Ch 5
Plans and Arrangements
I'm going to… · I'm meeting Sam at six · tonight, next week, in two days
At A1 you learned going to for plans. At A2 you also use the present continuous for plans with a fixed time, place or person.
I'm going to learn to swim this year.
A plan in my head.
I'm meeting Sam at the café at six.
An arrangement: time, place and person are fixed.
am / is / are + verb-ing + time
We're flying to Dublin on Friday.
We have the tickets.
She's having a party on Saturday.
Friends are invited.
Say the time, or it sounds like now: I'm playing tennis tomorrow.
going to
a decision or intention: I'm going to clean my room this weekend.
present continuous
arranged with other people: I'm seeing the dentist at 4.
Often both are possible. Use the present continuous when there is a date in a diary, a ticket or another person.
this
this evening · this weekend
next
next week · next month — no the
tomorrow / tonight
tomorrow morning · tonight
in
in two days · in a week (from now)
What are you doing this weekend?
Are you going to watch the match?
When are you leaving? — Tomorrow morning.
I meet Sam tomorrow at six.
→
I'm meeting Sam tomorrow at six.
arrangement → present continuous
We go to visit my aunt next week.
→
We're going to visit my aunt next week.
plan → going to
See you in the next week.
→
See you next week.
no the before next
What do you do this weekend?
→
What are you doing this weekend?
asking about plans → present continuous
Talk about your plans.
1
What are you doing this weekend?
2
What are you going to do in the summer?
3
Who are you meeting this week, and when?
4
What are you going to learn next year?
Recap
intention
going to + verb
I'm going to learn Spanish.
arrangement
am / is / are + -ing + time
I'm meeting Sam at six.
next
next + week / month
next week
in
in + time from now
in two days
question
What are you doing …?
What are you doing tonight?