Ask and Find

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Find Someone Who activity preview: students use be going to and present continuous questions about future plans and arrangements at Elementary A1-A2.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice

In this 'be going to' and present continuous speaking activity, students practice asking and answering yes/no questions about future plans and arrangements and...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice In this 'be going to' and present continuous speaking activity, students practice asking and answering yes/no questions about future plans and arrangements and finding classmates who give the same answers. First, go through each question on the worksheet and check the meaning with the students, e.g. 'Are you going to watch TV tonight?' 'Are you taking a test next week?' Next, students answer the questions and write short answers (Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.) in the column marked 'You'. Students then go around the class asking and answering the yes/no questions to find classmates with the same answers. When a student finds someone with the same answer, the two students write each other's names in the last column and then move on to speak to someone else. This process continues until the students have completed as many items as possible with a name. When the students have finished, get feedback from the class by asking the students questions with 'Who...?', e.g. 'Who is going to watch TV tonight?'
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Plans vs. Arrangements Game

Elementary (A1-A2) 35 minutes
ESL be going to and present continuous game preview: students make sentences about future plans and arrangements at Elementary A1-A2.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts, Controlled Practice

In this 'be going to' and present continuous game, students practice using 'be going to' for plans and the present continuous for arrangements by making sentences about future events...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts, Controlled Practice In this 'be going to' and present continuous game, students practice using 'be going to' for plans and the present continuous for arrangements by making sentences about future events. In pairs, the first student picks up a card from their pile and reads the clue, e.g. 'I want to watch a film.', and decides if it is a plan or an arrangement. The student then makes a sentence with the present continuous or 'be going to', using the bold words, the verb, and the time marker, e.g. 'I'm going to watch a film next week.' The other student checks the sentence against the matching number on their worksheet. If the sentence is correct, the student ticks the score box. If the sentence is incorrect, the student places the card at the bottom of their pile, and the score box remains empty. The other student then takes their turn in the same way, using their own cards, and so on. The first student to correctly complete all eight sentences wins the game.
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Ready for the Future

Elementary (A1-A2) 35 minutes
Ready for the Future - Elementary (A1-A2) worksheet preview for practicing be going to and the present continuous for future plans and arrangements

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Worksheet - Grammar and Writing Exercises: Matching, Question Completion, Gap-fill, Binary Choice, Writing Sentences

In this 'be going to' and present continuous worksheet, students practice using 'be going to' and the present continuous to talk about future plans and arrangements...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Worksheet - Grammar and Writing Exercises: Matching, Question Completion, Gap-fill, Binary Choice, Writing Sentences from Prompts In this 'be going to' and present continuous worksheet, students practice using 'be going to' and the present continuous to talk about future plans and arrangements. First, students match sentence halves together to form 'be going to' and present continuous sentences. Students then complete questions using the correct verb form and the words next to each question. Next, students read items, complete sentences a and b with the correct form of the verb in brackets and then tick the sentence that matches the item. Finally, students answer questions with negative short answers and a negative sentence.
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Fixed and Intended Future Plans

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
ESL worksheet preview for be going to and present continuous: gap-fill, categorizing, and matching for Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Categorizing, Matching, Writing Sentences

In this comprehensive 'be going to' and present continuous worksheet, students practice using the present continuous for fixed future plans and 'be going to' for intended future plans...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Categorizing, Underlining, Matching, Writing Sentences In this comprehensive 'be going to' and present continuous worksheet, students practice using the present continuous for fixed future plans and 'be going to' for intended future plans. Students begin by reading a conversation about future plans and completing gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Next, students put the future plans from the conversation in the correct category, fixed future plans or intended future plans. Students then complete grammar rules for using 'be going to' and the present continuous. Students then move on to use verbs from a box to complete be going to sentences and match situations to them. After that, students use prompts to create fixed future plans in the present continuous tense. Finally, students write about a fixed and an intended future plan of their own.
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Next Week

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
ESL Next Week speaking activity preview for present continuous: students arrange future plans and fill out schedules at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Table Completion, Freer Practice

In this useful ‘be going to’ and present continuous activity, students plan a schedule for next week with leisure activities and then make and confirm arrangements with classmates using...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Table Completion, Freer Practice In this useful ‘be going to’ and present continuous activity, students plan a schedule for next week with leisure activities and then make and confirm arrangements with classmates using 'be going to' for plans and the present continuous for fixed times. First, students think of eight leisure activities they are going to do next week and write them anywhere on their schedules, leaving the lines marked 'with' and 'at' blank. Next, students go around the class and find someone who is free to do each activity with them. When two students agree to do an activity together, they write each other's names next to 'with', the time they have arranged to meet next to 'at' in their schedules, and say the arrangement using the present continuous. Students continue until they have a partner for each activity and have completed their schedules. Finally, students tell the class about their week using both forms, e.g. 'On Monday afternoon, I'm going to study English. On Saturday evening, I'm meeting Marco at 7:30 p.m.'
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Who Wrote This Sentence?

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
ESL Who Wrote This Sentence? game preview: students write and guess future plans using be going to and present continuous at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar and Speaking: Writing Sentences, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice

This entertaining 'be going to' and present continuous game has students write true sentences about their future plans and definite arrangements, then...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar: Writing Sentences, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice This entertaining 'be going to' and present continuous game has students write true sentences about their future plans and definite arrangements, then mingle to identify who wrote each sentence by asking yes/no questions with the target forms and time expressions. First, students complete sentences on cards with true information about their future plans or definite arrangements, fold up their sentences, and put them in a box. Next, all the students stand up and take one card each from the box. Students then find out who wrote each sentence by asking their classmates yes/no questions with 'be going to' or the present continuous. When a classmate answers 'Yes, I am', the student writes their name on the card, keeps it and takes another one from the box. If a classmate replies 'No, I'm not' or they didn't write the sentence, the student moves on to ask someone else. The student with the most sentences at the end is the winner.
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Future Forms Face-Off

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL Be Going to and Present Continuous Card Game preview: Intermediate students practice talking about intentions, plans, and fixed future arrangements

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Impromptu Speech, Communicative Practice - Group Work

In this inventive 'be going to' and present continuous game, students practice talking about intentions, plans, and fixed future arrangements for different...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Impromptu Speech, Communicative Practice - Group Work In this inventive 'be going to' and present continuous game, students practice talking about intentions, plans, and fixed future arrangements for different topics using 'be going to' and the present continuous. In groups, the first student picks up a card from the pile and lays it face up on the table, e.g. organise a party. The student then flips a coin. If the coin shows heads, the student talks about future arrangements using the present continuous. If it's tails, they talk about plans or intentions using 'be going to'. Next, the student talks for 30 seconds using the target form. The first sentence must use the verb shown on the card. Each sentence after that should use a different main verb and stay on topic. Students score one point for each correct sentence in the required form within the 30-second time frame. The next student then picks up a card, and so on. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.
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That Sounds Like a Plan

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL group activity preview for be going to and present continuous: students make plans and arrangements and fill a diary at Intermediate B1.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Giving Reasons, Communicative Practice - Group Work

This productive 'be going to' and present continuous activity helps students practice the difference between 'be going to' for future plans or intentions and...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Giving Reasons, Communicative Practice - Group Work This productive 'be going to' and present continuous activity helps students practice the difference between 'be going to' for future plans or intentions and the present continuous for definite future arrangements. First, in groups, students complete their diaries with ten activities for next week. Five should be personal definite arrangements with fixed times. The other five should be general plans without specific times. Five spaces in the diary should be left empty. Next, students try to find one person to do each activity with and make other arrangements to fill up their diary. They do this by asking other group members if they are free at certain times. If a group member replies 'yes', the student invites them to do one of the general plan activities from their diary. If their partner agrees, the student writes their partner's name next to the activity, and both students write the activity in their diaries. If they agree on a specific time, they note that this is now a definite arrangement. If a group member replies 'No', the student gives a reason using the present continuous with their definite arrangement if there is a fixed time. Finally, groups give feedback to the class on their plans for next week.
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The Explanation Game

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Explanation Game board game preview: students use be going to vs. present continuous for future explanations at Intermediate B1.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Board Game - Grammar: Forming Sentences - Group Work

In this free 'be going to' and present continuous board game, students talk about future plans and definite arrangements, explaining reasons with 'because' and results with 'so'. In groups, students...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Board Game - Grammar: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Group Work In this free 'be going to' and present continuous board game, students talk about future plans and definite arrangements, explaining reasons with 'because' and results with 'so'. In groups, students take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a student lands on a square with a prompt, they complete it with either 'be going to' for general future plans or the present continuous for definite arrangements with fixed times. If the prompt is already a complete sentence, students add a reason with 'because' or a result with 'so'. For prompts ending with 'because', students explain the reason for their plan or arrangement. For prompts ending with 'so', students explain the consequence or result of the situation. For time-related prompts like 'Next weekend...', students create a complete sentence about their plans or arrangements for that time. The other students in the group judge the student's explanation and use of future forms. If the response is appropriate, the student stays on the square. If a student makes a mistake or cannot think of an explanation, they go back two squares. The first student to reach the finish square wins the game.
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The Long Weekend

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL Long Weekend speaking activity preview: students state intentions and turn them into confirmed arrangements at Intermediate B1.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences, Communicative Practice

In this communicative 'be going to' and present continuous activity, students plan a long weekend by stating intentions and turning them into...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Communicative Practice In this communicative 'be going to' and present continuous activity, students plan a long weekend by stating intentions and turning them into confirmed arrangements, while inviting classmates and accepting or declining invitations. First, students think of seven activities they would like to do over an upcoming long weekend and write them in the calendar as plans using 'be going to', e.g. 'I'm going to hike in the park.' Students then go around the class asking a different classmate to join them in each activity. When two students agree to do an activity together, both students write the activity in their calendars as a confirmed arrangement in the present continuous, e.g. 'I'm meeting Sam to hike in the park at 3 p.m.' The students who manage to fill up their entire calendar are the winners. Afterwards, students use the present continuous to give feedback to the class about their arrangements over the long weekend.
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Your Future in 30 Seconds

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL board game preview for be going to and present continuous: students discuss future plans for 30 seconds at Intermediate B1.

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Impromptu Speech, Communicative Practice - Group Work

In this fun 'be going to' and present continuous board game, students talk about different future plans or arrangements for 30 seconds. Players take turns...

ESL Be Going To and Present Continuous Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Impromptu Speech, Communicative Practice - Group Work In this fun 'be going to' and present continuous board game, students talk about different future plans or arrangements for 30 seconds. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a player lands on a square, they talk about the future plan or arrangement on the square for 30 seconds using either the present continuous or 'be going to' as appropriate. The other group members listen and judge the player's response. If the player manages to talk about the topic for 30 seconds using the present continuous or 'be going to' correctly, they stay on the square. If the player stops talking before the time is up or makes a grammar mistake, they go back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
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Understanding Be Going To and Present Continuous

'Be going to' commonly expresses an intention or a plan already decided on, while the present continuous can present a future event as an arrangement. Their uses overlap, so context and what the speaker wants to emphasise matter more than a rigid distinction between uncertain and certain plans.

This page has 11 resources across A1-A2, A2 and B1: five games, four activities and two worksheets. The Explanation Game is available as a free download.

The table compares the two forms when talking about the future.

FeatureBe Going ToPresent Continuous for the Future
Affirmative subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
Negative subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing
Yes/no question Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb? Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
Typical emphasis An intention or a decision already made A future event presented as arranged
Example 'I'm going to visit my sister next week.' 'I'm visiting my sister next week. We've agreed on Tuesday.'
Question example 'What are you going to do tomorrow?' 'Who are you meeting tomorrow?'
Short answer 'Yes, I am.' / 'No, I'm not.' 'Yes, I am.' / 'No, I'm not.'

How to Use Be Going To and Present Continuous

Establish the situation before choosing a form: Ask whether the speaker is describing an intention or presenting something as arranged. 'I'm going to see a film' focuses on the plan; 'I'm seeing a film with Ana tonight' presents it as an arrangement. The second sentence does not mean that 'be going to' would be impossible in the same situation.

Make the future reference clear: With the present continuous, a phrase such as 'tomorrow' or an established future context distinguishes an arrangement from an action happening now. Both forms can occur with exact times, so a clock time alone does not determine the choice.

Use arrangements to explain availability: Students can decline an invitation by saying 'I can't come. I'm meeting my tutor.' They can also explain an intention with 'I'm going to study tonight.' Discuss what each response communicates without treating one as inherently more truthful or more certain.

3-Step Framework for Teaching Be Going To and Present Continuous

1. Interpret Plans in Context: For an A2 sequence, start with a conversation in which students complete verb forms and sort future plans into fixed and intended categories. Completing the grammar rules and writing a plan of their own connects the contextual clues with the forms they will need in conversation. Explain that the categories support this task rather than exhaust every possible use.

2. Turn Intentions into Arrangements: Students list eight leisure activities in a weekly schedule, then find classmates who can join them. They record a partner and an agreed time for each activity and state the arrangement using the present continuous. Reporting both plans and arrangements gives the form choices a practical purpose.

3. Ask Questions to Identify a Plan's Author: Students write true future sentences on cards and place them in a box. After taking a card, they ask classmates yes/no questions to discover who wrote it. Finding the author requires students to turn a statement into a question and interpret the reply, extending the scheduling work into less predictable exchanges.

Common Mistakes with Be Going To and Present Continuous

Omitting 'be' before 'going to': Match 'am', 'is' or 'are' to the subject before adding 'going to' and the base verb. Incorrect: 'She going to start a course.' Correct: 'She's going to start a course.'

Using the base verb in a present continuous arrangement: The present continuous requires the -ing form after 'be', even when the event is in the future. Incorrect: 'I'm meet Sam tomorrow.' Correct: 'I'm meeting Sam tomorrow.' Compare the different structure 'I'm going to meet Sam tomorrow.'

Common Questions About Teaching Be Going To and Present Continuous

What worksheet can I use for teaching be going to and the present continuous?

The worksheet Ready for the Future combines sentence matching, question completion and choices between future forms. Students use contextual items to select the matching sentence, then practice negative short answers and sentences. This gives teachers written practice in both constructing the forms and interpreting plans and arrangements.

What game can I use for practicing the difference between plans and arrangements?

Plans vs. Arrangements Game gives students clues and prompts for forming future sentences. Each player decides whether a clue describes a plan or an arrangement, makes a sentence and has a partner check it. Incorrect cards return to the pile, so students revisit their choices while working towards eight correct sentences.

What speaking activity can I use for practicing future plans and arrangements?

In the activity The Long Weekend, students list seven intended activities using 'be going to', then invite classmates to join them. Agreed activities become present continuous entries in their calendars. Students finish by reporting their arrangements, giving teachers a practical context for contrasting intentions with plans that have been organised with others.

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