Be Going To & Present Continuous ESL Activities, Games & Worksheets

Understanding Be Going To and Present Continuous

'Be going to' describes future plans and intentions, as in 'I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.' The present continuous describes fixed future arrangements with confirmed details, as in 'I'm meeting Tom at 7 p.m.' Students who mix up the two forms often signal that a plan is still vague when they mean to confirm it is settled, which can confuse the people they are speaking or writing to.

This page covers be going to and the present continuous across A1-A2 to B1 levels, with nine activities and worksheets ranging from controlled question-and-answer tasks to group board games and speaking challenges, including one free download.

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

1. Start with Meaning Through Questions: Begin by having students ask each other yes/no questions using both forms. Questions like 'Are you going to watch TV tonight?' sit alongside 'Are you taking a test next week?' so students feel the difference in meaning right away. Students circulate and search for classmates who give the same answer, recording a name in the final column when they get a match. This keeps the focus on genuine communication rather than mechanical drilling from the very first minute.

2. Build the Grammar with a Structured Worksheet: Once students can use the forms in conversation, give them a written task that forces them to examine the rules directly. They read a short conversation about future plans, fill gaps with the correct verb form, and then sort the plans from the conversation into two categories: fixed future plans or intended future plans. That sorting step is where the distinction really clicks, because students have to make a judgment call for each item rather than just follow a formula.

3. Push for Fluency with a Coin-Flip Speaking Game: For fluency, move students into a group card game that uses a coin flip to assign the target form. Heads means the present continuous for arrangements, tails means 'be going to' for plans or intentions. A student picks a topic card, flips the coin, and has 30 seconds to speak. The first sentence must use the verb shown on the card, and every sentence after that needs a different main verb. Students earn one point for each correct sentence within the time limit, which keeps the pace fast and the grammar pressure real.

Common Questions About Teaching Be Going To and Present Continuous

What is a good speaking activity for practicing 'be going to' and the present continuous together?

A speaking activity that works well here is one where students plan a schedule and then make real arrangements with classmates. In Next Week, an A2 activity, students write eight leisure activities on a personal schedule and find classmates who are free to join them, using 'be going to' for plans and the present continuous for fixed times.

How can I get students to practice using 'be going to' and the present continuous in a fun class game?

A class game works well here. In Who wrote this sentence?, an A2 game, students write true sentences about their future plans and definite arrangements, fold up their sentences, and put them in a box. They then mingle and ask yes/no questions with 'be going to' or the present continuous to find out who wrote each card.

What is a good board game for teaching 'be going to' and the present continuous?

A board game gives B1 students structured practice with both forms. In free The Explanation Game, students land on a prompt square and respond with 'be going to' or the present continuous. If the prompt is already a complete sentence, they must add a reason with 'because' or a result with 'so', or go back two squares.