Lesson 12: Unit 71 - Present simple and present continuous - future meaning

About this lesson

In this lesson you will learn how to use the Present Simple and Present Continuous to express future intentions and plans. You will understand the difference between fixed timetables (Present Simple) and personal arrangements made in advance (Present Continuous) with a future meaning. You will practise real situations such as arranging business meetings, discussing travel plans and describing a weekly schedule. The dialogue between Samantha and Jin Lei will help you see the two tenses in action.

40 minutes

What you'll learn

• Use the Present Continuous for personal plans arranged in advance for the future
• Use the Present Simple for programmes, schedules and timetables with a future meaning
• Recognise the adverbs of future time in a sentence
• Use verbs of movement (go, come, arrive, fly, depart, sail) with the Present Continuous
• Describe a weekly schedule in English
• Arrange a meeting using both tenses correctly

Lesson vocabulary

• arrange They are trying to arrange an appointment for next week.
• appointment I'm seeing my GP at 8.00 a.m. tomorrow.
• depart The train departs from Kings Cross at 10.15 a.m.
• arrive It arrives at Liverpool at 1.30 p.m.
• timetable When we talk about timetables, we use Present Simple.
• present I'm presenting new market opportunities at lunchtime.
• return flight My return flight to Beijing leaves at 8.00 a.m. on Sunday.
• look forward to I'm looking forward to seeing you then.
• possibility Wednesday afternoon is a possibility.
• human resources manager I'm having lunch with our new Human Resources manager.
• operating committee On Tuesday at 8.30 she's having an operating committee meeting.
• hairstylist On Monday she's seeing her hairstylist at 10.00 a.m.
• GP (general practitioner) I have an awful headache. I'm seeing my GP at 8.00 a.m. tomorrow.
• the Big Apple On Thursday morning I'm driving down to the Big Apple for a meeting.
• agent Fiona Spielberg, my Canadian agent, is coming to the office.

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In other languages: Български