🎯 Learning Objectives
- Differentiate between "going to" and the present continuous for describing future plans
- Construct accurate "going to" sentences to express intentions and decisions
- Formulate present continuous sentences that highlight fixed arrangements
- Apply both forms in workplace-focused conversations (minimum 70% professional contexts)
"Going to" - Form & Meaning
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
Use it for personal decisions or intentions that are decided before speaking.
Workplace: "I'm going to prepare the quarterly report this afternoon."
Daily: "She's going to call her mother after work."
Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
Use it for scheduled events or arrangements that are already confirmed, often with another person.
Workplace: "The team is presenting the new strategy on Friday."
Daily: "They are flying to Paris next week."
Usage Rules
- "Going to" covers intentions or decisions you control.
- Present continuous covers arrangements already in calendars.
- Ask: "Is this my plan, or is the time already fixed?"
Time Expressions & Signals
tomorrow, next week, on Monday, soon, later, this afternoon, tonight, next quarter...
🔑 Learning Tip: If it's a personal decision in progress, use "going to". If it's already booked, choose the present continuous.
🛍️ Retail Store: organising staff rotas, planning promotions, confirming delivery slots.
🏥 Healthcare Clinic: scheduling patient appointments, arranging training, confirming doctor availability.
🏗️ Construction Site: sequencing build phases, ordering materials, arranging safety inspections.
🧾 Personal Errands: deciding to visit the bank, organising gym sessions, planning weekly chores.
🏡 Home Projects: booking repair services, planning to repaint rooms, coordinating deliveries.
✅ Professional & Daily Usage
❌ Common Business Mistakes
Listen to Sarah and Mark planning the Alpha project timeline:
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form
Select the form that best completes each professional scenario.
1. The development team ______ a new software update next Friday.
2. I ______ a presentation on our Q3 results tomorrow morning.
3. Our CEO ______ a speech at the industry conference in December.
4. We ______ a client call at 3 PM this afternoon to discuss the contract.
5. Next month, the company ______ a new marketing campaign.
6. Sarah ______ her vacation next Monday. She has all the arrangements sorted.
1. The store ______ its winter sale starting from November 1st.
2. I ______ the new inventory delivery schedule with the warehouse manager later today.
3. This weekend, the team ______ extra staff to handle the holiday rush.
4. We ______ a special promotion for Black Friday next week.
5. My manager ______ a meeting with the regional director on Tuesday.
6. He ______ his resignation at the end of the month. He told me his decision yesterday.
Exercise 2: Error Correction
Rewrite each sentence using the correct future form.
1. I've checked everyone's calendar and sent the invitation. We are going to have the project kickoff meeting next Tuesday at 10 AM.
2. I just reviewed the budget, and we have a problem. I am speaking to the finance department about it this afternoon.
3. The construction team confirmed their schedule. They going to start laying the foundation next week.
4. According to the official project plan, the design team is going to deliver the final mockups this Friday.
1. Thank you for your call. I've just made a decision: I am sending you a replacement unit immediately.
2. Please hold the line. I am going to transfer you to a senior agent who can better assist you.
3. I have a confirmed appointment in my diary. I am going to visit the client's office on Wednesday to resolve the issue in person.
4. Our support team call all affected customers tomorrow to inform them of the system update.
Exercise 3: Complete the Dialogue
Use "going to" or the present continuous to complete each conversation.
1. I ______ aim for the first week of December.
2. My team ______ the final testing phase until mid-November.
3. I ______ a new timeline today.
4. We ______ a meeting with marketing tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
5. When ______ the beta users?
6. I ______ them early next week to schedule sessions.
7. I think we ______ beta testing around November 20th.
8. So, to confirm: you ______ the launch date and timeline today.
9. And I ______ preparing the testing environment right after the sprint finishes.
10. I ______ you know the official launch date by Friday.
1. I ______ a five-course tasting menu.
2. I ______ on seasonal ingredients.
3. For the main course, I ______ a duck confit.
4. When ______?
5. They ______ at 7 PM.
6. I think we ______ the first course at 7:30 PM sharp.
7. I ______ a detailed schedule for the kitchen staff.
8. I ______ our sommelier at 2:00 this afternoon.
9. I think he ______ some excellent options by tomorrow.
10. I ______ you the draft menu by the end of the day.
Use these prompts to practise future plans with your teacher.
Speaking Tasks - Blend "Going to" & Present Continuous:
Choose a scenario: project team catch-up, client check-in, or department huddle.
- "I'm going to call a meeting with ______."
- "We're meeting on ______ at ______."
- "I'm going to send the invitation after this conversation."
- "When are we going to confirm the agenda?"
Scenario options: Tech product launch, retail seasonal sale, finance client dinner.
- "We're going to book the venue by ______."
- "The event is starting at ______."
- "I'm going to finalise the guest list for ______."
- "Who is going to lead the presentations?"
- "We are meeting the suppliers on ______ to confirm details."
- Career development: What training are you going to take? Which meetings are already scheduled?
- Project proposal: What steps are you going to propose? Which tasks are you starting this week?
- Learner choice: Pick a relevant scenario and explain both intentions and fixed arrangements.
🎯 Professional Key Takeaways:
"Going to" - Intentions & Plans:• Use for personal decisions or plans you control.
• Great for explaining why you chose an action.
• Combine with time markers such as "later today", "this evening".
Present Continuous - Fixed Arrangements:
• Use when the time/place is already scheduled.
• Often involves meetings, appointments, travel.
• Fits well with diary/calendar language: "We're meeting at 10 AM", "I'm flying on Tuesday".
Signal Words:
"Going to": decide, plan, intend, want, hope, promise.
Present continuous: tomorrow, next + day, on + date/time, this afternoon/evening.
💼 Professional Study Tips:
- Plan with purpose: Note intentions in your to-do list using "I'm going to...".
- Calendar accuracy: Write confirmed meetings with present continuous ("We're meeting the client at 2 PM").
- Listen actively: In meetings, highlight when colleagues express intentions vs fixed arrangements.