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Grammar Focus • 12 Minutes

Present Continuous for Future Arrangements with a Time

Learn how to talk about fixed plans, appointments, and schedules in everyday English.

📌 How to use this lesson

For teachers:

Use this 12-minute guide in class to explain fixed future plans and show clear models.

Give students time to complete the tasks and check answers together at the end.

For learners:

First read the four easy rules and look at the underlined words in the examples.

Next complete the twelve practice questions below from easiest to most challenging.

📋 Rules and Examples

Pattern	Why this works	Examples
1. Fixed plans with a time	We use am, is or are together with an -ing verb and a time word to talk about something we already arranged. Do not use the simple verb when a day or hour is already decided.	• I'm seeing the dentist on Monday afternoon. • We are checking our calendar tonight.
2. Asking about arrangements	Put am, is or are before the person to ask about a plan. Answer with the same matching helper: Yes, I am or No, she isn't.	• Is your sister having a haircut tomorrow? Yes, she is. • Are you setting a reminder for our meeting next Tuesday?
3. Plans that are not arranged	Put not after am, is or are to say a plan is not made. Use isn't or aren't, but after I always write I'm not and never I aren't.	• The hairdresser isn't working on Sunday. • I am not writing in my diary this evening.
4. Spelling rules	When a verb ends in one -e, drop the -e before adding -ing. When a short verb ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the last letter: say making and getting, never makeing or geting.	• Tom is taking the dog to the vet on Friday. • She is getting everything ready for next week.

Part 1

Choose the correct sentence

Select the sentence that has no grammar or spelling mistakes.

Question 1

(arranged)

____ We are meeting the dentist tomorrow morning ____ We meet the dentist tomorrow morning ____ We meeting the dentist tomorrow morning

Question 2

(free)

____ I am not seeing the hairdresser on Thursday ____ I aren't seeing the hairdresser on Thursday ____ I not seeing the hairdresser on Thursday

Question 3

(question)

____ Are you confirming the appointment today ____ You are confirming the appointment today ____ Do you confirming the appointment today

Part 2

Rewrite the sentence

Change the sentence to show that the plan is already fixed, using am, is or are and a verb with ing.

Question 4

Original: On Friday Sara confirms the booking with the hairdresser.

(fixed)

____ (Type the rewritten sentence here)

Question 5

Original: We arrange a visit to the vet tomorrow.

(tomorrow)

____ (Type the rewritten sentence here)

Question 6

Original: Dr Lee looks at her calendar at four o'clock.

(calendar)

____ (Type the rewritten sentence here)

Part 3

Fill the gaps

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb for future arrangements.

Question 7

The manager [make] an appointment in her diary this afternoon.

(appointment)

____ (Type your answer)

Question 8

Both boys [get] a haircut at five o'clock.

(haircut)

____ (Type your answer)

Question 9

The assistants [not work] on Saturday because nobody is available.

(available)

____ (Type your answer)

Part 4

Correct the error in the message

Read each short message to a friend, find the underlined error, and type the correct word or phrase.

Question 10

"Hi Anna! I aren't coming to lunch on Friday because my reminder says I have a dentist visit."

(rule)

Correction: ____ (Type the correction)

Question 11

"Hello! We are takeing our puppy to the vet next Monday."

(spelling)

Correction: ____ (Type the correction)

Question 12

"Can we talk now? My sister getting a haircut at the salon this evening so I am alone."

(verb)

Correction: ____ (Type the correction)

Present Continuous for Future Arrangements

Present Continuous for Future Arrangements with a Time

📌 How to use this lesson

📋 Rules and Examples

Choose the correct sentence

Rewrite the sentence

Fill the gaps

Correct the error in the message

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