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4.4. The exceptional future expressions
4.4.1. The future progressive form and the matter of course

"Will" means the far future. When the progressive form is put, it can be expressed the durative act in the future.

(13) I will be having dinner in Kyoto at this time tomorrow.

In the above, "tomorrow" is the future and during it I have dinner.

The progressive form is also explained in the next chapter. Now, the future progressive form (FuPro) also expresses the matter of course.

(14) John will be driving to London tomorrow.

The above does not have the durative act. It has a mere plan. It is called the matter of course because of the event which is occurred without the speaker's volition.
But it can also be treated as the future durative act. It has the two meaning as follows.

(15) John will be driving to London tomorrow.
a. John goes to London tomorrow. That is the plan.
b. John is on the way to London tomorrow. I think so.

(15b) means the future durative act and the far future. (15a) means the matter of course and the near future. Although the form is the same, the time relations of the two are different. See the following figures.






Time sensation cut






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