Have/having

Question

But "I have a party tomorrow" is present simple. And I wanted to write "I'm having a party tomorrow" for its continuous form but it has a different meaning. The continuous maybe is "I'm going a party tomorrow"

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Tara2The continuous maybe is "I'm going to a party tomorrow".

No. I'm sorry to say that the continuous is not that. It's

I'm having a party tomorrow.

Tara2I wanted to write "I'm having a party tomorrow" for its continuous form but it has a different meaning.

Exactly. You chose an unfortunate example because of that different meaning. The only thing you can do is change the example. You might use something like this:

1) I leave for Belgium tomorrow.
2) I'm leaving for Belgium tomorrow.

1) suggests "scheduled", but at one point it was probably planned.
2) suggests "planned", but it may also be scheduled.

Both forms of the present can be used to say that a future event will take place.

The simple form emphasizes the idea that the speaker can't change the timing of the event, or at least not easily.

The continuous form emphasizes that the speaker has every intention of carrying out his plan for the event to happen.

In many cases there is not really much practical difference between the two. It's just that they focus on different aspects of the same future action.

CJ

Have/having

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