How do we use present continuous tense for the future?
Using the present continuous to talk about the future
- I’m meeting Jim at the airport = Jim and I have discussed this.
- I am leaving tomorrow. = I’ve already bought my train ticket.
- We’re having a staff meeting next Monday = all members of staff have been told about it.
Can present continuous tense be used in future tense?
Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working tomorrow) The band is visiting Denmark next May. I am taking the train to Paris tomorrow. … We don’t use the present continuous when we predict something.
Can we use the present continuous to talk about the future?
Using the present continuous to talk about the future
The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for events at a time later than now. There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened.
Can present tense be used for future?
Native English speakers also use the present tense to speak about the future, particularly for arrangements and plans. When using the present tense for the future it’s also common to use an indication of time such as ‘tomorrow’, ‘next week’ etc.
Why do we use present continuous tense?
The present continuous tense is a grammatical tense that can be used to describe when an action happened, or may happen. You can use it to describe both events that are happening in the present – right now, while you are talking about something, or in the future – something that may or will happen later on.
What are the other ways in which we can show future time without using future tenses?
There are also several other ways to talk about the future without using a future verb tense.
- Using the present continuous to talk about future arrangements.
- Using the simple present to talk about scheduled events.
- Using “going” to talk about the future.
- Future obligations.
- The immediate future.
How do you use continuous tense?
The continuous tense is formed with the verb ‘be’ + -ing form of the verb. The Present continuous can be used to show an action which is happening at the time of speaking. I am having dinner at the moment. The Past continuous can be used to show an action which was happening in the past.
How do we use present tense?
The simple present tense is used:
- To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes: …
- To give instructions or directions: …
- To express fixed arrangements, present or future: …
- To express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until: