Scribd
Upload
15 views

Present Continuous - Will - Be Going To - Rules

The document discusses the use of the present continuous tense to talk about future plans and arrangements that have been decided on involving a specific time and other people. It contrasts this with using 'be going to' which emphasizes intention rather than a firm arrangement. The document also discusses using will for instant decisions and both 'be going to' and will to make predictions, with 'be going to' implying evidence for the prediction and will implying it is a thought or opinion.

Uploaded by

Victoria Railean
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views

Present Continuous - Will - Be Going To - Rules

The document discusses the use of the present continuous tense to talk about future plans and arrangements that have been decided on involving a specific time and other people. It contrasts this with using 'be going to' which emphasizes intention rather than a firm arrangement. The document also discusses using will for instant decisions and both 'be going to' and will to make predictions, with 'be going to' implying evidence for the prediction and will implying it is a thought or opinion.

Uploaded by

Victoria Railean
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Present Continuous

(Future Arrangements)
We often use the present continuous to talk about the future,
especially about future plans when we have decided on 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 on 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.

I think he’ll win the election.

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

Will vs be going to

Predictions

Use will to talk about something that you think will happen.

● I think he’ll win the election.


● He will be a good doctor.
Use be going to to talk about something that you see is going
to happen (there is present evidence).

● Don’t drive like a crazy man. We’re going to have an


accident!
● The doctor said I’m going to have a girl.

Sometimes, there’s little difference between will and be going


to for predictions. Compare:

● The conference starts in 10 minutes. We are going to be


late. (=I can see that we cannot be at the conference in
10 minutes)
● We need to hurry up. We’ll be late for the conference. (=I
think we will be late)

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.’

Use be going to for decisions that you have already taken at


the moment of speaking (intentions or plans).

● ‘Why are you undressing?’ ‘Because I’m going to go for a


swim.’

Compare these two sentences:

● ‘Sarah said she needs to talk to you.’ ‘Oh, I didn’t know.


I’ll call her in a minute.’ (=I took the decision while
having this conversation.)
● ‘Sarah said she needs to talk to you.’ ‘Yes, I know. I’m
going to call her in a minute.‘ (=I took the decision
before having this conversation.)

You might also like