We’re meeting at six

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • present continuous for the future

The present continuous for fixed plans with a time and a place (We're flying to Austin on Friday, and we're having dinner with Deon at eight.), with questions and short answers. From a couple's plan for a wedding weekend to a guessing game about the teacher's real week.

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Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

I'm meetingWe're movingisn't coming

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the wedding weekendReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the plansGrammar exercise
  6. 6The present continuous for plansGrammar rule
  7. 7Deon's messagesGrammar exercise
  8. 8Questions and answersGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Guess my weekSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: Annika's answerGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: next weekendDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. When did you last go to a wedding? What was it like?
  2. Do you keep a calendar on your phone, or on paper?
  3. Are you doing anything for your next birthday?

Grammar rule

The present continuous for plans

am / is / are + -ing for fixed plans

Arrangements are fixed plans: there is a day or a time, and often other people, a ticket or a booking. For arrangements, use the present continuous.

Example
PositiveI'm seeing the dentist on Monday. They're moving in May.
NegativeWe aren't eating out tonight. My boss isn't coming to the meeting.
QuestionWhat time is the party starting? Is your brother coming on Friday? — Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.

In a short answer, use the long form: Yes, I am. (not Yes, I'm.)

Time words: tonight, tomorrow, on Friday, this weekend, next week, in June, at eight.

Now or a plan?

The form is the same. Without a future time, the present continuous usually means now: I'm working. (now) · I'm working on Sunday. (a plan)

For the weather, use will or going to, not the present continuous: It will probably snow tomorrow. / It's going to snow tomorrow. (not It's snowing tomorrow: nobody can arrange the weather)
Watch out: don't forget am, is or are (not We driving on Sunday), and use the -ing form (not Are they stay…?). In questions, am, is or are comes before the subject: Where are you going? (not Where you are going?)

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

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