The present continuous tense can be used in several different ways and today we're going
to discuss how to use it to talk about the future. It's an important grammar video so
stay tuned
Hello and welcome to LetThemTalk. and today we're going to look at the present
continuous for the future. And at the same time correct a common mistake I hear
and that mistake is that to make a future tense in English you just put WILL in front of a verb
and that's it you've got the future tense. Just use WILL for a future and nothing more.
Easy huh? Put up your feet have a cup of tea and you tell you friends hey! English is easy
I learnt the future in 5 minutes. Yes, but I'm afraid that's not correct. it's not quite
as simple as that. In fact English doesn't have future verbs there are only present and
past verb forms. (unlike other languages such as French or Spanish which have future verb
forms) instead in English there are different ways to express the future and each case is
used for a different situation and today we're going to look at how to use the present continuous
for the future. The use of WILL and SHALL and GOING TO we've discussed other videos
and if you haven't seen them yet I'll leave a link to those in the description.
Now, I'm sure you know how to use the present continuous for the present
it's just the verb to be followed by a verb with -ing. I'm waving to you
I'm drinking coffee Are you drinking coffee?
What is he doing? These are for things that are happening right
now. But we also use the present continuous to
talk about future events and arrangements that are certain or almost certain to happen.
This will include appointments, things in your timetable or diary. In fact this future
is often called the diary future. So let's have a look at some examples.
"I'm playing tennis on Sunday."
"I'm having my haircut at 3pm."
"I'm seeing a film tonight."
Notice the construction is the present continuous (I'm seeing a film) and then you add the time
reference (ok so in this case it's TONIGHT) I'm seeing a film tonight.
You would say a sentence like this when it's certain - you've bought the ticket perhaps.
DO NOT SAY "I will see a film tonight". In this context
it's wrong. If you're talking about something which is arranged say "I'm seeing a film tonight"
Now let's see how this sentence compares to the GOING TO future.
"I'm going to see a film tonight" Is that correct? Yes, it's correct but the
meaning is a little different we use the GOING TO future for future intentions. It is correct.
But it's less sure than "I'm seeing a film tonight". For the GOING TO future you might
use it like this "If I'm not working, I'm gonna see a film tonight".
So it's your intention to do it. "I'm seeing a film tonight" - it's sure, youv'e made the arrangements.
Let's compare the present continuous and the GOING TO futures in another sentence.
"I'm going to move to Canada" - that's an intention for the future. I love Canada and I've made
a decision to do that but I'm not sure when it's going to happen.
" I'm moving to Canada next week" When would you use that? Yes, That's right. you've got
the plane ticket. You've rented and apartment. you've bought your maple syrup. so you use the
present continuous for the future. "I'm moving to Canada next week".
Let's look at some more examples with the present continuous for the future.
"They're having a meeting on Thursday to discuss the matter." (it's in the timetable so present
continuous for the future) "We're leaving this evening. "
You can use it with a negative "I'm not doing anything to tonight."
"She's not coming this week. " And you can use it for the near future or
for events a long time in the future as long as you're talking about an arrangement that
has been made. It doesn't matter when it takes place.
"Next year we're visiting the family in Australia." "The taxi is coming in 5 minutes".
Use it for questions too. "What are you doing tonight? "
"Are we having lunch on Friday?" "When is she coming?"
And with this example notice there is no time reference this is because it's implied by
the context. "Why are you not going to the meeting?" - So
this question could be about now or a meeting next week. But we generally know from the
context? One slightly confusing point is using GOING TO
for the present continuous for the future. "I'm going to Tokyo next month". This IS the
present continuous for the future with the verb TO GO. It's NOT the GOING TO future.
The GOING TO future would be "I'm going TO GO to Tokyo next month." And as I explained
before the difference would be the same "I'm going to Tokyo next month" I've got the ticket,
I've got the phrase book "I'm going TO GO to Tokyo next month". It's
a decision but I haven't booked my flights yet. So With the going to future you need
GOING TO + another verb in the infinitive. So just to recap. Use the present continuous
for the future to discuss future plans and arrangements which are sure. Native speakers
use this all the time to talk about their future arrangements so do use it. Ok I hope
you found that useful. Thank you for watching and more English language videos coming soon.