Monday, August 28, 2017

modal verbs - question about the future tense



In a sentence like




How do you get to the train station?





What would be an appropriate answer (tense wise)? Could you say both of these two:





  • I’ll drive you.

  • I’m going to drive you.





I think both could be correct: the will one if you say it right after you’ve asked the question, and the going to one if it’s planned and you’re having that chat a week before or something.


Answer



"I'll drive you there" is the normal way this kind offer would be made in response to a mere request for information.



"I'm going to drive you there" is either patronising, forceful, or adding the connotation that this was the plan before 'you' asked the question.


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