Is it then correct to say: "I will go on a trip with my Family next Sunday.", "The school class goes on a trip next Monday."? Would it be also OK to say "am/is going on the trip..." in both sentences as well?
– Jan
Mar 9 at 4:47
add a comment |
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