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ESL forum >
Ask for help > I īll go or I īm going?
I īll go or I īm going?
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Adriportes
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I īll go or I īm going?
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I need some help, please! It īs about the use of present continous for the future. Well, when we make a decision at the moment of speaking we use WILL. So, for example... if I am walking along the street and decide to go back I say: "I īll go back." But my student asked me if she can say: "I īm going back." I read in another forum that both forms are possible but I couldn īt find it in any grammar book. I īd be really grateful if anyone could help me. Thank you! |
31 May 2012
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MoodyMoody
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We use present continuous all the time for near future events, such as "I īm working tomorrow." So, your student is correct. I could also say, "I īm going to teach about count and uncount nouns," using "going to" as future. (I didn īt say, "I īm going to work tomorrow" because that could be either "going to" future or a straight present continuous.) |
31 May 2012
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Adriportes
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So even if it was an instant decision in this case and the "near future" is really near... in seconds I would say... then it īs ok to use the present continuous here. Thank you!! |
31 May 2012
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Tere-arg
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Hi Adriportes,
In your example, will is correct.
We use simple future for spontaneous decisions and going to for intentional/planned actions.
But you say "I am coming" meaning "wait for me...Iīll be with you immediately" when speaking to other people.
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31 May 2012
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MoodyMoody
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Of course, will is fine too. I didn īt mean to imply otherwise. |
31 May 2012
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falafel
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Hi dear friend. Will is used with instant decision, while to be going to + Verb is used with future intention. However the present continuous is used with future planned actions. I hope that I will be helpful. Have a nice day. |
1 Jun 2012
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Adriportes
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Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it! |
1 Jun 2012
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