Unit 19. Present tenses (I am doing / I do ) for the future

Present continuous (I am doing) with a future meaning.

This is Tom's diary for next week.

He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon.
He is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning.
He is having dinner with Ann on Friday.

In all these example, Tom has already decided and arranged to do these things.

Use the present continuous to day what you have already arranged to do. Do not use the present simple (I do).

• A : What are you doing on Saturday evening?
  B : I'm going to the theatre.
• I'm not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere.

'going to' is also possible in these sentences.

• What are you going to do on Saturday evening?

Do not use will to talk about what you have arranged to do

• What are you doing this evening? ( not 'what will you do' )
• Alex is getting married next month. ( not 'will get' )

Present simple ( I do ) with a future meaning.

We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc.

• The train leaves Plymouth at 11.30 and arriveds in London at 14.45
• What time does the film begin?

You can use the present simple for people if their plans are fixed like a timetable.

• I start my new job on Monday.
• What time do you finish work tomorrow?

But the continuous is more usual for personal arrangements

• What time are you meeting Ann tomorrow?