Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

Are you leaving soon?

Will you be leaving soon?



The first sentence is present continuous used to describe future action, the second is future continuous. To me, there's no difference in meaning. The only possible difference I can think of between the two is that perhaps the first questions intent, whereas the second seems to question future happenings (i.e. a description of time rather than action).

I could be totally wrong about those. What do you think?

Q.

[Ya-ta Boy]

You are right. Present continuous can be used to express a future meaning.

I will (or: am going to) leave at 5:00 = I am leaving at 5:00.

[Qinella]

[spliff]

[Qinella]

[out of context]

This is just an impression, but it seems like if I say it in a question, it makes the question more tentative, or obsequious, like it's coming from a service employee; and if I say it in a statement, it makes the statement sound more authoritative. If the subject is "I", it can sometimes sound kind of pompous. Maybe it's a kind of honorific construction that elevates the subject or emphasizes the subject's position of authority. Or maybe I've just got honorifics on the brain.

The other interesting thing is that it uses the continuous form with verbs that normally don't take the continuous form, like "want" and "need".

[jacl]

Yes, that's one thing I haven't done any research on. I always ask my students "What are you doing this weekend?" or "What are you going to do this weekend?" Both have the same meaning, but the former is themore conversational/familiar (or whatever) way. I don't think there is any grammatical term in Korean that I can use to explain either usage. I don't even know what the term is in English for using present continuous when speaking of the future. Just that the past tense isn't used so, by process of elimination, it has to be future.

Future has two official usages: "will" and "going to". "Will" to me sounds more definite than going to and I don't use it that much myself. In fact, I don't use "going to" + the infinitive + "to" that much either. Seems redundant.

[Qinella]

Interesting thoughts. I'll show the replies to my boss, who originally had asked me the question, and we should have a little bit more to work with.

Cheers~

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Universalis]

I think the Will modal in the second sentence is the key.

If I remember correctly, R.A Klose defines Will as the closest to a true future tense that English has. Be Going To and Be Verb+ing are what he calls post-present tense verbs. In other words, both involve the future unfolding in a certain manner in light of current, and past, events, processes, and plans. The future event is tied up to the present in some way; Will+ verb lacks this grounding.

With that in mind... I'd use the present continuous for the future if I see indications that my guest is preparing to leave (collecting his things, etc.). I'd use "Will you be leaving soon" early i nthe evening perhaps to get an idea how long my guest will be staying.

(Come to think of it, if you have a friend over for dinner and 10 minutes after he arrives you ask him "Are you leaving soon?" that might sound a tad rude. "Will you be leaving soon?" sounds a bit more polite as their departure is more speculative.)

In other words, the Will pushes the idea of leaving further into the future and less contingent on current conditions.

For help on this kind of thing, I storngly recommend The English Verb by Michael Lewis. It's a great book that goes into a lot of detail disussing these minute differences between different verbs and verb forms.

Hope this helps...

Brian

[Qinella]

[out of context]

(

[juicyhumdinger]

The second reflects a more conditional question, while the first is more of a statement.

[Universalis]

[Privateer]