verbs - "Will be doing" vs. "will do"


What's the difference between:


I will be eating cakes tomorrow.
I will eat cakes tomorrow.

And, when should I use the first form?



Answer



Both of these refer to the future, and both are correct and can be used in any situation. However, there is a slight difference between "will be" and "will".


The simple form is as it suggests referring simply to what happens next but the continuous indicates or suggests a picture of activity in the future.


For example,:



I will walk home.



and



I will be walking home.



Both refer to walking home in the future, but the first statement is used when referring to the next thing you are going to do i.e. during after school, while the second statement can be used anytime from the day before to just before going to school.


Also, there are instances when one or the other can not be used. For example,



I will be good.



but not



*I will good.



The second example is incorrect
Because "will" is only a modal verb, it needs another verb, otherwise the sentence is incomplete. There are instances when "will be" has to be used, and "will" can't be used.


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