Present Continuous for Future Reference

CHAPTER 7
FILM AND THE ARTS

INVITING AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
for FUTURE REFERENCE

​GOING TO + VERB

​SUBJECT
(I/YOU/THEY/WE/HE/SHE/IT)

​IS/AM/ARE

​TIME EXPRESSIONS (e.g. NEXT WEEK, LATER, TOMORROW, THIS EVENING, TONIGHT)

​VERB + ING

I'm going to visit my grandfather next month (F) - talking about future intentions.
I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow (F) - plans when we have decided a time and a place with other people.
I'm visiting my grandfather at the moment (?) -> on going situation (not future)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

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)

​PRESENT CONTINUOUS VS BE GOING TO
(TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE PLANS)

​PRESENT CONTINUOUS

GOING TO

• ​We've made arrangements. It's a definite plan. we've decided on a time and and place (planned actions)

• used for personal arrangements or actions that have already been planned.

  
  

• It emphasises the speaker's intention to do something. Maybe there are no arrangements yet (spontaneity).

• used when there is evidence or a strong indication that the action will happen.

  
  

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

*Choose the present continuous where possible.

I _____ tennis with my friends next Friday.

• will play

• 'm playing

• 'm going to play

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

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

• watch

• am going to watch

• am watching

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

What _____ with the lottery money?

• will do

• are you going to do

• are you doing

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

Choose the present continuous where possible.

We _____ married in June.

• are going to get

• are getting

• will get

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

Choose the present continuous where possible.

A: 'Did you remember to make the reservation?'

B: 'Oh no, I forgot. I _____ the hotel right now.'

• are going to call

• are calling

• will call

Multiple Choice

Choose the most appropriate future forms for the sentences below.

A: 'Why did you buy a guitar if you can't play?'

B. 'No, but I _____.'

• 'm going to learn

• 'm learning

• will learn