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will/be going to
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PASTEL  #130328  Wed, 24 Aug 05 06:32 PM

1-After she leaves, I will get something to drink.

2-After she leaves, I am going to get something to drink.

3-Before she leaves, I am going to finish my homework.

4-Before she leaves, I will finish my homework.

Does #4 sound natural?

 

Thanks,

Pastel

 
  
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Philip  #130347  Wed, 24 Aug 05 07:35 PM
 PASTEL wrote:

1-After she leaves, I will get something to drink.

2-After she leaves, I am going to get something to drink.

3-Before she leaves, I am going to finish my homework.

4-Before she leaves, I will finish my homework.

Does #4 sound natural?

 

Thanks,

Pastel

 

Correct?  Yes.  Natural?  Not to me.  I would say "I will have finished".  But then I'm very fond of the perfect tenses.
  
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PASTEL  #130350  Wed, 24 Aug 05 07:50 PM

Hi, Philip

Does 'I will finish my homework before Dad leaves' sound unnatural to you? Before you leave, I will finish my homework. (??)  Philip, I promise Dad!!! And I will. I mean it.

 

Pastel

 

 

 

 
  
pieanne  #130353  Wed, 24 Aug 05 07:57 PM

Wouldn't the sentences sound better if they started with the "I" clause?

"I'll get something to drink after (as soon as she) she leaves", etc... ?

 
  
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PASTEL  #130364  Wed, 24 Aug 05 08:21 PM

Yep, would they sound better?

I'm thinking that *** it's the 'information focus' that influences the overall meaning.

1- I'll get something to drink after she leaves. (Information focus: what I will do)

2- After she leaves, I'll get something to drink. (Information focus: when I will do.) 

But then, words that receive more stress are considered the information focus.
  
Mspalali  #130377  Wed, 24 Aug 05 09:25 PM
ı think you should use future perfect and because future tense is not grammatically correct.
  
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goldmund  #130595  Thu, 25 Aug 05 01:50 PM

Dear Pastel,

«Before she leaves, I will finish my homework.»

It is an expression of intent.

Kind regards, Smile [:)]

Goldmund
  
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PASTEL  #130653  Thu, 25 Aug 05 05:13 PM

Thanks, Goldmund.

I have another question.

1-You're going to laugh at me if I tell you what happened to me yesterday.

2-You will laugh at me if I tell you what happened to me yesterday.

I think there's little difference between #1 and #2. Is there any?

 

Thanks,

Pastel
  
MrPedantic  #130808  Fri, 26 Aug 05 07:36 AM

Hello Pastel

I should know better than to get myself involved in a going to/will thread, but to my ears:

1. has a slightly complicitous air.

2. has an air of prediction.

I'll be interested to hear what other people think.

MrP
  
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