Future arrangements and plans: present continuous or going to?

The idea

Use present continuous: a form of be plus an -ing form, often for an arrangement. Use be going to plus a base verb for an intention. Both can describe an arranged plan.

Examples

• I am meeting the dentist at nine tomorrow.
• Maya is going to learn to swim this summer.
• We are having dinner with our neighbours on Friday.
• They are going to save money for a bicycle.
• Our team is leaving for Berlin on Monday; the tickets are booked.
• I am going to call my aunt this weekend.

Watch out

Do not omit be or put to before the -ing form. A plan need not have a booking to use going to.

Try it yourself

1. Choose every correct option. The appointment is in my calendar. I ___ the doctor at ten. (am seeing / am see)

   Show answer or example answer

   am seeing

   am seeing fits the appointment already in the calendar.

2. Choose every correct option. I have decided to start a garden. I ___ vegetables next year. (am going to grow / am going grow)

   Show answer or example answer

   am going to grow

   am going to grow expresses the decision and includes to.

3. Choose every correct option. We have booked a table. We ___ at a restaurant tonight. (are eating / are going to eat)

   Show answer or example answer

   are eating / are going to eat

   are eating highlights the arrangement; are going to eat also expresses the plan.

Use it today

Choose every correct option, then describe one intention and one arrangement.