Sumie's question about the future tense of May 27, 1999:
Would you please explain in what situations the following sentences of future tense can be used? I looked them up in grammar books, but the usages are still vague to me.I am leaving here tomorrow, (because I made up my mind?)I will be leaving here tomorrow. (?)
I am going to leave here tomorrow, (because of my schedule?)
I will leave here tomorrow, (if I can?)
The answer to this question is quite complex---each form of the future tense has many possible functions and meanings. I'll give the meanings that I think are related or might be related to your example sentences, but please be aware that these are not the only possibilities.
I am leaving here tomorrow. (Because I made up my mind?)
The use of he present progressive tense for the future is usually used for things that have been arranged. Most often used when a time expression is used or understood.
I'm meeting Tom at Umeda at 6:30 tonight.
Q: What time are you leaving for Tokyo?A: I'm leaving at 8:00 am.
Q: What time is your train leaving?A: It's leaving Osaka station at 8:45.
Note: It's also possible to use going to to talk about arrangements, but it doesn't sound quite as natural.
-> Your example sentence here sounds like something you have scheduled.
I will be leaving here tomorrow. (?)
1. The future continuous tense is used: to show that your action will be in progress at a given time in the future. (Used in much the same way as the present progressive tense--to talk about an activity that is continuing.)
Please don't call me between 8:00 and 9:00--I'll be taking a shower then.When the New Year comes I'll be living in a new city and enjoying a long holiday. (My enjoyment will already be in progress when the New Year arrives.)
2. To state that you will be doing something as a regular part of your activities. In this usage, you are not trying to state a strong intent. Instead, you're just telling someone a fact or giving them information.
Compare:
Present Continuous for the Future
I'm sorry, but I can't go to the movie tonight because I'm meeting Joey at 7:00. (A planned meeting. The speaker is showing her or his intention to meet Joey, and also the reason for not going to the movie.)
Future Continuous
I'll be meeting Joey tonight, so I'll tell him what you told me about the party.
(No intent is shown--the speaker is just relating the fact that she or he will meet Joey.)
Another Comparison:
Yukie: I wish I had some ice cream.Kyoko: If you really want some, I'll go to the store and buy some for you.
(The decision was just now made, so Kyoko uses 'will.')
Yukie: I wish I had some ice cream.
Kyoko: I'll be going to the store later, so I'll buy some for you.
(Kyoko is stating the fact that she is going as if it were a very natural, logical occurrence. She is not showing any feeling about going to the store--she's just telling Yukie that since she is going to the store, it will easy for her to pick up some ice cream while she is there.)
-> Your example sentence makes me think that your meaning is the same as #2--you're just stating a fact that is related to something else you have said. Maybe the conversation went as follows: "I will be leaving here tomorrow, so I had better get to bed early tonight."
The "I'll be leaving" part just states a fact--the important part of the sentence is the second half.
I am going to leave here tomorrow. (Because of my schedule?)
This is the most common form--and most general form--of the future tenses. It is used to state that you have decided to do something.
I'm going to eat dinner at 6:00.I'm not going to watch TV tonight.
Sam said he was going to clean his kitchen later this week.
Q: What are you going to do tonight?A: I'm just going to stay home and relax.
-> In your sentence you're just saying that you have decided beforehand to leave. Note that this sentence would not be quite as natural as the present continuous form since it is a scheduled activity.
I will leave here tomorrow. (If I can?)
1. Will is used when we decide to do something at the moment we are speaking (it is not planned).
At a restaurant:Q: Would you care for something to drink?
A: Yes, please. I'll have a glass of white wine.
Q: Would you like to order now?A. Yes. I'll have the seafood salad, please.
It's getting cold. I'll turn on the heater and close the windows.
I just found out that Joe won't be coming to the game. He's come down with the flu.
2. Will is sometimes used to express a strong determination to do something. This feeling is very different from the one given above. When we use it in this way, we usually put the stress on the word will.
I will go to Fiji someday. (I'm very determined to go to Fiji.)
-> I think your sentence is like #1 (but it could be like #2 if you stress the word "will"). It seems that you have just decided that tomorrow is the day to leave.
I hope this helps!
