Different Ways of Asking about Future Possibilities

Question

Your friend is going abroad. You want to know if it's possible for you to see them next year. You ask them one of these questions:

• Am I going to see you next year?
• Would I see you next year?
• Will I see you next year?
• ... (If you know other ways to ask this question, please add it)

Will you questions are not included, because they are about your friend's intention, not about a future possibility.

What are the differences between these structures? In what context should each one be used?

Answer 1

Here's a quick breakdown: - Am I going to see you next year? (This could be asking for the person's intention, plan, or even prediction.) - Would I see you next year? (This sounds like a conditional; the person may or may not go abroad, e.g., If you went abroad, would I see you next year?) - Will I see you next year? (One meaning here could be asking for the person to decide at that moment or make a promise.) - Will I be seeing you next year? (Another way of asking about the person's plans or intentions.)

Quick tip: Remember that "will" is usually used for predictions, promises, at-the-moment decisions, offers, and itineraries. However, "will be + present participle" can be used for plans, similar to "be going to."

By the way, none of the examples are in the passive voice. Passive would be something like this: Am I going to be seen by you tomorrow? I could imagine asking a doctor this question. I hope this was helpful!

Answer 2

• Am I going to see you next year?
• Would I see you next year?
• Will I see you next year?

All three are grammatically correct; however, their main differences are (respectively):

• Uses progressive tense, which emphasizes the "going" rather than the "seeing." You would use this if you wanted to imply that your friend lives far away.
• Awkward--when "would" is used with "I," it usually means you answer your own question. For example, I might say, "Would you pass the salt," but saying "Would I pass the salt" is much more awkward.
• Similar to the first sentence; however, it does not imply that your friend is living far away unlike the first sentence.

All in all, I would usually use the 1st sentence depending on the context as given above.