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Why does a customer ask a shop assistant "will you be getting any more in" instead of "will you get any more in"?

Why is future continuous used and not future simple?

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In your example there is little difference in substantive meaning. However, use of the continuous implies repetition whereas the simple future is silent on that issue. Usually if a shop is going to stock an item, it will receive deliveries over time rather than as a singular event. Consequently, the continuous reflects the speaker’s recognition of normal practice.

Notice that the future continuous would not be used in the question below because now the focus is a singular event

When will you next get some in?

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  • In a hotel, why does a receptionist use future continuous in the question "how long will you be staying"? The reason of using continuous tense in this case is a bit different, right?
    – Vova
    Commented Jun 15, 2021 at 2:44
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    'Staying in a hotel' is a continuous process, isn't it? It's natural to use the continuous tense when you don't know when the process will end.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Jun 15, 2021 at 8:14
  • +1. As a corollary to receiving multiple deliveries over time rather than a singular event, a question that uses will you be getting wants to know if the new stock will arrive reasonably soon, not next season.
    – TimR
    Commented Nov 22, 2023 at 21:54

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