Continuing on from last week’s blog article about the Future Simple verb tense, today we are going to discuss how the Present Continuous Tense can also be used to describe something in the future, similar to the “be going to” verb tense.
First, let’s review that use of “be going to” …
“be going to” verb
is used to express a prior plan
I am going to start a new school next month.
The key point for this tense is it is a decision to do something at a future time, but the decision was made in the past. For example, yesterday I registered for a new school. The course begins next month, but the decision to start was made yesterday, so today I say “I am going to start a new school next month.”
Similarly, we can use the present continuous tense to talk about a future arrangement.
First, let’s look at the present continuous tense. This is made by adding the present tense of the “be” verb (am / is / are) with the present participle (Verb + ing).
“am / is / are + verb+ing”
For example:
I am starting a new school next month.
He is starting a new school next month.
They are starting a new school next month.
We all know that this tense, the present continuous tense, is typically used to describe something that is happening at the time of speaking. We are not going to go into* all that today. Today, we are only going to talk about a special use of this tense when it can be used to talk about the future.
A future arrangement
I am marrying Kelvin next month.
I am visiting my sister in the US next week.
This use is very similar to the “be going to” verb tense, and honestly, they can be used interchangeably*.
I am marrying Kelvin next month.
or
I am going to marry Kelvin next month.
I am visiting my sister in the US next week.
or
I am going to visit my sister in the US next week.
If we are going to discuss a difference, I like to say that the present continuous tense implies more certainty than the future simple tense.
Let’s take this example, remembering that the “will” verb tense is used when making a decision at the time of speaking. [Review last week’s blog article for more information on this] Let’s use the example of getting married.
First, there is the proposal. At that time, the man asks the woman “Will you marry me?” and hopefully she says, eagerly, “Yes, I will marry you!” They are making that decision at that moment during the romantic proposal, but the wedding is in the future.
The next day, the happy couple share the news with their family and friends. She says to her parents, “Guess what?! I am going to marry Kelvin!” She made that decision yesterday, but the wedding is still in the future. However, no plans have been made yet. No “arrangements” have been made. If they want to change their minds and cancel the wedding, it wouldn’t cost them anything but some heartache.
As time goes on, they start planning the wedding. They set the date, put a deposit down on the reception hall, the DJ, the caterer and the florist. She buys her wedding dress and he orders his suit. They have made arrangements. Money has been spent. It is more certain now than it was before any of these plans were made. Now, if they were to change their minds and cancel the wedding, it would cost them thousands of dollars in lost deposits. Therefore, we can be more certain that it is really going to happen → it is really happening! I am marrying Kelvin next month!
Can you hear the difference between those two sentences?
It is really going to happen.
It is really happening!
I am going to marry Kelvin!
I am marrying Kelvin next month!
The second sentence, in present continuous tense, though it is still referring to a future event, sounds more certain.
Once arrangements have been made and money has been spent, then we usually opt* for the present continuous tense as it implies a level of certainty.
Let’s look at one more example. I am visiting my sister in the US next week.
First, the situation starts with a phone call from my sister. She has recently moved into a new house and invites me to come and visit her. She says, “You should visit me and see my new house!” I eagerly accept her invitation and respond, “Yes, I will visit you. Let me check my schedule and see when I can take time off.” At that time, I am making the decision during the phone conversation, so I say “I will visit you.” Later that week, I call my parents and tell them about my decision to travel. I say, “I am going to visit Tricia and see her new house.” However, I have not booked a flight ticket yet. The following week, I request time off work and I book and pay for the flight for the next month. After the arrangements and payment have been made, then I ask my neighbor to water my garden for me while I’m gone. I tell her, “I am visiting my sister in the US next month. Will you please water my garden for me while I’m gone?”
I use the present continuous tense “am visiting” to discuss the travel plans because those arrangements have already been made. However, I use the future simple tense “will water” when asking the neighbor to water my garden because she is making that decision at that moment.
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Vocabulary in Use:
* go into: to start discussing a topic in detail
“I’m not going to go into that today. It’s a story for another day.”
* interchangeably: used in a way that can be exchanged
“In this context, student and child can be used interchangeably even though they are not technically synonyms.”
* opt: choose
“I opted for the red wine tonight even though I usually drink white wine.”
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For further help with your English …
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