I will be working

<b>Forum for the discussion of Applied Linguistics </b>

Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2

Post Reply
Metamorfose
Posts: 345
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:21 pm
Location: Brazil

I will be working

Post by Metamorfose » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:19 pm

Given:

By the end of next year I will be working for him for 32 years.

Is it wrong? If not, what´s the difference between this sentence and By the end of next year, I will have been working for him for 32 years.

Thanks in advance.

José

oceanbreeze
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:25 pm

Post by oceanbreeze » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:53 pm

By the end of next year, I will be working for him for 32 years is wrong.

The future progressive [will be + ing] indicates an action in progress at a particular time in the future. for 32 years indicates the number of years completed (by a certain time). Therefore, we would say:

By the end of next year, I will have been working for him for 32 years

Think of it in the present tense.
We wouldn't say: I am learning English for 6 years
We would say: I have been learning English for 6 years

[/i]

wilderson
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:29 pm
Location: Fresno, California. USA

Post by wilderson » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:34 pm

Um...it's not necessarily wrong, it's just not a prescribed construction of "standard" English. :shock:

If you are interested in standard English, then oceanbreez's recommendation is the one you want; if, by chance, you are interested in how to construct this in hip-hop English, then holla at me, HEY HEY! :wink: :lol:

Metamorfose
Posts: 345
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:21 pm
Location: Brazil

Post by Metamorfose » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:38 pm

Let me see if I can holla :D

How would you interprete this wilderson?

(1) By the end of next year, I will be working for him for 32 years

Certainly I´d never teach it, but all knowledge we gather is never enough.

José

wilderson
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:29 pm
Location: Fresno, California. USA

Post by wilderson » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:42 pm

Come nex' yar, dats 32 yars I bin workin' f'dat foo. 8) Hey HEY!!!

Metamorfose
Posts: 345
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:21 pm
Location: Brazil

Post by Metamorfose » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:11 pm

Excellent 8) 8)

JuanTwoThree
Posts: 947
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:30 am
Location: Spain

Post by JuanTwoThree » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:26 am

"At some time in the future you will be working for me"

"For how long?"

"Oh, about 32 years"

"That's a very long temporary situation"

"i know but remember we are immortal"

"I'd forgotten. When will this 32 year period of my temporarily working for you begin?"

"Hard to say. Not this year. Definitely next year but I can't say when. But I think we can say the following without fear of contradiction:

By the end of next year you will be working for me for 32 years. "

Post Reply