Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

In ten years, I am thinking of woking in a junior high school. I will live a happy life with many children every day.

(question)
1. I'm not sure if I can use "am thinking of" together with "in ten years"
Could you give me any alternative if it is incorrect?

2. I don't know for sure if "will" goes with "every day"
Please give me any suggestion if any.

Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[Mary W. Ng]

I'd change the sentence to read: "In ten years, I think I will be working in a junior high school. I will be living a happy life with many children." (The adverbial modifier every day is not needed.)
_________________
Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com

[buddhaheart]

It is ok to use either a PT (present tense) or a PC (present progressive or continuous) to express some future action or event. I think you�re trying to say you wish to work in a certain place in the future. The 1st sentence rephrased from yours below uses the simple present to express a future desire. The 2nd uses the PC to express the same desire. The difference is while the 1st is a simple declarative statement expressing a future wish, the 2nd implies that some form of planning or preparation is in progress.

�I plan (or hope) to work in a junior high in ten years.�
�I�m thinking of working (or planning to work) in a junior high in ten years.�

You may use a simple present in the main clause (�I think�) and a FC(future continuous) subordinate clause to express the desire or prediction as Mary suggested:

�I think I�ll be working in a junior high in ten years.�

This sentence implies no planning on your part. It�s just a wish you desire at this particular time in your life.

To ans. your 1st Q: Yes. You can use the PC tense (�am thinking�) to express some futurity using the absolute (qualifying the whole sentence) adverbial phrase (�in ten years�).