Home of English Grammar

Free Guide (Updated for 2023)

  • Home
  • Download Lessons
  • Grammar Rules
  • Online Exercises
  • Online Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Lessons / Present progressive and be going to

Present progressive and be going to

April 3, 2011 - pdf

We can use the present progressive to talk about future actions and events that are already planned or decided.

  • What are you doing this weekend?
  • I am seeing Susie this evening.

Note that the present progressive is mostly used to talk about personal arrangements and fixed plans.

  • What are we having for dinner?
  • I am getting a new job.
  • We are going to Paris this summer.
  • Are you coming to the library?

Be going to

The structure be going to can be used to talk about plans. This is common in an informal style.

  • She is going to get married.
  • I am going to get a good job.
  • We are going to buy a new car.
  • Alice says she is going to call in this evening.

Differences between the two structures

In many cases, we can use both present progressive and be going to to talk about the future. However, there are some differences.

We do not usually use the present progressive to make predictions about events that are outside people’s control.

  • Look at the sky. It is going to rain before long. (NOT It is raining before long.)

Both structures can be used in commands and refusals.

  • I am sorry, you are not taking my car. OR I am sorry, you are not going to take my car.
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
1,191,253 
606,318 

Check Your Grammar

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Conjunctions Quiz March 30, 2023
  • Gerund vs. Infinitive March 29, 2023
  • Prepositions Quiz March 28, 2023
  • Mixed Grammar Exercise March 26, 2023
  • General Grammar Exercise | Conjunctions March 24, 2023
  • Vocabulary Exercise March 22, 2023
  • Mixed Grammar Exercise March 21, 2023
  • Conjunctions Exercise March 20, 2023
  • Question Tags Exercise March 19, 2023

Topics

  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
  • Business Writing
  • Commas
  • Conjunctions
  • Creative Writing
  • Difference
  • Essay Writing
  • Exercises
  • Learning
  • Lessons
  • Nouns
  • Prepositions
  • Pronouns
  • Proofreading
  • Punctuation
  • Quiz
  • Spelling
  • Style Guide
  • Teaching
  • Terms
  • Verbs
  • Words
  • Writing

Quiz

  • Can you correct these 14 basic grammar mistakes?
  • What kind of writer are you?

Copyright © 2023 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap