Present continuous for future arrangements

Present continuous for future arrangements

Exercise 2

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below. Choose the PRESENT CONTINUOUS where possible.

Please wait...

1 I _____ tennis with my friends next Friday.

A.will play

B.'m playing

C.'m going to play

2 Can you pass me the remote? I _____ some TV.

A.will watch

B.am going to watch

C.am watching

3 What _____ with the lottery money?

A.will do

B.are you doing

C.are you going to do

4 We _____ married in June.

A.will get

B.are going to get

C.are getting

5 A: 'Did you remember to make the reservation?' B: 'Oh no, I forgot. I _____ the hotel right now.'

A.'ll call

B.'m calling

C.'m going to call

6 A: 'Why did you buy a guitar if you can't play?' B. 'No, but I _____.'

A.will learn

B.'m learning

C.'m going to learn

7 A: 'I can't see without my glasses.' B: 'Don't worry. I _____ the letter for you.'

A.'ll read

B.'m reading

C.'m going to read

8 Laura ______ next Tuesday. I can't wait to see her.

A.will come back

B.is coming back

C.is going to come back

9 I have stopped eating sugar. I _____ sugar again.

A.don't eat

B.'m not eating

C.am not going to eat

10 We _____ some friends after work.

A.will meet

B.are meeting

C.are going to meet

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Present continuous for 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

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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.