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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Present progressive vs to be going to

Can somebody help me, please?

I'm rather confused about the difference btw the present progressive and "to be going to", when used to ask about temporary details in planned actions.

I've read

1) When are you going to finish with your Spanish lessons?

2) When is the movie going to start?

3) A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?

B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

Here's my doubt:

Since I'm asking about a fixed date/hour in the future, shouldn't I necessarily use the present progressive?

Why did they use the other form, instead? These sentences are puzzling me Emotion: sad

Thanks in advance.

  

Top answer

anonymous These sentences are puzzling me . That's largely because the choice depends a lot on what the speaker is thinking, how the speaker feels about the information he is conveying. The three versions given here can be thought of as 'intention', 'arrangement', and 'schedule'.

— CalifJim

  • anonymous These sentences are puzzling me .
  • That's largely because the choice depends a lot on what the speaker is thinking, how the speaker feels about the information he is conveying.
  • The three versions given here can be thought of as 'intention', 'arrangement', and 'schedule'.
  • 'going to' often expresses intention; the present continuous often expresses an arrangement; the present simple often suggests a schedule.
  • By choosing between the three, you signal how you're thinking about the situation.
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1 Answers
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anonymousThese sentences are puzzling me.

That's largely because the choice depends a lot on what the speaker is thinking, how the speaker feels about the information he is conveying.

The three versions given here can be thought of as 'intention', 'arrangement', and 'schedule'. 'going to' often expresses int

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