When to use "be going to" / present continuous in future?

Question

In our lesson we have

Is this right? Can someone explain this to me with examples?

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 05 '15 at 02:27

You use "be going to" for your future plans - the things you intend/have decided to do in the future. For example:

I am going to have a meal with my friends tonight.

you can also use "be going to" for a prediction as you see or hear. For example:

There are clouds in the sky. It's going to rain.

You use the present continuous for future arrangements and fixed plans. For example:

I am going to an ice hockey match in the evening. I bought a ticket for it yesterday.

Nevertheless, you often use either be going to or the present continuous to have similar meanings.

We are going to have a party next week (we intend/have decided to do so).

We are having a party next week (we have made arrangements).

(1) The question is about “be going to” vs. present continuous, and your example of present continuous uses the verb to go. This is confusing. I suggest that you change your ice hockey example to something like “I am watching a movie …”, “I am attending a lecture …”, or “I am visiting a friend …”. (2) IMHO, your answer would be easier to read if you visually distinguished the sentences that are talking about the language from the examples. Blockquotes (> blah blah blah …) work well (see LawrenceC’s answer); bullets (- blah blah blah …) work well, too. — Scott - Слава Україні, Jul 04 '16 at 06:57

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 04 '15 at 23:03

I am walking in the park.

This means you are walking in the park right now as you say this.

I am going to walk in the park

This can mean the same as I will walk in the park.

Both of these can mean to intend soon - as in I intend soon to walk in the park.

2 Answers2