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B1Song 04Intermediate3:16Out Tue 6 Oct, 16:00 UK

Present Continuous vs Going To Song

Future Plans

Present continuous or going to? Learn how to talk about your future plans in one song. Level B1 (intermediate), for teenagers and adults learning English.

Present continuous

Booked, with a time

“I'm meeting Anna on Friday.”

Going to

Decided, but nothing booked

“I'm going to learn Portuguese.”

New song · out on YouTube

Tue 6 Oct, 16:00 UK

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Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro
  2. 0:10Chorus: in the diary, or in my head?
  3. 0:28Arranged, or just planned?
  4. 0:47Chorus
  5. 1:05New job, new habits
  6. 1:25Chorus
  7. 1:46Questions and negatives
  8. 2:03Signal words
  9. 2:16Final chorus
  10. 2:33Outro: see you next week

Lyrics

Intro

What are you doing on Friday? And what are you going to do?

Chorus

It's in the diary, it's all arranged, (Present continuous)

I'm meeting, I'm flying, it's on the page! (Present continuous)

It's in my head, I've made my plan, (Going to)

I'm going to do it, yes I can! (Going to)

Verse 1 · Arranged, or just planned?

Booked, with a time → I'm + -ing · In your head → going to

I'm meeting Anna on Friday, the table's booked for eight, (Present continuous)

I'm going to tell her everything, I really cannot wait! (Going to)

We're flying out to Lisbon, the tickets are on my phone, (Present continuous)

I'm going to learn some Portuguese and practise on my own! (Going to)

Chorus

It's in the diary, it's all arranged, (Present continuous)

I'm meeting, I'm flying, it's on the page! (Present continuous)

It's in my head, I've made my plan, (Going to)

I'm going to do it, yes I can! (Going to)

Verse 2 · New job, new habits

Signed and fixed → present continuous · Your intention → going to

I'm starting my new job on Monday, the contract's signed and done, (Present continuous)

I'm going to get up earlier and go out for a run! (Going to)

My sister's coming over on Sunday, we're cooking something new, (Present continuous)

I'm going to paint the kitchen, yellow, green or blue! (Going to)

Chorus

It's in the diary, it's all arranged, (Present continuous)

I'm meeting, I'm flying, it's on the page! (Present continuous)

It's in my head, I've made my plan, (Going to)

I'm going to do it, yes I can! (Going to)

Verse 3 · Questions and negatives

What are you doing …? · What are you going to do …?

What are you doing this weekend? I'm seeing friends at ten, (Present continuous)

And what are you going to do this year? I'm going to travel again! (Going to)

I'm not working late tonight, I'm leaving work at five, (Present continuous)

I'm not going to stress about it, I'm going to feel alive! (Going to)

Bridge · Signal words

Booked, set, with a time? Or just decided?

Tickets booked? Continuous! Meeting set? Continuous! (Present continuous)

Just decided? Going to! Someday, one day? Going to! (Going to)

Final chorus

It's in the diary, it's all arranged, (Present continuous)

I'm meeting, I'm flying, it's on the page! (Present continuous)

It's in my head, I've made my plan, (Going to)

I'm going to do it, yes I can! (Going to)

Outro · See you next week

An arrangement: same place, same time!

I'm going to sing this song again, I've made up my mind, (Going to)

And I'm meeting you right here next week, same place, same time! (Present continuous)

The grammar

Present Continuous or Going To?

Present continuous

I'm + -ing · booked, with a time

Use it when: booked, with a time.

From the song

  • I'm meeting Anna on Friday, the table's booked for eight,
  • We're flying out to Lisbon, the tickets are on my phone,
  • I'm starting my new job on Monday, the contract's signed and done,
  • My sister's coming over on Sunday, we're cooking something new,

Going to

I'm going to + base · my intention

Use it when: decided, but nothing booked.

From the song

  • I'm going to tell her everything, I really cannot wait!
  • I'm going to learn some Portuguese and practise on my own!
  • I'm going to get up earlier and go out for a run!
  • I'm going to paint the kitchen, yellow, green or blue!

Step by step through the song

  1. Arranged, or just planned?

    Booked, with a time → I'm + -ing · In your head → going to

  2. New job, new habits

    Signed and fixed → present continuous · Your intention → going to

  3. Questions and negatives

    What are you doing …? · What are you going to do …?

  4. Signal words

    Booked, set, with a time? Or just decided?

  5. See you next week

    An arrangement: same place, same time!

Practice

Test yourself

Booked with a time, or just decided? Choose the most natural form.

  1. 1. Anna on Friday. The table's booked for eight.

  2. 2.Someday the world.

  3. 3.I've just decided: earlier from now on.

  4. 4.My sister over on Sunday. Her train is booked.

  5. 5. some Portuguese. I haven't booked a course yet.

  6. 6.The tickets are on my phone: to Lisbon on Saturday.

  7. 7.What this weekend? I'm seeing friends at ten.

  8. 8.What this year? I'm going to travel again!

0 of 8 answered

More practice with this songHear Remi sing a line, type the missing words, then check the answers and explanations.Present Continuous vs Going To exercises

Your turn

What are you doing this weekend?

And what are you going to do this year?Answer both, like: "I'm meeting my sister on Saturday. I'm going to learn to cook!"

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Keep singing

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B1Song 02

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