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20. Present for the future

They are playing tennis now.

She is playing tennis tomorrow.

A. We use am / is / are ing (present) for something happening now.

Where are Bob and sue? They re playing tennis in the park. Please be quiet. I, m working. We also use am / is / is ing for the future (tomorrow / next week, etc.): Ann is playing tennis tomorrow. Im not working next week. I am doing some thing tomorrow = I have arranged to do something. I have a plan to do something Carla is going to the dentist on Friday. (= She has an appointment with the dentist.) They are going to a concert tomorrow night. ( = They have tickets for the concert) Are you meeting Bill this evening? ( = Have you and Bill arranged to meet? ) What are you doing this weekend? I am not going out tonight. I am staying home. You can also say I am going to do something B. Do not use the simple present (I go / do you go? etc) for arrangement: I m going out this evening. (Not I go) Are you going out tonight? (Not do you go) Ann isn t coming to the party next week. (not Ann doesnt come) But we use the simple present for timetables, trains, programmed, schedule, etc
Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.

The concert start at 7:30 What time does the train leave?

C. Study the difference.

I am going to a concert at 7:30. The concert start at 7:30. I am going - present continuous: usually for people. The concert starts - simple present: for programs, trains etc.

Exercise 20.1 Write sentences for the following people as in the example.

Linda Dick Tom and Sue Kim Play / tennis go / to the movie go / to a party meet / Dave

Bob go / on vacation

1. Linda is playing tennis on Friday 2. Dick .. 3. . 4. . 5. .

20. 2 Write some sentence about you. What are you doing in the next few day?
1. I , m staying at home tonight. 2. I , m going to the theater on Monday. 3. .
Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.

4. . 5

20.3 Write questions. The entire sentences are future.

1. ( You / go / out tonight?) = Are you going out tonight? 2. (You / work / next week?) ..next week? 3. (What / you / do / tomorrow night?) What .? 4. (What time / Bob and Sue / come?) .? 5. (When / Liz / go / on vacation?) ...?

20.4 Write sentences. All the sentences are future. Use the present continuous (he is leaving, etc or) Simple present (it leaves etc)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. (I / not / go out / tonight) = I , m not going out tonight. (the concert / start / at 8:15) = The concert starts at 8:15. (I / meet / my friends this evening) I . (Tom / not / come / to the party on Thursday) Tom (The English course / finish / on may 10) The (my sister / get / married next December) My (my train / leave / at 8:45) (I / not / go / downtown tomorrow ?) (What time / the train / leave?) What time .? (What time / you / leave / tomorrow?) ..? (When / they / get married?) ..? (When / the next English course / begin?).. ?

These sentences are questions all the sentences are future.

Raymond Murphy. Essential Grammar in Use. Singapore : Cambridge University Press. 2002.