1. Present Continuous is more natural when you are talking about planned arrangements, going to is preferable when you are talking about planned intentions.
Notice the difference in meaning between:
Present Continuous
I'm buying a new car on Saturday. (It is arranged, already organized.)
Going to
I am going to buy a new car.
(I intend to buy one, but I have no particular car in mind.)
There is often little difference between a future intention and a future arrangement, and often going to and the Present Continuous are interchangeable.
We're going to see
Hamlet at the Royal Theatre tonight. We're seeing
2. When we make predictions about the future, we can use going to (or will), but not the Present Continuous.
It's going to rain tomorrow. (It's raining tomorrow is not possible.)
Self check
I. Use the Present Continuous or going to.
1. It's 6.30. We (miss) our train. 2. You (eat) all that? 3. This airplane (crash). 4. I've lent you my car once. I (not do) it again. 5.1 (play) bridge tonight with Tom and Ann. 6. What you (tell) the police? I (tell) them the truth. 7. What you (do) with the money? 8. I (read) you his answer to my letter of complaint. 9. There was very little blossom this spring. Apples (be) scarce. 10.1 don't like this macaroni. I (not finish) it. 11. Mr Pitt has just phoned to say that he (not come) back till Wednesday night 12. Her parents (give) a party for her next month. They (invite) sixty guests. 13. The inspector (ask) you a few questions. 14. He (wash) the car? 15. She (sing) in her first big concert next month. 16. He (go) to Spain for his holidays. He (fly)? No, he (go) by boat. 17. Where you (go) this evening? I (not go) anywhere. I (stay) at home. I (write) some letters. 18. You (do) anything next weekend? Yes, my nephews (come) and I (show) them
round London. You (take) them to the theatre? No, they're too young for that. I (take) them to the zoo. 19. Where you (go) for your holidays? I (go) to Norway. What you (do) there? - I (fish). 20. We (start) early tomorrow. We (go) to Ben Nevis. You (climb) Ben Nevis? Not me. Tom (climb) it. I (sit) at the bottom and do some sketching. 21.1 hear you (go) to the regatta tomorrow. You (sail) in it? No, but we (take) our cameras. We (try) to photograph the winning yachts. 22. You (not ask) your boss for a rise? It isn't worth while. I (leave) at the end of the week.Really? And what you (do) then? You (have) a holiday? No, I (start) another job the following Monday. 23. Mrs Jones (go) to hospital. She (have) her appendix out. Who (look) after the children? Her sister (come) down from Scotland. 24. He isn't happy at his boarding school. I (send) him to a day school. Have you decided on the other school? No, but I (see) the headmaster of the Park School this afternoon. I'll probably send him there. 25.1 (buy) a new coat. The weather report says that it (be) very cold. 26. I hear you've bought a new house. Yes. I (move) in next week. You (have) a house warming party? Not just yet. I (paint) the house first. 27. That rider (fall) off.
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28. Ann has won a car in a competition but she can't drive. Tom asks her, "What you (do) with the car? You (sell) it?" Ann answers, "No, I (learn) to drive. I (have) my first lesson next Monday."
29. Be careful! You (break) that glass. 30. He (not come) next Saturday. 31. Look out! You (hurt) yourself with that knife. 32. It (snow) later tonight.
Future Continuous
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1. We use the Future Continuous (will be doing) to talk about something which will be in progress at a time in the future.
I'll be having dinner at 7.00.
Don't phone me at 8.00. I'll be doing my homework then.
What will you be doing this time next week?
I'll be waiting at the station when your train arrives.
2. We also use the Future Continuous for planned actions.
I'll be going to the city centre later. Can I get you anything?
With this meaning will be doing is similar to am doing.
I'm going to the city centre later.
"Would you like me to give Peter a message for you?" "Oh, I don't want to trouble you." "It's no trouble, really. I'll be seeing Peter tomorrow anyway."
We often use will (you) be-mg? to ask about people's plans, especially when we want something or want someone to do something.
"Will you be using your bicycle this evening?" "No, you can take it."
"Will you be passing the post office when you go out?" "Yes, why?"
When we use will be doing form in this way, it often suggests that we do not want to change the other person's plans.
3. The Future Continuous also expresses an action that will occur in the natural course of events, independently of the will or intention of anyone directly concerned.
In a few minutes we will be landing at Heathrow Airport. Hurry up! The bus will be leaving any minute.
Self check
I. Put the verbs in brackets into the Future Continuous or the Simple Future.
1. I'll call for her at 7. No, don't; she still (have) bteakfast then. 2. You've just missed the last train! Never mind. I (walk). 3. You ask him. It's no good my asking him. He (not do) anything I say. 4. He says he (meet) us at the bus stop, but I'm sure he (forget) to do it. 5. Don't ring now; she (watch) her favourite TV programme. All right. I (ring) at 8.30.6. Mother: I'm so grateful for the help you've given Jack; I hope you (be) able to go on helping him. Teacher: I'm afraid I (not teach) him next term because I only teach the fifth form and he (be) in the sixth. 7. Schoolboy (in school dining hall): The last week of our last term' I wonder what we (do) this time next year. Friend: Well, we (not
eat) school dinners anyway. That's one comfort. 8. I'd like to double-glaze the bedroom windows. All right. I (get) the materials at once and we (do) it this weekend. 9. You (have) lunch with me on the 24th? I'd love to, but I'm afraid I (do) my exam then. 10. We (meet) him at the station? Oh, he (not come) by train. He never comes by train. 11. Wait a bit. Don't drink your tea. The milkman (come) in a minute. 12. I (work) for Mr Pitt next week as his own secretary (be) away. 13. You (have) something to drink, won't you? 14. Why did you take his razor? He (look) for it everywhere tomorrow. 15. I've fished that river every year for the last fifteen years. Well, nobody (fish) it next year. The water's been polluted. All the fish are dead. 16.1 don't feel well enough to go to the station to meet him. I (meet) him for you. But how I (recognize) him? He's small and fair, and he (wear) a black and white school cap. 17.1 hope you (do) well in the race tomorrow. I (think) of you. 18. You've left the light on. Oh, so I have. I (go) and turn it off. 19. I've just been appointed assistant at the local library. Then you (work) under my sister. She is head librarian there. 20.1 want to post this letter but I don't want to go out in the rain. I (post) it for you. I (go) out anyway as I have to take the dog for a walk. 21. The prima ballerina is ill so I expect her understudy (dance) instead. 22. This time next Monday I (sit) in a Paris cafe reading Le Figaro. You (not read). You (look) at all the pretty girls. 23.1 (cook) any fish you catch, but I (not clean) them. You'll have to do that yourself. 24. It is nearly autumn; soon the leaves (change) colour. 25. Mother (on phone): My son has just burnt his hand very badly. Doctor: I (come) at once. 26. My son will be in the sixth form next year. That means that old Adder (teach) him mathematics. 27.1 (not show) you any films this time. The projector's broken down. 28. Housewife: This time next week I (not wash) up the breakfast things. I (have) breakfast in bed in a luxury hotel. 29. Customer in restaurant: Waiter, this plate is dirty. Waiter: I'm sorry, sir. I (bring) you another. 30.1 (not wear) glasses when you see me next. I (wear) contact lenses. You probably (not recognize) me. 31. You (use) your typewriter tomorrow evening? No, you can take it. 32. Guest: May I use your phone to ring for a taxi? Hostess: Oh, there's no need for that; my son (drive) you home. 33. Come on deck; we (enter) harbour in a few minutes. 34. Are you nearly ready? Our guests (arrive) any minute. 35. She
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says that she (not lend) me the book, because I never give books back. 36. James (leave) for Australia quite soon. He has got a job there. 37.1 (get) you some aspirins if you like. The chemist's still (be) open. No, don't bother. The office boy (go) out in a minute to post the letters; I (ask) him to buy me some. 38. I (write) postcards every week, I promise, and I (try) to make them legible. If necessary I (type) them. 39. I'm going to Switzerland next week. You're lucky. The wild flowers just (come) out. 40. You (see) Tom this afternoon. I'd like you to give him a message. 41.1 (tell) her what you say but she (not believe) it. 42. This time tomorrow everyone (read) of your success and all sorts of people (ring) up to congratulate you. 43. You (use) your dictionary this morning? No, you can borrow it if you like. 44. We've just got to the top in time. The sun (rise) in a minute.
