Be Going To vs Present Continuous (Future Meaning)

​​Be Going To
vs
Present Continuous
for Future

By Rattana Chanwan

Warm-up: Future Weekend Plans

​Look at the pictures
Answer these two questions.
1. What are you doing this weekend?
2. What are you going to do this weekend?
Example
I’m visiting my friend this weekend.
I’m going to clean my room.

Open Ended

What are you doing this weekend?

What are you going to do this weekend?

Let's Learn!

Forms & Meaning

• Used for fixed arrangements (with people, time, place/booked,confirmed)

  Example:

  • I’m meeting my friends at 7.

  • She is flying to Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Present Cont. (for future)

• Used for plans/intentions decided before the moment

• Used for predictions based on evidence

Example:

• I’m going to study tonight.

• Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain.

Be going to

Check understanding!

Open Ended

She ___ (meet) her boss at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Open Ended

Look at that dog! It ___ (run) into the road!

Open Ended

I ___ (visit) my grandmother this weekend. It’s already planned.

Open Ended

We ___ (have) lunch at Central. I booked a table.

Open Ended

He thinks he ___ (buy) a new phone next month.

Open Ended

They ___ (travel) to Chiang Mai next Friday. The tickets are booked.

Open Ended

I feel sick. I ___ (throw up).

Open Ended

My brother ___ (fix) my computer tonight.

Open Ended

She ___ (start) a new fitness routine. She decided last week.

Practice: Mini Matching

​Match each picture with the correct sentence.

Multiple Choice

flight ticket

• I’m going to throw up.

• I’m meeting my teacher at 3 p.m.

• Look! It’s going to rain.

• I’m flying to Phuket next Monday.

• I’m going to buy a new shirt.

Multiple Choice

dark clouds

• I’m going to throw up.

• I’m meeting my teacher at 3 p.m.

• Look! It’s going to rain.

• I’m flying to Phuket next Monday.

• I’m going to buy a new shirt.

Multiple Choice

meeting schedule

• I’m going to throw up.

• I’m meeting my teacher at 3 p.m.

• Look! It’s going to rain.

• I’m flying to Phuket next Monday.

• I’m going to buy a new shirt.

Multiple Choice

shopping bag

• I’m going to throw up.

• I’m meeting my teacher at 3 p.m.

• Look! It’s going to rain.

• I’m flying to Phuket next Monday.

• I’m going to buy a new shirt.

Multiple Choice

sick feeling

• I’m going to throw up.

• I’m meeting my teacher at 3 p.m.

• Look! It’s going to rain.

• I’m flying to Phuket next Monday.

• I’m going to buy a new shirt.

Group Activity: Future Plan Cards

Each group receives 4 cards:

• Plan (e.g., study, clean room, exercise)

• Arrangement (e.g., dentist appointment, flight ticket, meeting a friend)

• Evidence (e.g., big clouds, long queue, broken laptop)

• Wild Card (unexpected random event)

Task: Create a conversation using BOTH:

• be going to → plan or intention

• present continuous → arrangement with time

  Example:
  A: Why are you carrying your passport?
  B: I’m going to travel next week. I’m meeting my cousin in Korea.

Group Activity: Future Plan Cards

Sentence Starters

• I’m going to…

• I’m …ing at (time).

• Why are you…?

• When are you…?

• I already have a plan at…

Example Dialogue:

A: Why are you carrying your passport?
B: I’m going to travel next week. I’m meeting my cousin in Korea on Friday.

Open Ended

Share your group conversation here!

Open Ended

Write ONE sentence that shows a future intention.

Wrap-up/Exit Ticket

⏰ fixed arrangement

Present Cont. (for future)

💭 intention
👀 evidence prediction

Be going to

Open Ended

Write ONE sentence that shows a future arrangement.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that shows a future plan

• We are having dinner with our teacher on Friday.

• Look! The cup is going to fall!

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that shows a fixed arrangement

• I plan to buy a new bag soon.

• I’m meeting my friend at 6 p.m.

Open Ended

What is the difference between a future intention and a future arrangement?

Only you can control your future.

​Dr. Seuss