PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS

USING THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE

The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for events at a time later than now. There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened. e.g.

• I'm meeting Jim at the airport = Jim and I have discussed this.
• I am leaving tomorrow. = I've already bought my train ticket.
• We're having a staff meeting next Monday = all members of staff have been told about it.

EXAMPLES

• Is she seeing him tomorrow?
• He isn't working next week.
• They aren't leaving until the end of next year.
• We are staying with friends when we get to Boston.

Note:In the first example, "seeing" is used in a continuous form because it means "meeting".

BE CAREFUL! The simple present is used when a future event is part of a programme or time-table.

Notice the difference between:

a. We're having a staff meeting next Monday = just that once
b. We have a staff meeting every Monday

sumber:http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/present-continuous-future-arrangements/

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