Talking about the future in English. I know I've done this before, but it's a never-ending story, and there are several good examples in this week's extracts. First of
all, if you insist on having a Future Tense in English, you have to choose a verb pattern which ALWAYS refers to the future, and it must be "WILL + BE + ING". This pattern is typically used in
connection with a future date on or by which something will be happening by arrangement, like "Maintenance staff will also be changing the gear linkage", the idea being "before April 4th".
The Metallurgy School pupils have made new friends in Germany "who should be coming to visit [them] in June". Replacing "will" with "should" just expresses natural
uncertainty about the future. The other "will" form (without ING) is not connected with a specified date or time, but with personal wishes, opinions or expectations - "They will gain experience",
or "preparation which will assist them…". These things have not been arranged, they are only expectations.
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