Present continuous for future arrangements
Generally, we use the Present Continuous tense lớn talk about actions taking place now or around now. But English speakers often use the Present Continuous khổng lồ talk about pre-arranged plans or events.
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When we use the Present Continuous with this meaning, it is necessary lớn add a time reference (tomorrow, tomorrow evening, on/next Sunday) so we know it refers to the future and not khổng lồ the present:
Jane is working at the moment (Present Continuous refers lớn present activity) but in the evening she is playing tennis (Present Continuous refers to planned activity in future).| Note: We can often use ‘going to’ instead of the Present Continuous lớn indicate future meaning. – Nick is spending time with his family tonight.– Nick is going to lớn spend time with his family tonight. |
How to size Present Continuous
Statements
To make the Present Continuous with future meaning, we use:
am / is / are + the ‘-ing’ size of the verb (Present Participle) and địa chỉ a time marker.
I’m staying at home tonight.She isn’t working on Thursday.We’re meeting at two o’clock.John & Samantha are getting married tomorrow.Negative sentences
We khung the negative by adding ‘not‘ to either the full size or short (contracted) form:
am / is / are + not + the ‘-ing’ size of the verb
We’re not having a meeting this afternoon.=We aren’t having a meeting this afternoon.=We are not having a meeting this afternoon.I’m not coming to lớn the các buổi party tonight.= I am not coming lớn the tiệc ngọt tonight.Questions
To khung a question, we rearrange the word order, placing the verb ‘be’ before the subject:
am / is / are + subject +the ‘-ing’ form of the verb
Are you going to the concert tomorrow?Is your mom joining us for dinner next week?When to use Present Continuous with future meaning
We often use the Present Continuous to lớn talk about future arrangements. A future arrangement is a plan that we have decided and organised with another person, a group of people or a company:
I’m working over the New Year. (this arrangement is between the speaker & his/her employer)We are staying with friends when we get khổng lồ Boston.Xem thêm: Thuốc Scanneuron Có Tác Dụng Gì, Thuốc Scanneuron Trị Bệnh Gì
We’re meeting Helen at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.It is not always necessary lớn state who the arrangement is with:
I am leaving tomorrow. (I’ve already bought my train ticket.)So what are we all doing at Christmas?We often use the Present Continuous khổng lồ talk about things we are about to start doing. This is especially common with verbs of movement, such as go, come, leave, etc.:
I’m going to bed now – goodnight.Will you help me finish the housework? – Sorry, I can’t: I’m leaving for work now.Certain verbs, actions or situations cannot be used with the Present Continuous with future meaning because they are not part of a plan, an arrangement or an intention. The present continuous tense for the future can only be used when an kích hoạt or situation can logically be planned in advance:
My leg’s hurting tomorrow. Is NOT possibleHe’s having an accident in March. Is NOT possibleIt’s snowing next week. Is NOT possibleHere’s a good đoạn clip from to lớn Fluency explaining the difference between ‘will’, ‘going to’ and Present Continuous for future actions và events:
