A: What are you doing tonight?
B: I don't know. I don't have any plans.
Present Continuous
As we studied in Unit Two, the Present Continuous is used to describe things happening now:
Jill and Susan are studying.
The dog is sleeping.
We can also use the Present Continuous to talk about our plans and arrangements for the future:
Tonight, I'm making pasta for dinner.
What are you doing this weekend?
Are you going to the party tonight?
I'm seeing the dentist tomorrow.
The use of the Present Continuous to talk about the future is very similar in meaning to be going to.
Be Going To
Form
Positive & Negative Sentences
| I | am (not) | going to | play soccer. do homework. eat dinner. |
| You We They |
are (not) | ||
| He She It |
is (not) |
Yes / No Questions
| Am | I | going to | play soccer? do homework? eat dinner? |
| Are | You We They |
||
| Is | He She It |
Short Answers
A: Are you going to play soccer?
B: Yes, I am or No, I'm not.
A: Is he going to do homework?
B: Yes, he is or No, he isn't.
Wh Questions
| What When Where Who Why How ... |
am | I | going to | base verb |
| are | you we they |
|||
| is | he she it |
Like the Present Continuous, use be going to to talk about your plans for the future:
I'm going to play soccer.
We're going to see a movie tonight.
Joe's going to be here soon.
There is little difference in meaning between be going to and the Present Continuous when describing plans about the future. Both ways are okay:
I'm going to go to a party tonight.
I'm going to a party tonight.
We are going to eat at a restaurant this evening.
We are eating at a restaurant this evening.
He is going to meet me later.
He is meeting me later.
We also use be going to if we can see now that something is sure to happen in the future:
Stop driving so fast! You're going to crash!
It's going to fall.
It's going to rain soon.
May/Might
We can use may or might to say that it is possible that something will happen in the future. May and might have the same meaning:
A: Do you have any plans for tonight?
B: Um, I'm not sure. I may/might watch a movie at home or something.
It may/might rain later. You should take an umbrella.
I should study tonight. There may/might be a quiz soon.
We can also say may/might not:
You may/might not like it.
She was sick yesterday. She may/might not come to school today.
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.