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They are going to be playing tennis in the afternoon/They will be playing tennis in the afternoon.
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Jesusengland  #543091  Fri, 18 Jul 08 03:49 PM
Hello.
I can't understand the difference in meaning between "be going to be doing" and "will be doing" in the future continuous. What is it? I have read in an english grammar book that there is a little difference between them, but I don't know what it is.

- They are going to be playing tennis in the afternoon.
- They will be playing tennis in the afternoon.

Thanks.
  
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Philip  #543103  Fri, 18 Jul 08 04:08 PM
No difference in meaning.  Some will argue that there is a difference in the time reference, but there clearly is none here with the inclusion of "in the afteroon".
  
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Jesusengland  #543108  Fri, 18 Jul 08 04:15 PM
Hello.

And what would be like the difference in the time reference with another example?

Thanks.
  
Marius Hancu  #543190  Fri, 18 Jul 08 07:08 PM
 See some of the posts by CalifJim in these threads:

http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3acalifjim+going+will
  
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