Present continuous (Iam doing) with a future meaning This is Ben's diary for next week He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon. He is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning, He is having dinner with Kate on Friday. In all these examples, Ben has already decided and arranged to do these things. I'm doing something (tomorrow) =| have already decided and arranged to do it: ‘& What are you doing on Saturday evening? (not What do you do) a: I'm going tothe theatre. (not | go) a: What time is Katherine arriving tomorrow? a: Halt past ten, I'm meeting her at the station. I'm not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere. Steve isn’t playing football next Saturday. He's hurt his leg, ‘1'm going to (do}’is also possible in these sentences What are you going to do on Saturday evening? But the present continuous is more natural when we talk about arrangements. See Unit 20B, Do not use will to talk about what you have arranged to do: What are you doing this evening? (not Wat will you do) Alexis getting married next manth. (nce will get) You can also use the present continuous for an action just before you begin to do it. This happens especially with verbs of movement (go/come/leave etc): I'm tired, I'm going to bed now. Goodnight. (not | go to bed now) ‘Yess, are you ready yet? “Yes, 'm coming’ (not | come) Present simple (| do) with a future meaning ‘We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for public transport, cinemas etc.): My train leaves at 11.30, so I need to be at the station by 1115. What time does the film start this evening? It's Wednesday tommorrow. / Tornorrow is Wednesday. ‘You can use the present simple to talk about people if their plans are fixed like a timetable: | start my new job on Monday. What time do you finish work tomorrow? But the continuous is more usual for personal arrangements: What time are you meeting Ann tomorrow? (nat do you meet) Compare: Present continuous Present simple ‘What time are you arriving? What time does the train arrive? V'm going to the cinema this evening, The film starts at 815 (this evening)EB Pur the verb into the more suitable form, present continuous or present simple. 1 Vm goung _(1/ go) to the cinema this evening, 2 Dees the film start (the film / start) at 3.30 or 4.30? 3 (we / have) a party next Saturday. Would you lke to come? 4 The art exhibition (finish) on 3 May. 5 (( not / go) out this evening. (/ stay) at home at (you /do) anything tommorrow moming?” ‘No, I'm free. Why? ? (we / go) to a concert tonight. (it /start) at 730, 8 (I/ leave) now. I've come to say goodbye, 9 Have you seen Liz recently? 8: No, but (we / meet) for lunch next week 10 Youarecn the train to London and you ask another passenger Excuse me, What time (this train / get) to London? 11 Youare tatking to Helen: Helen, (1/ go) to the supermarket. {you / come) with me? 12. Youanda friend are watching television. You say: 'm bored with this programme. What time (it end)? 3 (V/ not / use) the car this evening, so you cen have it. 14 Sue (come) to see us tomorrow. (che / travel) by train and her train (arrive) at 1015,Future actions Sarah is talking to Helen: That's great idea. We'llinvite lots of people Sarah and Ihave decided to have a party ‘We're going to invite ‘ts of people Study the difference between will and (be) going to: (‘W: We use will to announce a new decision, The party is a new idea, decision now welll... past now future (be) going to: We use (be) going to when we have already decided to.do something. Helen had already decided to invite lots of people before she spoke to Dan. deciston before We're goingto ... past now future Compare: ‘Gary phoned while you were out’ ‘OK. I'll eall him back" “Gary phoned while you were out.’ "Yes, | know. I'm going to call him back.” “Anna is in hospital’ ‘Ch really? | didn’t know. ll go and visit her “Anna is in hospital’ ‘Yes, | know. I'm going to visit her this evening Future happenings and situations (predicting the future) ‘We use both will and going to to predict future happenings and situations. So you can say: | think the weather will be nice later or | think the weather is going to be nice later. Those shoes are well-made. They'll last a long time. or Those shoes are well-made, They're going to last a long time. ‘When we say something is going to happen, we know this from the situation now. What is happening ‘now shows that something is going to happen in the future. For example: Look at those black clouds. it's going to rain. (not it will rain) (We can see that it fs going to rain from the clouds that are in the sky now.) I eel terrible. | think I'm going to be sick. (not | think I'l be sick) (think ('m going to be sick because I feel terrible now.) Donot use will in this type of situation.Exercises ©@® compete the sentences using wil (or goingto, 1a: Why are youturing on the TV? e: |'m going to watch the news. (I /watch) 2 # Oh, I've just realised. | haven't got any money. ®: Haven't you? Well, don't worry. you some. (I/lend) 3 & I've got a headache 8: Have you? Wait a second and an aspirin for you. (I/ get) 4 a: Why are you filling that bucket with water? 8 the cer. (I/ wash) 5 &: I've decided to repaint this room. 8: Oh, have you? What colour it? (you / paint) 6 & Where are you going? Are you going shopping? 8 Yes, some things for dinner. (I/ buy) 7; | don't know how to use the washing machine. a: It's easy. you. (|/ show) 8 & What would you lke to eat? 8 a pizza, please. (I /have) 9 &: Didyou call Lisa? 8: Oh, no. I completely forgot. hernow. (If call) 10 & Has Dan decided what to do when he leaves school? 8: Yes. Everything is planned a holiday for a few weeks (he/ have). Then a management training course. (he / do) EB Feead the situations and complete the sentences using will (‘tt) or going to. 11 The phone rings and you answer. Somebody wants to speak to john. cattee: Hello. Can | speak to John, please? you: Justamoment. |W get him. (1/ get) 2 It's a nice day, so you have decided to take a walk. Just before you go, you tell your friend You: The weather's t00 nice to stayin awalk. (i take) FRIEND: Good idea! | think you. (I/ join) 3. Your friend is worried because she has lost her driving licence You: Don't worry. I'm sure it. (you /find) FRIEND: | hope so. 4 There was a job advertised in the paper recently. At first you were interested, but then you decided not to apply. FRIEND: Have you decided what to do about that job you were interested in? you: Yes, forit. (I/not / apply) 5 You anda friend are stuck in traffic. You have to be in a meeting in five minutes and you need at least another 20 minutes to get there. you: The meeting begins in five minutes. (we / be tate) © Ann and Sem are staying at ahotel. Their room isin very bad condition, especially the ceiling. ann: The ceiling doesn't look very safe, does it? sam: No, it looks as if «it fall down) 7 Paul has to go to the airport to catch @ plane tomorrow morning rai Kate, | need somebody to take me to the airport tomorrow morning. kare: That's no problem you. (i/take) What time is your fight? pau 10.30. kare: OK, {you up at your house at about 8 o'clock then. (| / pick) Later that day, joe offers to take Paul to the airport ot: Paul, do you want me to take you ta the airport? rau No thanks, Joe me. (Kate / take) Unit 23