Future with Present Continuous
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS
1. Present Continuous for the Future: Form
See notes on form in section on Present Continuous.
| Subject | + to be | + base-ing |
|
She |
is |
meeting |
2. Future: Present Continuous for the Future: Function
The present continuous is used to talk
about arrangements for events at a time later than now.
There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event,
and that some preparation has already happened. e.g.
- I'm meeting Jim at the airport = and both Jim and I have discussed this.
- I am leaving tomorrow. = and I've already bought my train ticket.
- We're having a staff meeting next Monday = and all members of staff have been told about it.
More examples
- Is she seeing him tomorrow?
- He isn't working next week.
- They aren't leaving until the end of next year.
- We are staying with friends when we get to Boston.
Note: in
example (a), seeing is used in a continuous form because it means
meeting.
BE
CAREFUL! The
simple present is used when a future event is part of a programme
or time-table. Notice the difference between:
a. We're having a staff meeting
next Monday.
b. We have a staff meeting next
Monday.(= we have a meeting every Monday, it's on the time-table.)
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