This Time Next Week...
Present Continuous for future arrangements. Maya plans her week: video call, dentist, dinner with Leo, Montreal conference — and Leo's café opening party.
📖 Reading: A Busy Week Ahead
It's Sunday evening. Maya is looking at her diary for the coming week.
On Monday, she's having a video call with a client in Berlin at 10 AM. In the afternoon, she's meeting Priya for coffee.
On Tuesday, she's not working — she's going to the dentist in the morning and then visiting the art gallery in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, Leo is coming over for dinner. Maya is cooking Mexican food for the first time. "Wish me luck!" she writes in her planner.
On Thursday, she's flying to Montreal for a design conference. She's staying at a hotel downtown. The conference is starting on Friday morning.
"I'm flying back on Sunday evening," she tells Leo. "So I'm not available all weekend."
"Don't worry," says Leo. "I'm opening Café Colibri on Saturday! You're coming to the opening party, aren't you?"
"Leo! I didn't know it was this Saturday! Of course I'm coming. I'm changing my flight right now!"
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| diary | A book where you write your plans and appointments | n. — Maya is looking at her diary. |
| arrangement | A plan made with someone else that both have agreed to | n. — The meeting is a fixed arrangement. |
| conference | A large meeting for people in the same profession | n. — She's going to a design conference. |
| available | Free; not busy; able to do something | adj. — She's not available all weekend. |
| opening party | A celebration when a new business opens for the first time | n. — Leo's café has an opening party. |
| coming week | The week that is about to start | phrase — Maya is planning for the coming week. |
| wish me luck | A request for good wishes before something difficult | phrase — Wish me luck with the cooking! |
| downtown | In or toward the central area of a city | adv. — She's staying at a hotel downtown. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
to have (a meeting) | She's having a video call on Monday. |
to meet | She's meeting Priya on Monday afternoon. |
to fly | She's flying to Montreal on Thursday. |
to come (over) | Leo is coming over for dinner on Wednesday. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements | |
Form | Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing |
Example | I'm flying to Montreal on Thursday. |
Key idea | The arrangement is already confirmed/booked. |
Time expressions | tonight, tomorrow, on Monday, next Friday, this weekend |
Going To vs. Present Continuous (Future)
📚 Going To vs. Present Continuous (Future) | |
Going to = intention (personal plan) | I'm going to open a café one day. |
Present Continuous = arrangement (fixed, involves others) | I'm meeting Priya at 3 PM. (it's arranged) |
Both can be used for the near future | I'm going to cook dinner. / I'm cooking dinner tonight. |
Asking About Arrangements
📚 Asking About Arrangements | |
What are you doing tonight? | "I'm meeting Leo for dinner." |
Are you doing anything on...? | "Yes, I'm flying to Montreal on Thursday." |
What time are you meeting? | "At three o'clock." |
🎭 Dialogue: Are You Free This Weekend?
Leo asks Maya about Saturday. Maya is in Montreal but immediately changes her flight when she learns about Café Colibri's opening party.
Maya, are you doing anything on Saturday?
I'm flying back from Montreal on Sunday — so I'm away all weekend.
Oh no! I'm opening Café Colibri on Saturday. It's the opening party!
What?! Why didn't you tell me? I'm changing my flight right now!
Really? Are you sure?
Of course! What time is it starting?
At 7 PM. Omar and Priya are coming. Jess is flying in from New York!
Jess is coming? Definitely changing my flight. See you Saturday at 7!
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What is Maya doing on Monday morning?
Why is Tuesday special for Maya?
What is happening on Wednesday evening?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Form (Present Continuous future): 'Maya / have / a video call / Monday morning'
Form (Present Continuous future): 'Leo / come / for dinner / Wednesday'
Form (Present Continuous future): 'She / fly / to Montreal / Thursday'
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: You have a busy week. Describe your diary for Monday–Friday.
- Student B: Try to make plans with your partner. Find a time when you are both free.
- Use: What are you doing on…? / Are you free on…? / I'm + verb-ing on…
- At least 3 of your arrangements must involve another person (so they are fixed).