How does it work? The present continuous for the future

We know we can use the present continuous to talk about what we are doing at the moment (note the shortened version in brackets).

I am typing. (I'm typing.)

You are reading. (You're reading.)

She is listening to music. (She's listening to music.)

He is playing the piano. (He's playing the piano.)

The dog is sleeping. (The dog's sleeping.)

We are watching television. (We're watching television.)

They are ordering a pizza. (They're ordering a pizza.)

We can also use it to talk about our plans for the future. Here's how:

What are you doing tomorrow?

I'm going to play tennis.

Where are you going on holiday?

We're going to Japan.

We form the present continuous for the future in exactly the same way as the present continuous to talk about what we are doing at the moment, we just use it differently.

I'm not going out this evening, I'm staying home.

She's not going to the dentist this week, she's going next week.

He's not going to the cinema with his friends tonight, he saw the film last week.

Note that the present continuous for the future is only used for people. If we are talking about timetables or events we use the present simple.

The film starts at 7:30pm.

The train leaves at 9:15am.

We can use the present continuous and present simple together to talk about future plans like this:

What time are you playing tennis tomorrow?

The court is booked for 10 o'clock.

I'm going to the cinema this evening.

The film starts at 8 o'clock.

What time are you arriving into Birmingham this evening?

The train is due in at 7.30pm.

They are arriving by train tomorrow. The train arrives at 10am.

If you are talking about a meeting time with other people we still need to use the present continuous, not the present simple:

What time are you meeting your friends?

We're meeting up outside the cinema at 7 o'clock. (not we meet up)

What time are they leaving for the airport?

It takes an hour to get there, so they're going to leave at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. (not they leave)

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