Going to and Present Continuous

to the simple future we can talk about future events by using either:

• the present continuous, or
• to be (in the simple present) + going to +verb.

These two forms are used to talk about future plans. There are, however, some differences between the two forms.

1. The present continuous for future plans:

The present continuous is used when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with definite time and/or place.

Examples:

• I'm doing my homework this evening.
• I'm starting university in September.
• Sally is meeting John at seven o'clock this evening in a restaurant downtown.

2. To be + going to + verb:

A. We use 'going to' to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.

Example:

• A: The windows are dirty.
  B: Yes I know. I'm going to clean them later.
   = I've decided to clean them ,but I haven't arranged to clean them.

B. We also use 'going to' to make predictions.

• Watch out! you are going to break the glass.
• It's so cloudy! I think it's going to rain.

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