present continuous or be going to

Hi, Ayman,

I agree with you that 'is going to' is better if you want to use a future form here. Using 'is washing' gives me the sense that he is washing the car right now, not in the future, by the way.

Thanks a lot for your concern, Ahmed.

I have found this from "A practical English Grammar" and I think it really supports our CHOICE OF THE BE GOING TO FORM. 

Ayman,

For what it's worth, I agree with your choice, and I totally support Ahmed's explanation.

DocV

Doc V posted:

Ayman,

For what it's worth, I agree with your choice, and I totally support Ahmed's explanation.

DocV

Here's another related question:

Is it Ok to say that "BOTH OPTIONS" work with different meanings?

Is it Ok to say that "BOTH OPTIONS" work with different meanings?

Yes, but in the context, you are most likely to want (b).  I can only see (a) working if you're giving a play-by-play narration like a sports announcer:

He's picked up the ball.  He's running with it.  He scores a touchdown!

DocV

ayman posted:

He has filled up the bucket with water. He ........the car. ( a- is washing / b- is going to wash).

Hello, Ayman,

I agree with everything Ahmed_btm and DocV have said and would simply like to add that the question is clearly setting up a relationship between the two sentences such that the second sentence explains why he did what he did.

He has filled the bucket up with water?
(Why?)
(Because) He is going to wash the car.

The second sentence can be a simple description of the reason for the action reported in the first sentence. It can, alternatively, be an inference based on the speaker's observation of the action reported in the first sentence. Compare:

• He has filled up the bucket with water. He must be going to wash the car.

Thanks a million, teachers.

I have another question of you may allow me.

Can we see this clause "the Earth is very crowded" as a present reality or an evidence for "living on the moon" ___ The Earth is very crowded. I think people are going to live on the moon.___ or we should choose "will live" instead?

Ayman,

Can we see this clause "the Earth is very crowded" as a present reality or an evidence for "living on the moon" ___ The Earth is very crowded. I think people are going to live on the moon.___ or we should choose "will live" instead?

I think you're waxing a bit too esoteric for the forum here.  You're talking about what is currently an impossibility.  The closest I can come to making sense of that is:

1: The Earth has become overcrowded.  I think it will be necessary to find a way for people to live on the Moon.

In both your example and mine, the first sentence does indeed express a present reality.  (Please note that by "present reality", I mean a statement of fact, regardless of whether it is actually true.)  As technology stands today, I don't see how either statement can be interpreted as evidence that people will ever live on the moon.  Can you see why I think that my corollary makes more sense?

To bring things closer to home (for me, at least), this works:

2: California has become overcrowded.  We'll be seeing a lot of people moving to Oregon soon.

DocV

Thanks a lot, sir.

I see eye to eye with you. I didn't like sentence either. 

I was asked to give my opinion about it, that's why I preferred asking yours.