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8-Present Continuous For Future Arrangements

The document discusses using the present continuous tense to talk about future plans and arrangements. It notes that the present continuous is used when a time and place have been agreed upon with others for events like meetings, travel, or activities. Some examples given are "I'm meeting Sally at 7" and "We're getting married next July." The present continuous is also compared to using "be going to," with the continuous preferred for definite arrangements and "be going to" used more for intentions. Lastly, "will" is used for instant decisions made in the present, while "be going to" and "will" are both used for predictions about the future.

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97 views

8-Present Continuous For Future Arrangements

The document discusses using the present continuous tense to talk about future plans and arrangements. It notes that the present continuous is used when a time and place have been agreed upon with others for events like meetings, travel, or activities. Some examples given are "I'm meeting Sally at 7" and "We're getting married next July." The present continuous is also compared to using "be going to," with the continuous preferred for definite arrangements and "be going to" used more for intentions. Lastly, "will" is used for instant decisions made in the present, while "be going to" and "will" are both used for predictions about the future.

Uploaded by

takibel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Firefox https://test-english.

com/grammar-points/a2/present-continuous-future-arrangements/

Present continuous
Grammar » A2 Grammar (future
lessons and exercises arrangements)
» Present continuous for future arrangements
 
We often use the present continuous to talk about the future, especially about future plans when we have decided a time and a place with other
people. We normally use a future time expression, e.g. tomorrow, next week, at 7, etc.

• I’m meeting Sally at 7. (=I have talked to her and we have arranged to meet.)
• I’m flying to New York tomorrow morning. (=I have the ticket.)
• We’re getting married next July. (=We have decided it and we have probably already made reservations for the restaurant, etc.)

The present continuous for future arrangements is very common with verbs of travelling, and when we are meeting people.

• I’m leaving very early tomorrow. I’m taking the 7.30 train. 
• I’m playing golf with Jack next Saturday. Would you like to come?
• I’m seeing the dentist after class. 

Present continuous vs be going to


 
We can normally use the present continuous or be going to to talk about future plans.

• I’m leaving very early tomorrow.


• I’m going to leave very early tomorrow.

But we prefer using the present continuous when we have made arrangements (i.e. decided a place and time with somebody else). When use be going to,
we put the emphasis on our intention to do something.

• I’m going to study for the exams tomorrow. (=it’s my intention)


• I’m leaving at 8 tomorrow. (=it’s an arrangement)
• ‘Your car is dirty.’ ‘I know. I’m going to wash it tomorrow.’ (=it’s my intention, but I haven’t arranged to do it)

will for decisions


 
Use will for decisions that you take at the moment of speaking (instant decisions).

• ‘Oh, we don’t have sugar.’ ‘Don’t worry, I’ll buy some.’

be going to or will for predictions


 
We use be going to or will (NOT the present continuous) to make predictions about the future. (⇒ See Grammar points » A2 Grammar » Will vs be going
to – Future)

• I think he’ll win the election.


• The doctor said I’m going to have a girl.

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