How Do We Use the Present Continuous for the Future?
You know am / is / are + V-ing for now. Add a future time (tonight, on Saturday) and it talks about an arrangement: a plan with a fixed time, often with other people.
NOW
It is happening as you speak.
Minh is playing football now.
ARRANGEMENT
Same form. The time moves it to Saturday.
Minh is playing football with his cousins on Saturday.
am / is / are + V-ing + a future time = a fixed plan.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Sorry, I can't help you on Saturday. blank to Hà Nội in the morning."
The forms
POSITIVE
Sam / is / areV-ingfuture time
We're leaving at six tomorrow morning.
The time makes it future.
NEGATIVE
Sam / is / arenotV-ingfuture time
He isn't coming to class on Thursday.
Not goes after be.
QUESTION
Am / Is / AreSV-ingfuture time?
Are they arriving before lunch?
Short answers: Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
WH- QUESTION
Wh-am / is / areSV-ing?
What are you doing this Saturday?
Asks about plans. What do you do? asks about your job.
I'm cooking is now. I'm cooking for ten people on Sunday is Sunday.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"blank for Huế?"
When to use it
Meeting people
I'm seeing the dentist on Tuesday.
Someone is expecting you at that time.
Common verbs: meet · see · have lunch with · have dinner with
Before an invitation
Are you doing anything tonight?
The usual opener before inviting someone out.
Present Continuous, Going To or Will?
Be going to is for something you plan to do. The present continuous is for something already fixed: a time, a place, often another person.
| USE | EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|---|
| You decide now · offer · promise | will | OK, I'll call her. |
| You decided before | be going to | I'm going to call her this week. |
| It's fixed: a time, a place, other people | present continuous | I'm meeting her at 7 tonight. |
| You think so | will | I think she'll be late. |
| You can see it coming | be going to | Look at the traffic. She's going to be late. |
For a fixed plan, be going to is not wrong. The continuous just shows more clearly that it is fixed.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"blank my own coffee shop some day."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:What do you do this Saturday?
Correct:What are you doing this Saturday?
For plans, use the continuous. What do you do? asks about habits.
Incorrect:I meeting my teacher tomorrow.
Correct:I'm meeting my teacher tomorrow.
The -ing verb needs am, is or are before it.
Incorrect:We are fly to Cần Thơ on Monday.
Correct:We are flying to Cần Thơ on Monday.
After are, add -ing: flying.
Incorrect:It's raining this weekend.
Correct:It's going to rain this weekend.
Nobody can plan the weather. Use going to or will.
Incorrect:I will meeting my friends tonight.
Correct:I'm meeting my friends tonight.
No -ing after will. For a fixed plan, say I'm meeting.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct form:
My aunt is visiting us on Sunday. Mum is cleaning the guest room.
- A. is visiting — Correct
- B. are visiting
- C. visiting
Answer: A. is visiting
On Sunday makes it future.
Choose the correct negative:
Linh isn't joining the class trip tomorrow. She's sick.
- A. isn't joining — Correct
- B. doesn't joining
- C. not joining
Answer: A. isn't joining
Don't use does, and don't drop be.
You want to know your friend's plans. Choose the correct question:
What are you doing tomorrow afternoon? — I'm playing tennis with Bảo.
- A. What are you doing — Correct
- B. What do you do
- C. What you doing
Answer: A. What are you doing
What do you do? asks about someone's job or habits.
Which sentence clearly talks about a plan?
I'm watching a film with Hà tonight.
- A. I'm watching a film with Hà tonight. — Correct
- B. I'm watching a film with Hà.
Answer: A. I'm watching a film with Hà tonight.
Without a time, a listener usually hears something happening now.
Choose the correct form:
The sky is clear. It is going to be hot this afternoon.
- A. is going to be — Correct
- B. is being
- C. be
Answer: A. is going to be
For a guess, use going to or will.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
