Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight? Present continuous exercises for future plans
About this lesson
This A2 drill lesson gives present continuous exercises for fixed future plans, the ones already in your calendar: I'm meeting Tom at 7 tomorrow.
- Grammar
- Am, is or are + verb-ing + a future time for every person, negatives, yes/no and wh- questions, short answers, -ing spelling, and the time phrase that tells a plan from now.
- Topic
- On tour: Yuki's diary from an invented band's week in the Midwest, the singer Pia's post, the manager's travel plan and Yuki's texts inviting you to a show.
- Activities
- True or false, sorting, choices, gap-fills, drag-and-drop texts, word order, matching, tables, quizzes, a memory game and a chat, each checked instantly.
What's inside
Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: present continuous for plansGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: now or a plan?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right form: plansChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with the present form of beFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Plans in my calendar
- Sort the time phrases: past, now or future?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: am / is / are + -ing for plansFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right spelling of the -ing formChoose the optionUnlock
- Read Wanda's plans for the week and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the news and the plansMatchUnlock
- Read Bea's message and fill in the gaps: am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 3Sorry, I'm busy!
- Fill in the gaps: negative sentences with am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the table: plans with am / is / are + -ingFill in the tableTry it
- Choose the right short answerChoose the optionUnlock
- Put the words in order to make negative sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Read Arlo's message to his coach and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 4Any plans for tonight?
- Fill in the gaps: make questions about plansFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock
- Choose the right question for each answerQuizUnlock
- Write the question for the answer: am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchTry it
- Read the phone call and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: On tour
- Read the band's tour diaryReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the diary again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read the diary again and choose the right answerQuizUnlock
- Read Pia's post and fill in the gaps: am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Bettina's message to the band and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Yuki texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right form: weekend plansChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with am / is / are + -ing: a busy SaturdayFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: happening now or a plan?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: more plansUnjumbleUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: negative plans with am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the table: questions and short answersFill in the tableUnlock
- Match the questions and the answers: travel plansMatchUnlock
- Put the words in order: questions about plansUnjumbleUnlock
- Write the questions about plans: am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: questions and short answersMemory gameUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Read the teacher's plan for the trip and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Tobias's email and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Mom's note and fill in the gaps: am / is / are + -ingFill in the gapsUnlock
- Find the mistake: choose the correct wordsQuizUnlock
Grammar: the present continuous for future plans
The present continuous that describes now also talks about the future: She's flying to Denver on Friday. It's for fixed plans, the kind in a calendar: you know the day or the time, and often the place or the people. The form is am, is or are + verb-ing.
Present continuous for future plans
Talk about fixed plans: you know the day or the time. Use am / is / are + verb-ing + a future time.
am / is / are + verb-ing + a future time
The form doesn't change from the present: We're having a party this weekend. A future time phrase turns it into a plan. Negatives put not after be: I'm not working tomorrow. They aren't working tomorrow.
am / is / are + verb-ing + a future time
subjectam / is / areverb + -ingfuture time
I'm meeting Tom at 7 tomorrow.
She's flying to Denver on Friday.
We're having a party this weekend.
Every person: + − ?
| Who | Positive (+) | Negative (−) | Question (?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am working tomorrow. · I'm working tomorrow. | I am not working tomorrow. · I'm not working tomorrow. | Am I working tomorrow? |
| you | You are working tomorrow. · You're working tomorrow. | You are not working tomorrow. · You aren't working tomorrow. | Are you working tomorrow? |
| he | He is working tomorrow. · He's working tomorrow. | He is not working tomorrow. · He isn't working tomorrow. | Is he working tomorrow? |
| she | She is working tomorrow. · She's working tomorrow. | She is not working tomorrow. · She isn't working tomorrow. | Is she working tomorrow? |
| it (the new café) | It is opening on Monday. · It's opening on Monday. | It is not opening on Monday. · It isn't opening on Monday. | Is it opening on Monday? |
| we | We are working tomorrow. · We're working tomorrow. | We are not working tomorrow. · We aren't working tomorrow. | Are we working tomorrow? |
| they | They are working tomorrow. · They're working tomorrow. | They are not working tomorrow. · They aren't working tomorrow. | Are they working tomorrow? |
Questions and short answers
Am, is or are goes before the subject, after any question word: How are you getting to the airport? Short answers keep be and drop the -ing verb: Are you coming to the concert? – Yes, I am. No, he isn't.
Questions and short answers
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Are you coming to the concert? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
| Is Ana driving on Sunday? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn't. |
| Is Tom playing tonight? | Yes, he is. | No, he isn't. |
| Is the café opening on Monday? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
| Are we leaving at 6? | Yes, we are. | No, we aren't. |
| Are your parents staying for the weekend? | Yes, they are. | No, they aren't. |
| Am I sitting next to you at the wedding? | Yes, you are. | No, you aren't. |
Wh- questions: word + am / is / are + subject + -ing
- What are you doing tonight?
- Where is she going on vacation?
- When are your friends arriving?
- What time is the party starting?
- Who are you meeting on Friday?
- How are you getting to the airport?
- How long are they staying in Rome?
Now or a plan? The time phrase decides
Right now, at the moment, Look! and Listen! point to now. Tonight, on Friday, next week and in July point to a plan, so one sentence can hold both: I'm working now, but I'm not working tomorrow.
Now or a plan? The time phrase tells you.
Now
- now · right now · at the moment · Look! · Listen!
- I'm playing tennis right now.
- Shh! Dad is sleeping at the moment.
A plan for the future
- tonight · tomorrow · on Friday · this weekend · next week · next month · in July · at 8 p.m.
- I'm playing tennis on Saturday.
- Dad is flying to Miami next week.
Examples
- We're playing soccer in the park at 4 tomorrow. Ten friends are coming.a fixed plan: the time, the place, the people
- My cousins are arriving from Brazil next Monday.a plan
- Kate isn't coming to the party on Saturday. She's working.negative
- Are you doing anything tomorrow? — No, I'm not.question and short answer
- What are you doing this weekend? — I'm visiting my grandma.wh- question and answer
- I'm working now, but I'm not working tomorrow.now and a plan
Going to for plans, and -ing spelling
Be going to works for plans as well: I'm going to see Tom tomorrow. Watch the spelling: come – coming, get – getting, swim – swimming, fly – flying.
When do we use it?
For fixed plans: you know the day or the time, and often the place or the people. It's in your calendar! Be going to is fine for plans too: I'm going to see Tom tomorrow. -ing spelling: come → coming, get → getting, swim → swimming, fly → flying.
Common mistakes
The scheme corrects a missing -ing (I'm meet Tom tomorrow, Are you do anything tonight?), statement order in a question (What you are doing on Sunday?) and Yes, I'm. A full sentence needs both be and -ing.
I'm meet Tom tomorrow.
I'm meeting Tom tomorrow.
am / is / are + verb-ing
Are you do anything tonight?
Are you doing anything tonight?
questions need -ing too
What you are doing on Sunday?
What are you doing on Sunday?
question word + am / is / are + subject
Are you working on Friday? — Yes, I'm. / No, I don't.
Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
short answers use am / is / are
More lessons on this grammar: Future tenses lessons and exercises · Present continuous lessons and exercises
Try the present continuous exercises
Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.
What's in the lesson
- 38 auto-checked exercises
- 6 games
- 1 real-life document
- 1 grammar scheme
- 1 picture
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- talk about fixed plans with a time: I'm meeting my friends at the mall at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Our class is visiting the science museum next Tuesday.
- tell a plan from now by the time phrase: Shh! The baby is sleeping right now. but I'm seeing the dentist on Friday.
- say what isn't happening and ask about plans: Jake isn't coming to the party tonight. What are you doing on Saturday night?
- give short answers with be: Is your brother coming to the wedding? – Yes, he is. No, I'm not, not No, I don't
- spell the -ing form right: We're getting a new puppy on Sunday, not geting
- Grammar:
- present continuous for future · am / is / are + -ing · future time phrases · short answers
- Topic:
- grammar practice · plans · music · travel
Teaching tips
- Fill in a class calendar: each student writes three real plans for next week with a day or a time, then looks for a free classmate: Are you doing anything on Thursday at 5? – No, I'm not.
- Leave the time phrase off: read out Dad is flying to Miami… and let students finish it as a plan (next week) or as now (right now) before the sorting exercises.
- Plan a tour of your own: after Yuki's diary, groups invent a week for their band, one line a day (On Tuesday we're playing in Austin), and another group asks Where are you playing on Friday?
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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A2
English Grammar Practice · A2 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the past simple and continuous, used to, comparatives, going to and will, the present perfect, modals, the zero and first conditionals and questions. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course
- 1Past simple with -ed: moving day!
- 2Past simple irregular verbs: we went, we saw, we bought
- 3Past simple negatives and questions: where did the cake go?
- 4Past continuous: what were you doing at 9 p.m.?
- 5Past simple or past continuous: what were you doing when it happened?
- 6Used to: how things were back then
- 7Comparatives: which one is better?
- 8Superlatives: the best in town
- 9As … as, too, enough: is it the right size?
- 10Adverbs of manner: how did she drive?
- 11Much, many, a few, a little: how much do we need?
- 12Possessive pronouns: whose is it?
- 13Be going to: what's your plan?
- 14Will: what will the future bring?
- 15Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?
- 16Will vs going to: decided before or right now?
- 17Present perfect: have you ever tried it?
- 18Just, already, yet: have you done it yet?
- 19For and since: how long have you known her?
- 20Present perfect or past simple: up to now or finished time?
- 21Must and have to: what are the rules?
- 22Should: what should I do?
- 23Can, could, may: could you help me, please?
- 24Verb + to or -ing: what do you enjoy doing?
- 25Zero conditional: what happens if…?
- 26First conditional: what will you do if it rains?
- 27Articles: a, the or no article?
- 28Subject and object questions: who won the quiz?