Look at these examples to see how will, going to and the present continuous are used.
Oh great! That meeting after work's been cancelled. I'll go to that yoga class instead.
I'm going to try to visit my relatives in Australia this year.
The restaurant is reserved for 8. We're having a drink at Beale's first.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Grammar explanation
We use different verb forms to talk about our plans for the future, depending on what kind of plan it is: a spontaneous plan, a pre-decided plan or an arrangement.
will
We use will to talk about spontaneous plans decided at the moment of speaking.
Oops, I forgot to phone Mum! I'll do it after dinner.
I can't decide what to wear tonight. I know! I'll wear my green shirt.
There's no milk. I'll buy some when I go to the shops.
going to
We use going to to talk about plans decided before the moment of speaking.
I'm going to phone Mum after dinner. I told her I'd call at 8 o'clock.
I'm going to wear my black dress tonight.
I'm going to go to the supermarket after work. What do we need?
Present continuous
We usually use the present continuous when the plan is an arrangement – already confirmed with at least one other person and we know the time and place.
I'm meeting Jane at 8 o'clock on Saturday.
We're having a party next Saturday. Would you like to come?
We often use the present continuous to ask about people's future plans.
Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hi Jonathan,
On this page, it is said that we usually use the present continuous when the plan is an arrangement – already confirmed with at least one other person and we know the time and place.
However, the example cited in my grammar book reads as follows :
[1] Do you think the use of the present continuous in the answer "I'm washing my hair" is grammatically correct ?
The answer doesn't indicate that I've made an arrangement with anybody. Washing my hair this evening is just my personal plan. It doesn't conform to the definition on this page anyway.
[2] Or, can we use the present continuous for our personal fixed plans that don't involve an arrangement with another person, such as : I'm writing letters tonight ?
I would appreciate your explanation.
Best regards,
Hello melvinthio,
Generally, arrangements involve other people. However, we also use present continuous for plans which we see as already fixed and which we do not expect to change. That is the case with your example. The answer to your questions, therefore, is 1. yes and 2. yes.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello there...
What is the difference between two sentences below?
1.I am missing you.
2.I miss you.
Please make this clear sir.
Hello sartaj,
The first sentence (I am missing) suggests a temporary situation: what the speaker is feeling right now. The second sentence (I miss) suggests something more general, long-term or even permanent. However, the difference in this context is slight and more a question of how the speaker perceives his or her feelings than any objective factual meaning.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you dear sir for the answer.
I have another question.
Model verbs(may, might,) are used for past, present and future?
Thank you.
Hello sartaj,
May and might can both refer to present and future when followed by a bare infinitive:
To talk about the past we use a perfect infinitive after them:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you dear sir.
Have one more question related to model verbs.
Would, could and should are used to refer to past only?
Hello again sartaj,
No, in fact these modals most often have a present or future time reference. Of course, it's important to see them in context to make the meaning clear.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Ok dear sir.
And what about may have and may have been?
Could have and could have been
Would have and would have been?
Hello again sartaj,
Modals with perfect infinitives (have + verb3) have a past meaning.
These are all questions about modal verbs rather than the topic of the page. Please read out section on modal verbs and I think you'll find a lot of helpful information which will answer many of your questions.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/modal-verbs
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team