The Difference Between Going To and the Present Progressive Tense

Watch the video, read the lesson, and do the exercises:  

 

Both going to and the present progressive tense are used to talk about planned future actions or events. 

(The present progressive tense is also called the present continuous.)

Examples:

• He is going to buy a new car soon. (going to)
• He is buying a new car tomorrow. (present progressive)
• She is going to bake cookies tonight. (going to)
• She is baking cookies tonight. (present progressive)

 

All of these examples describe activities that are either planned for the future or are already happening and continuing into the future. 

Each pair of sentences above expresses nearly the same idea, but there is a small difference in meaning.

Let’s talk about how to use each form.  

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Learn more about the English progressive tenses with our illustrated series of eBooks: Stories and Exercises to Practice the Progressive Tenses. 

Learn more about the expressing future states and actions in English with our illustrated series of eBooks: Talking about the Future in English. 

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 “Going to” for Future Plans

Going to is used to refer to future plans that we intend to do. These are plans that have been decided but may not be fully arranged. 

Examples:

• She is going to call the school later.
  
  She has decided to call the school, but she has not planned an exact time to call.

• They are going to purchase a new house.
  
  They have decided to purchase a new house sometime in the future.
  
  
• We are going to meet at the office soon.
  
  We have decided to meet at the office, but we have not planned an exact time.

 

We can also use going to to make predictions about an event.

Examples:

• Be careful! The roads are going to be icy.
• It is so cold. It is going to snow tonight. 

Present Progressive Tense for Future Plans

The present progressive tense (also called the present continuous tense) refers to fixed future events that have been planned at an exact time or place. 

Examples:

• She is calling the school tomorrow morning.
  
  She has made plans to call the school tomorrow morning.
  
  
• They are purchasing the house next week.
  
  They have made plans to purchase the house next week.
  
  
• We are meeting at the office at 10:00.
  
  We have made plans to meet at the office at 10:00.

Practice

Part A: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb for the present progressive tense. 

Part B: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb and “going to”.

Part C: Read the following short story. Underline the sentence parts which express a future action or state. Use a straight underline for the present progressive, and use a wavy underline for "be going to + verb". 

Sometime in the future, I am going to visit Spain. I am going to take time off work and travel to Spain. It is probably going to be in the summer. I can see it in my mind... Spain is going to be so beautiful! The sun is going to shine and the birds are going to sing. I am going to have lots of fun there. I am also going to meet many new friends!

But that is only in the future... In two hours I am meeting my new clients. I am a wedding planner, and on May 10th my clients are getting married. We have so much to do before the wedding! Tomorrow we are choosing the catering company. Next Tuesday we are meeting the photographer, and next Wednesday we are listening to the music band.

The bride and groom are super excited. They trust me, and we know everything is going to be alright. The bride is going to look so beautiful and everyone is going to have a good time!

Answers

Part A: 

1. He is playing football with Nick on Sunday.
2. Don’t forget that we are leaving at 3:30 p.m.
3. She is going to the store in 15 minutes.
4. Jim is leaving for the airport this afternoon.
5. His mom is cooking turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner.
6. They are eating with us tonight.
7. I am participating in the competition this weekend.
8. Sara is driving to the post office after work. 
9. I am buying the tickets on Friday.
10. The team members are working late tonight to finish the project.

Part B: 

1. They are going to visit their grandmother soon.
2. My aunt is going to buy me a gift.
3. I am going to feed the dog.
4. My brother is going to help me clean the house.
5. The students are going to study for the test.
6. Watch out! The glass is going to break!
7. Tom is going to spend his vacation with me.
8. His sister is going to walk home from school
9. It is going to rain.
10. I am going to bake cookies for you.

Part C:

 

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