Will/go

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maj

#31755 Tue, 01 Jun 04 09:46 PM

-Will you come with me if I go to chicago?
-Are you coming with me if I go to Chicago?

Let's be practical about it. which do you think is best?

I would really appreciate an early answer?

maj

Joined on Mon, Mar 31 2003

Senior Member (4,756)

miriam

#31786 Wed, 02 Jun 04 04:53 AM

I don't think you'll see tenses other than the so-called "simple future" (wil) or the simple present used in this type of conditonal clause, maj.

miriam

Joined on Mon, May 10 2004

Argentina

Regular Member (821)

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." Plato

Simple present, Tenses, Clauses

Bagman

#31815 Wed, 02 Jun 04 10:16 AM

'Are you coming' implies previous knowledge of the topic and that the respondent has considered his/her decision.
'Will' implies that this is the first time the question has been asked.

Neither are best...depends on whether the topic has previously been mentioned..

Hope this helps..

Bagman

Joined on Wed, Jun 2 2004

New Member (01)

henry teach

#31861 Wed, 02 Jun 04 04:47 PM

It all really depends on the context.

Will you come with me if I go to chicago?

I think this is fine; a simple question. I'm going to Chicago and want to know if you'll come with me.

Are you coming with me if I go to Chicago?

This also works. Perhaps more of an exasperated demand. You've not made up your mind if you're coming to Chicago with me and you keep changing your mind about it so I finally ask you (demand of you!): Are you coming with me or not?

Henry
www.free-esl.com

henry teach

Joined on Fri, May 14 2004

New Member (42)

bubu prasant

#31914 Thu, 03 Jun 04 02:00 AM

Dear Maj,

A grammar book says:

WILL refers to - sudden decision to do somthing in future [ no planning has been made before]

So "will you come with me" means you want him to take a fresh decission as to whether or not to come with u to chicago.

But the continuous " r u coming to" as opposed to "will" talks about a pre planned future action.

So "r u coming to" means if the person has already taken the dicission to come with you, or not.

I wonder if i have made myself understood. My english is not as good as yours.

Prasant

bubu prasant

Joined on Thu, May 13 2004

Full Member (147)

prasant mishra

Grammar

miriam

#31954 Thu, 03 Jun 04 10:49 AM

I agree with what has been said about the difference between "will" and "be going to" to express future time.
However, I think that the use of a conditional clause changes things a bit. Suppose you're the speaker -the one who is asking the question. If you haven't made up your mind yet about going to Chicago, how can you ask me if I'm going with you or not? In my opinion, the main reason why "be going to" doesn't make much sense in that sentence is the fact that you are still not sure you're going to Chicago. How can you ask me if I'm going with you when you still don't know if you're going yourself?

To me, "be going to" would make sense in a different situation.
"I'm going to Chicago tonight, are you coming with me/ will you come with me?"
but
"If I go to Chicago (tonight), will you come with me?"

Perhaps I'm just too fussy about this. Smile [:)]

Miriam

miriam

Difference between, Clauses, Conditionals