1. Image

Look at the calendar and the plans. We use the present continuous to talk about future arrangements.

Teacher note: Look at the calendar and the plans. We use the present continuous to talk about future arrangements.

2. Grammar

Present Continuous for Future Plans

We use the present continuous to talk about fixed future arrangements. These are plans we have already organised.

Form

am / is / are + verb + -ing

Subject	Verb form	Example
I	am meeting	I am meeting my manager tomorrow.
You / We / They	are visiting	We are visiting my aunt on Saturday.
He / She / It	is going	She is going to a meeting this evening.

Use

Use the present continuous for:

plans you have already arranged
appointments and meetings
social plans and travel plans
future times with words like tomorrow, next week, this evening, on Saturday, at 7 o'clock

Examples

I am meeting a client at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
We are having a team meeting next week.
She is visiting her parents on Saturday.
They are going out this evening.
He is flying to Rome next Monday.
I am not working this Friday.
Are you meeting Anna at 7 o'clock?

Present time vs future plan

The present continuous can talk about now or about a future arrangement.

Now: I am cooking dinner.
Future plan: I am cooking dinner with my sister tonight.

The time expression helps show the meaning.

Common mistakes

Wrong: I meeting my friend tomorrow.
Correct: I am meeting my friend tomorrow.
Wrong: She is meet her boss on Monday.
Correct: She is meeting her boss on Monday.
Wrong: We are go out this evening.
Correct: We are going out this evening.
Wrong: He is visiting to his brother next week.
Correct: He is visiting his brother next week.

Quick tip

If the plan is already fixed, the present continuous is a very natural choice.

Teacher note: Clear A2 grammar explanation of how Present Continuous is used for fixed future arrangements, with a simple form chart, examples, and common mistakes.

3. Vocabulary

arrange
to plan something before it happens
appointment
a planned time to meet a person, often for work, health, or services
conference
a large formal meeting or event
meeting
a planned time when people talk about work or other business
book
to reserve something for later
dinner
the evening meal
next week
the week after this one
this Friday
Friday in the current week
tonight
this evening or at night today
at 3 p.m.
at three o'clock in the afternoon
be leaving
going away from a place soon
be visiting
going to a place for a short time

Teacher note: Vocabulary set for planning and future arrangements, with simple English definitions and time phrases for A2 adults. Includes the required lesson terms and keeps the focus on fixed plans in the near future.

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4. Text

Weekend plans

Lena: Hi, Mark. Are you free on Saturday afternoon?

Mark: Yes, I am. I’m visiting my brother in the morning, but I’m free after 2.

Lena: Great. I’m planning a short trip to the city. Do you want to join me for coffee?

Mark: That sounds nice. I’m meeting a colleague at 4, so I can go out before that.

Lena: Perfect. What are you doing on Sunday evening?

Mark: Nothing special. I’m already home, so I’m available.

Lena: Good. I’m seeing Anna at 7 o’clock on Sunday. Maybe we can arrange another time next week.

Grammar note

We use the present continuous for a future plan that is already fixed. The plan is usually organised with a time, day, or person.

I’m visiting my brother on Saturday.
She’s meeting a colleague at 4.
We’re going out next week.

Context

This kind of English is common in everyday messages, phone calls, and friendly conversations when people talk about arranged plans.

Discussion

Which plan in the dialogue is the easiest for Mark to join?
Which future arrangements do you already have this week?

Teacher note: A short reading dialogue about two adults making weekend arrangements, with a brief grammar note and discussion questions.

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5. Listening

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions.

What day is Lena meeting her brother?
What is Omar doing on Wednesday evening?
Where is Lena going on Friday after work?
What time is Omar's team meeting on Thursday?
What are they both doing on Saturday?
Who is busy on Sunday morning?

Teacher audio script

Lena: Hi Omar, are you free on Wednesday evening?
Omar: Not really. I am meeting my brother after work.
Lena: Oh, right. I am helping my mother at home on Wednesday.
Omar: How about Thursday? I am having a team meeting at 4 p.m.
Lena: I am finishing early on Thursday, so I am going to the gym.
Omar: Nice. On Friday, I am seeing my cousin for dinner.
Lena: I am visiting my aunt on Friday after work.
Omar: Are you doing anything on Saturday?
Lena: Yes, I am going out with some friends in the evening.
Omar: Great. I am planning a short trip on Saturday morning.
Lena: Sounds busy. I am already busy on Sunday morning because I am taking my son to football.
Omar: Then we can relax on Sunday afternoon.
Lena: Yes, that works for me.

Teacher note: Listening practice with a short, natural two-person conversation about work, family, and weekend arrangements. Students listen for times, places, and who is doing each plan.

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6. Speaking

Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner

Speaking: Future plans

Pair work

Take turns asking and answering about your plans. Use Present Continuous in your answers.

Useful answer starters

I am meeting...
I am visiting...
I am not working...
I am going out...
I am already busy...

Ask your partner about these plans

This evening — What are you doing this evening?
Tomorrow — Do you have any plans tomorrow after work?
This weekend — Are you doing anything special this weekend?
Next week — What are you planning for next week?
After work — Are you meeting anyone after work?
On Friday — What are you doing on Friday?
At 6 p.m. — Where are you going at 6 p.m.?

Follow-up questions

Is your week busy or free?
Do you already have a meeting or a visit planned?
Are your plans for family, work, or social time?

Speak to the class

Tell the class one plan from your partner and one plan from your own life.

Teacher note: Pair speaking practice for making and answering about future arrangements using Present Continuous. Includes varied prompts for work, family, and social plans, with a focus on full sentence answers.

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7. Word ordering

Put the words in order to make each sentence.

Sentence 1 / 4

Your sentence

Tap words to place them here

Word bank

Sentence 1 of 4: 0 / 8 words placed

Teacher note: Word-ordering practice on Present Continuous for future arrangements with four short, easy sentences.

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Each line is the expected answer for that item.

Slide 1I am meeting my client at 10 a.m.
Slide 2We are having dinner with friends tonight.
Slide 3She is leaving for Paris next Monday.
Slide 4They are not working this weekend.

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8. Short answer

Write short answers about your own plans. Use Present Continuous and keep each answer very short.

What are you doing tonight after work?

Are you seeing anyone tomorrow morning?

What are you doing on Saturday?

What are you doing next week at work?

Teacher note: Short-answer practice on personal future plans using Present Continuous. Students answer about tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, and next week.

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9. Spot the mistake

Read the text and find the mistakes. Tap the wrong words and type the corrections.

Find the mistakes

Mark at least one word to finish this step (when required)

Teacher note: A medium-difficulty spotting activity about future arrangements with six clear errors in present continuous forms and time expressions.

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Each line is the expected answer for that item.

1.workinworking
2.areis
3.visitvisiting

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9. Writing task

Write a short message to a friend or colleague about your plans for next week. Use Present Continuous at least four times. Include one negative sentence and at least two time expressions.

Aim for at least 60 words.

Your answer

Teacher note: Writing task for learners to compose a short message about next week’s arrangements using Present Continuous several times.

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10. True / false

Read each sentence. Mark it True or False.

We can use Present Continuous for future arrangements we already planned.
truefalse
Present Continuous for future plans always needs a future time word.
truefalse
'I am seeing my dentist on Monday' is a correct future plan sentence.
truefalse
'He is meet his friend tomorrow evening.' is correct.
truefalse

Teacher note: True/false check on whether learners can recognise correct Present Continuous forms for future arrangements.

Answer key (teachers only)

Students do not see this. Each line is the expected answer for that item.

1. We can use Present Continuous for future arrangements we already planne…True
2. Present Continuous for future plans always needs a future time word.False
3. 'I am seeing my dentist on Monday' is a correct future plan sentence.True
4. 'He is meet his friend tomorrow evening.' is correct.False

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11. Speaking

Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner

Speaking wrap-up: Future plans

Pair task

Take turns. Student A says one real plan using Present Continuous. Student B asks one short follow-up question.

Useful sentence starters

I am ...
She is ...
We are ...
I am not ...
Are you ...?

Speak about these topics

Work — one thing you are doing soon for work
Family — one plan with family this week
Social life — one time you are going out with someone
Travel — one place you are visiting or going to
Time — include a phrase like tomorrow, this evening, on Saturday, or next week
Busy or free — say whether you are already busy or have time

Class check

After your partner speaks, listen for:

the correct form: am / is / are + verb-ing
a clear time expression
natural pronunciation of am, is, and are

Example follow-up questions

Where are you going?
Who are you meeting?
What time are you leaving?
Is that plan already fixed?
Are you busy after that?

Final round

Tell the class one plan and one question you asked your partner.

Teacher note: Whole-class speaking wrap-up on future plans using Present Continuous, with a focus on accuracy, time expressions, and natural pronunciation of am/is/are.

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10 more activities in this lesson

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Subject

Verb form

Example

am meeting

I am meeting my manager tomorrow.

You / We / They

are visiting

We are visiting my aunt on Saturday.

He / She / It

is going

She is going to a meeting this evening.

Lena: Hi Omar, are you free on Wednesday evening? Omar: Not really. I am meeting my brother after work. Lena: Oh, right. I am helping my mother at home on Wednesday. Omar: How about Thursday? I am having a team meeting at 4 p.m. Lena: I am finishing early on Thursday, so I am going to the gym. Omar: Nice. On Friday, I am seeing my cousin for dinner. Lena: I am visiting my aunt on Friday after work. Omar: Are you doing anything on Saturday? Lena: Yes, I am going out with some friends in the evening. Omar: Great. I am planning a short trip on Saturday morning. Lena: Sounds busy. I am already busy on Sunday morning because I am taking my son to football. Omar: Then we can relax on Sunday afternoon. Lena: Yes, that works for me.