I'm leaving tomorrow! The present progressive for future arrangements: How and When to Use in English
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I'm leaving tomorrow! The present progressive for future arrangements
Reminder: the present progressive tense is often used to talk about actions happening right now. It is made up of the present simple form of the verb to be To be, present simple tense + the ‑ing form of the main verb.
I am reading this example right now.
The present progressive is also used to talk about future arrangements (actions or events confirmed for the future).
The train is leaving in 10 minutes.
Is she coming tomorrow?
In this case, the sentence often includes a time expression to specify when the plan or event is happening.
They are flying to Belfast tomorrow morning.
Note: there are also other structures for talking about the future in English.
It will be a great day.
Anna is going to renovate the hotel.
Let's talk about a future meeting with Timmy! Complete the sentence correctly. Pro tip: there are two correct options.
Anna is meeting Timmy…
Let's talk about a future meeting with Timmy! Complete the sentence correctly. Pro tip: there are two correct options.
Anna is meeting Timmy…
You could use last week in a sentence in the past simple tense, like Anna met Timmy last week, but not in a sentence in the present progressive tense.
Anna is meeting Timmy tonight. Tonight can be used to complete this sentence because it is in the present progressive, the tense we use to talk about future arrangements (in this case, the meeting happening tonight). Example: the bus is coming at 5 o'clock.
Anna is meeting Timmy in a few minutes. In this case, we use the present progressive (the verb to be To be, present simple tense + the -ing form of the main verb: meeting) to talk about an event (the meeting) planned at a specific time (in a few minutes) in the future. Example: I am going to the restaurant in twenty minutes.
How could you answer this question? There are two correct options here!
When are you going to London?
How could you answer this question? There are two correct options here!
When are you going to London?
-When are you going to London? -I am going to London next Tuesday. You can answer like this because this sentence talks about an event planned in the future. It is in the present progressive tense (am going) and it includes a time expression that refers to the future (next Tuesday). Example: I am calling my client on Monday.
London is the best city in the world! We definitely agree with you… but this sentence doesn't answer the question When are you going to London?
-When are you going to London? -I'm going to London in two days. Since it refers to a future arrangement, this sentence can be used to answer the question above. Example: they are getting married on the 6th of July.
The sentence I go to London every week describes a habit in the present simple tense, so it cannot answer a question about a future plan.
Pick the correct options to complete this sentence. Pro tip: more than one option is correct!
Magda is calling the guest…
Pick the correct options to complete this sentence. Pro tip: more than one option is correct!
Magda is calling the guest…
You could say Magda called one hour ago if you were describing an action that happened in the past, but you cannot use a time expression like one hour ago in a sentence that is in the present progressive tense.
Magda is calling the guest tomorrow morning. Since the action is planned for tomorrow morning, we use the present progressive (the verb to be To be, present simple tense + the -ing form of the main verb: calling) to introduce a future arrangement (the call). Example: the guests are arriving in the evening.
Magda is calling the guest now. Since this action is happening at the time of speaking (now), we use the present progressive (is calling). Example: I am baking a cake at the moment.
Time flies is a profound statement, but it cannot be used to complete this sentence.
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