The Time The Train Will Leave

PUBLIC_FLAG_#{@journal.pf_int} RSS feed of M-K-G's latest journal entries Jan 30th 2012 04:18 future-description-se
(A) Do you know when the train will leave?
(B) Do you know when the train is leaving?
(C) Do you know when the train leaves?


Do you think all these sentences can be used in the same situation?
I'd appreciate your opinions.
Jan 30th 2012 04:40 RadRussian

Yes. They're all correct and all mean exactly the same things and can be used in any situation when addressing anyone.
Jan 30th 2012 18:07 M-K-G
Thank you very much!
Jan 30th 2012 12:28 tony

I disagree. There is a tremendous amount of overlap between the situations in which the three sentences can be used, but there are differences in nuance. The main difference is that (A) and (B) would most often be used to ask about a single event. (C) could be used for this, but it could also be used to ask about the schedule of the train, especially if the train leaves at the same time every day of the week. Neither (A) nor (B) would be used for this purpose.

A slight difference between (A) and (B) is that (B) is more likely to be said when the train is already present at the time the question is asked. (A) can be said whether or not the train is present; that is, it is slightly more likely than (B) when the train has not yet arrived.

Jan 30th 2012 18:09 M-K-G
I understand.
Then, what do you think of these?

(D) Do you know when the next train will arrive?
(E) Do you know when the next train is arriving?
(F) Do you know when the next train arrives?
Jan 31st 2012 05:56 tony
The phrase "next train" would probably only be said when one was already at the station, and during the interval between the time one train has already left and another is due to arrive. Given this situation, these three sentences all have the same meaning, but (D) is in my opinion more natural than the others.
Jan 31st 2012 06:17 M-K-G
>The phrase "next train" would probably only be said when one was already at the station, and during the interval between the time one train has already left and another is due to arrive.

Yeah that's exactly what I intended by giving those examples!

Thanks a million!!
Jan 31st 2012 06:39 tony
If have a specific situation in mind when asking a question, you'll get more useful answers if you describe that situation. By asking whether (A), (B) and (C) can be used "in the same situation" without describing what situation you have in mind, you are asking about all possible situations in which any of them could be used.

Journals Statistics

Latest entry

See more >>

Latest comments

See more >>

Entries by Month