Present Continuous with future meaning

 

We use the Present Continuous to talk about pre-arranged future actions or events.

 

We use time markers (tomorrow, at six o’clock, on Friday, etc.), to show that the actions or events will take place at a definite time in the future.

• Jane is working at the moment (Present Continuous refers to present activity) but in the evening she is playing tennis (Present Continuous refers to planned activity in future).

 

To make the Present Continuous with future meaning, we use the verb to be (am/is/are) + the “-ing” (Gerund) form of the verb and add a time marker.

•  I’m staying at home tonight.
•  She isn’t working on Thursday.
•  We’re meeting at two o’clock.
•  John and Samantha are getting married tomorrow.

 

We form the negative by adding ‘not’ to either the full form or short (contracted) form.

•    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 the party tonight.
• = I am not coming to the party tonight.

 

Note: We can often use ‘going to’ instead of the Present Continuous to indicate future meaning.  Nick’s spending time with his family tonight. = Nick’s going to spend time with his family tonight.

 

To form a question, we rearrange the word order, placing the verb ‘be’ before the subject.

•  Are you going to the concert tomorrow?
•  Is your mom joining us for dinner next week?