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Alexanndra Posted 23 years ago
Grammar

Present and present continuous to denote future?

OK, so if the present continuous is supposed to denote an action that is happening RIGHT NOW, why to we also use it to denote the FUTURE, as in "What are you doing this weekend?" or "I am having a barbeque on Friday". Also, it seems we also use the present simple to denote future time, as in "I have a meeting tommorrow at 9:00 am". So, how in the world should a student understand when to use the present, present continuous or for that matter future (will or be going to) to denote the future? I sure don't know how to explain it!
  

Top answer

Present continously tense can be used to denote the near future provided the time is mentioned. I am having a meeting tonight.

— Whl626

  • Present continously tense can be used to denote the near future provided the time is mentioned.
  • I am having a meeting tonight.
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9 Answers
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Present continously tense can be used to denote the near future provided the time is mentioned.

I am having a meeting tonight.
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Typically, "will" is used for decisions made on the spot, while present and present cont. are used for plans already made ("be going to" is nearly the same as present cont., as far as I know).

Present and present cont. require a time to be stated or implied by the context, otherwise they are not future.

A good teaching order is:

1. present, which they probably alread
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The questions would be:

1. Do you really have a date?
2. Do you have a date tomorrow?
3. Will you do that tomorrow, honey?
4. What now? Are you going to do that tomorrow?
5. Are you going to do that tomorrow? Weren't you going to do that tomorrow?

I hope this helps.
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OK, that's pretty good. But there are many cases where you can only use one option. For example, why is it only OK to say "tomorrow I have a date" and not "tomorrow I am having a date" (both are plans already made). As a native speaker, the only one that sounds right to me is the first one, but is there any way a non-native speaker can decide this?
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It's like tomorrow I have an appointment with my hairdressers or my dentist. I suppose that when a time is arranged you use the simple present. The same would apply to train timetables.
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I forgot to say that you would also say "I have nothing to do tomorrow", wouldn't you? meaning I haven't arranged anything yet.
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"tomorrow I have a date" and not "tomorrow I am having a date"

both sound fine to me, and I'm a native speaker.

"I'm having a meeting tomorrow" - sounds fine too.

English is varied, and nobody uses all of it. Just teach them that both are OK and that they should choose which one they like best.

I have a student who likes to use use the word "dainty" wheneve
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Hi~I am a junior in Taiwan.
I think it's right that the present continuous is supposed to denote an action that is happening RIGHT NOW. However, "will" is equal to the phrase " be going to".
For example,
I will do my homework tomorrow. = I am going to do my homework tomorrow.

I give you some examples about the present simple and presenht continuous.
1.They are showin
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Hi Cherry,
Yes they SEEM to be the same, but please read Ryan Smith's posting. It's no. 3 in this thread.
There IS a difference, albeit subtle.
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