1. Are we going together? ( Present Continuous with a future meaning)
Importante
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS With Future Meaning
FORM
- The form of the Present Continuous is obviously the same we have studied with the present tenses:
- For the negatives, you only need to negate the verb to be:
I am not meeting John tonight ( No voy a quedar con John esta noche)
She isn't visiting her grandma tomorrow (No va a visitar a su abuela mañana)
We aren't going to Italy on holiday ( No vamos a ir de vacaciones a Italia)
- For questions, you only have to do the subject - verb inversion with to be:
Are you studying for the exam tomorrow? ( ¿Vais a estudiar para el examen mañana?)
- For short answers you need to use the verb to be in the affirmative or negative following this table:
| Are they meeting John tomorrow? | Yes , | they | are |
| No, | they | aren't |
USE:
The Present Continuous with Future meaning is used to talk about future arrangements. In Spanish we don't have an equivalent, so it is important to understand when you can use it:
- You need a future time expression or the appropriate context indicating that it refers to future time. ( tomorrow, next week etc...)
I am working next Saturday - (Voy a trabajar el Sábado que viene)
- You use the Present Continuous for future plans that are completely arranged . That is to say, we have decided when and where to do it. (everything is planned).
Are you meeting your friends tomorrow? - Yes, we are meeting for a drink.
(¿Vas a quedar con tus amigos mañana? - Sí vamos a tomar algo)
- Use the present continuous with the verbs go and come. Never use the going to future with these verbs becaise it sounds redundant.
I am going to go to the cinema tonight - I am going to the cinema tonight.
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In order to revise what you have just studied about the Present Continuous, please watch this video:
| Vídeo de Bluebloc Notes (Aprender Inglés) en Youtube |
Reflexiona
Read these examples of Present Continuous:
- So what are you visiting these days then?
- Well, I am visiting the main Dublin attractions first of all and, then, I am celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Thursday.
- I'm trying a true Guinness on Thursday.
- Are we going together?
- Before we go, I'm checking the bus timetables.
What tense do these examples refer to?: Present, Past or Future.
Comprueba lo aprendido
Transform the following sentences into negative and interrogative:
Para saber más
Practice the Present Continuous for future arrangements by doing these exercises:
| Exercise 1 |
Exercise 2 |
Comprueba lo aprendido
Solución
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Solución
Solución
Solución
Let's study the last way to express future time in the next section!