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Cup cake Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Going to for future

Hi Everyone,

I know the form for the simple future when using 'going to' is subject + going to + base verb.

However, here is a sentence that I would like to confirm is the simple future, despite we have a noun instead of a base verb, thus breaking the form.

'We are going to Denmark next year.'

How would you explain this to a student?

Thanks
CC Emotion: it wasnt me
  

Top answer

' This is the present continuous . It is used here to talk about a future plan. org/en/english-grammar/verbs/present-tense/present-continuous

  • ' This is the present continuous .
  • It is used here to talk about a future plan.
  • org/en/english-grammar/verbs/present-tense/present-continuous
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8 Answers
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Cup cake'We are going to Denmark next year.'
This is the present continuous. It is used here to talk about a future plan.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/present-tense/presen
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BE going to is one way of expressing the future. It is not the 'simple future'.

Your sentence uses the present progressive (of GO) for a future situation. It is not the 'simple future'.

BE going to and the present progressive are two different ways of expressing futurity.

(Cross-posted)
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Two of the ways of expressing futurity:

1. the present progressive (also known as the present continuous)

This form usually refers to a situation that began before the moment of speaking, continues at or around, and after, the present moment, and into the future, and is of limited duration:

I am writing these notes on the future. (At this moment).
Li
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OMG...Yes!

I can see this as clear as mud now.

I've been working on 'going to..' for the simple future today.

Thanks for reminding me teacher.
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Thank you for such a wonderful detailed answer fivejedjon. Emotion: yes

Thanks for the link too.

You know, the future isn't T
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I am sure that other languages, even those with a future tense, have more than one way of expressing the future. I know that French and German do.

It is not difficult to help learners master these so long as they are not led to believe that there is only one correct way of expressing the future in any given situation. This is simply not true. And will the 'true/simple/neutral'
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You might also consider teaching the sentence
We are going to go to Denmark next year.

This combines the future sense of be going to with the movement sense of go to.
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Yes, good idea. Thanks Clive. Emotion: mmm

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