What the Present Continuous for Future Is
You already know am / is / are + V-ing for something happening now. Use the same form with a future time such as tonight or on Saturday, and you can talk about an arrangement: a plan with a fixed time, often with other people.
NOWHappening at the moment
It is happening as you speak.
Minh is playing football now.
Minh is in the middle of a game now.
ARRANGEMENTAlready fixed
The same form — the time expression moves it to Saturday.
Minh is playing football with his cousins on Saturday.
Minh and his cousins planned a game for Saturday.
am / is / are + V-ing + a future time talks about an arrangement. I'm having dinner with Lan tonight · She's flying to Singapore on Monday.
To ask about someone's plans, use the same form: What are you doing this weekend?
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Mum, at Hoa's house on Friday night, OK?"
- Question 2
"Sorry, I can't help you on Saturday. to Hà Nội in the morning."
The forms
POSITIVE
Sam / is / areV-ingfuture time
We're leaving at six tomorrow morning.
The time tells the listener this is in the future.
NEGATIVE
Sam / is / arenotV-ingfuture time
He isn't coming to class on Thursday.
Not goes straight after be, as in the normal present continuous.
QUESTION
Am / Is / AreSV-ingfuture time?
Are they arriving before lunch?
Be moves in front of the subject. Short answers: Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
WH- QUESTION
Wh-am / is / areSV-ing?
Where are you having lunch tomorrow?
A common way to ask about someone's plans.
I'm cooking is now. I'm cooking for ten people on Sunday is Sunday.
tonight · tomorrow · this weekend · on Friday · next week · at seven o'clock · in July
TRY IT
- Question 1
"My brother married in May."
- Question 2
"Sorry, to the meeting tomorrow."
- Question 3
" for Huế?"
When to use it
Meeting people
I'm seeing the dentist on Tuesday.
Someone else is expecting you at that time.
Signal words: meet · see · have lunch with · have dinner with
Booked travel
We are taking the night bus to Sa Pa next Friday.
The tickets are bought, the room is booked.
Signal words: fly · leave · arrive · go · come back
Events with a date
We are having a party for Dad on Saturday.
Parties, meetings and matches already on the calendar.
Signal words: have a party · have a meeting · play a match
Asking about plans
Are you doing anything tonight?
The usual opener before inviting someone out.
Signal words: What are you doing…? · Are you coming…? · When are you leaving?
Present continuous vs. be going to
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.
| PRESENT CONTINUOUS | BE GOING TO | |
|---|---|---|
| how fixed | Fixed: I'm meeting Khoa at the library at 7. | Planned: I'm going to meet Khoa some time next week. |
| no date yet | not used | I'm going to learn Korean one day. |
| weather, predictions | not used | It's so windy. It's going to be a cold night. |
For a fixed plan, be going to is not wrong. The continuous just shows more clearly that it is fixed.
For a plan with no date, or for the weather, don't use the continuous. Use be going to, or will for a guess.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Look at those dark clouds. soon."
- Question 2
" my own coffee shop some day."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:What do you do this Saturday?
Correct:What are you doing this Saturday?
To ask about plans for a day coming soon, use the continuous. The present simple sounds like a question about habits.
Incorrect:I meeting my teacher tomorrow.
Correct:I'm meeting my teacher tomorrow.
The -ing verb cannot stand alone; the present continuous always needs am, is or are.
Incorrect:We are fly to Cần Thơ on Monday.
Correct:We are flying to Cần Thơ on Monday.
After be, the verb needs -ing. Don't put the base verb straight after are.
Incorrect:Do you come to Tuấn's wedding next month?
Correct:Are you coming to Tuấn's wedding next month?
To ask about someone's plans to go, use be + V-ing. Do you come sounds like a question about a habit.
Incorrect:It's raining this weekend.
Correct:It's going to rain this weekend.
Nobody can plan the weather, so a prediction takes be going to or will.
Incorrect:I will meeting my friends tonight.
Correct:I'm meeting my friends tonight.
Don't put an -ing verb straight after will. A fixed plan for tonight takes am + V-ing, with no will.
Quick check · 7 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
My aunt is she, so the form is is. It is the same form you use for now. 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
The negative is is not (isn't). Don't use does, and don't drop be.
Choose the word that starts the question:
Are you doing anything on Friday evening?
- A. Are — Correct
- B. Do
- C. Will
Answer: A. Are
Doing makes this a continuous question, so it starts with be. We don't say Do you doing or Will you doing.
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. For a time coming soon, ask What are you doing…?
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 tonight, a listener usually hears something happening now. The time expression is what shows it is a fixed plan.
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
Nobody can plan the weather, so a prediction takes be going to or will, not the present continuous.
A friend invites you to a party, but you arranged a visit last week. Choose the best reply:
"Can you come to my party on Saturday?" — "Sorry, I'm visiting my grandparents in Huế."
- A. I'm visiting — Correct
- B. I'll visit
- C. I visiting
Answer: A. I'm visiting
The visit was fixed before the invitation, so it takes the present continuous. I'll visit sounds like a new idea. C is missing am.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
