1

I have read this page and this page. In both, for the first conditional, there are just examples in which simple future is used in the main clause.

Can we use future continuous in the main clause as well?

Example:

Simple future version:

  1. The film that I watched yesterday was very good and if I have time, I will watch it again in the future.

Future continuous version:

  1. The film that I watched yesterday was very good and if I have time, I will be watching it again in the future.

Is there any difference between these two sentences or the meaning they convey is the same?

1 Answer 1

1

They're both correct and natural.

One function of "will" + continuous is to add the nuance of enjoyment or dread. So, where "I'll do X again" is a simple statement about the future, "I'll be doing X again" implies that doing X will either be repeated because it was so enjoyable, or repeated despite it being dreadful.

Your example sentence shows enjoyment. Here's one that shows dread:

I failed geography, so I guess I'll be taking it again this summer.

The version without the continuous is just a reasonable statement about the future without nuances of feeling:

I failed geography, so I guess I'll take it again this summer.

2
  • This question is not related to my original question but your answer have raised a question for me. Why have you said: "despite it being dreadful". What kind of structure is it? Is it just because we need a noun phrase after "despite"? Isn't it more naturally to say: "although it is dreadful"?
    – alireza
    Commented Sep 24, 2022 at 16:50
  • 1
    @alireza "it being dreadful" is a gerund phrase. Gerunds are nouns. Here's that phrase in subject position: "It was raining and windy on the bike ride home, but it being dreadful didn't stop me from getting there."
    – gotube
    Commented Sep 24, 2022 at 17:15

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .