Present Continuous 2: Making Arrangements

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A235–45 minutes on your own60 minutes with a tutor

Present Continuous 2: Making Arrangements

By the end: I can discuss a future arrangement and agree on a meeting time.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Start here

You and a friend want to meet. Check your diaries.

Read each explanation, say your answer aloud, then open the model and try again. You may write your answer if you prefer. Use invented personal details whenever you like.

Useful preparation: Existing present continuous introduction; basic future time expressions and time prepositions.

Choose a play button when you are ready.

Learn 1

A future arrangement

Use am/is/are + -ing for a future arrangement, often with a time or place already agreed: I’m meeting Eva at six. Add a future time expression so the meaning is clear: tomorrow, on Friday, next week.

I’m meeting Eva tomorrow.

We’re having lunch at one on Friday.

Read the three diary entries

MondayI’m meeting Eva.

On Monday.

WednesdayI’m having lunch with Ben.

On Wednesday.

SaturdayI’m visiting my sister.

On Saturday.

The day labels supply the future context in this model. Keep am + -ing in all three sentences. The three entries describe arranged activities on different days.
Learn 2
Preserved lesson scene for I'm meeting Eva tomorrow. People and essential props isolated on white.
I’m meeting Eva tomorrow.The present continuous gives a future arrangement. Tomorrow comes from the sentence.

Check availability

Ask What are you doing on Saturday? or Are you working tomorrow? Put be before the person. A negative can explain that an arrangement is not happening: I’m not working on Friday.

Are you working tomorrow?

I’m not working on Friday.

Use availability to agree on the meeting

Work ends at sixI’m working until six.

Six is the end of the working period in this conversation.

The agreed meeting timeWe’re meeting at seven.

The speakers confirm seven, at the café.

Until six describes how long the work continues. At seven gives the meeting’s start time.

Learn 3

Confirm or change the arrangement

Use a short question to check the agreed details: Are we meeting at six? To change a plan, give the new detail clearly: We aren’t meeting at six. We’re meeting at seven. Keep the time words easy to find.

Are we meeting at six?

We’re meeting at seven, not six.

Confirm the new place as well as the time

Place rejectedWe aren’t meeting at the library.

This is not the meeting place.

Place confirmedWe’re meeting at the café at seven.

This is the confirmed place and time.

The two sentences distinguish the rejected place from the confirmed arrangement.

Guided practice

Try each answer first. Check it, or open a model and its explanation.

Try the form

Compare an answer and explanation

am

Use am with I.

Compare an answer and explanation

having

Remove the final e before ing.

Compare an answer and explanation

Are

Put are before you.

Compare an answer and explanation

isn’t

She takes isn’t.

Build or change a sentence

Compare an answer and explanation

Are we meeting at six?

Put are before we.

Compare an answer and explanation

I’m not working tomorrow. / I am not working tomorrow.

Put not after am.

Compare an answer and explanation

We are meeting at seven tomorrow. / We’re meeting at seven tomorrow.

Include are.

Compare an answer and explanation

Are you visiting Ben on Friday?

You takes are.

Listen to a short conversation

Listen. Then open the words and read aloud. Try one part with a partner, or say both parts on your own.

Open the conversation transcript

A: Are we meeting at six tomorrow?

B: I’m working until six. Are you free at seven?

A: Yes. We’re meeting at seven, then.

B: Great. We’re meeting at the café.

Listening checks

Read the question, play its recording, then choose an answer. You can open the transcript whenever you need it.

Listening 1

1. When is the meeting?
Read the transcript

I’m meeting Eva tomorrow at six. We’re having dinner at the café.

Listening 2

2. What is the Friday arrangement?
Read the transcript

Are you working on Friday? No, I’m not. I’m visiting my sister.

Listening 3

3. What is the agreed place?
Read the transcript

We aren’t meeting at the library. We’re meeting at the café at seven.

Preserved lesson scene for We're meeting at eight at the café. People and essential props isolated on white.
We’re meeting at eight at the café.The sentence confirms an agreed time and place; the meeting is still future in this scenario.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. Aim for 7 out of 8, then correct anything you missed.

1. I ___ meeting Ben tomorrow.
2. We are ___ lunch on Friday.
3. Ask about tomorrow’s arrangement.
4. Choose the negative arrangement.
5. Are we meeting at six? Answer yes.
6. We changed the time from six to seven. Choose the clear update.
7. Which sentence clearly describes a future arrangement?
8. Choose the complete question.
Answer key with explanations

  1. am I needs am before meeting.

  2. having Use are + ing; have becomes having.

  3. Are you working tomorrow? Put are before you.

  4. She isn’t coming on Saturday. Put not after is.

  5. Yes, we are. Answer with the matching form of be.

  6. We aren’t meeting at six. We’re meeting at seven. This states the old time negatively and the new time positively.

  7. I’m seeing Eva tomorrow at two. Tomorrow gives future time.

  8. Where are you meeting Ben tomorrow? Use where + are + you + meeting.

This quiz checks this lesson, not your overall English level.

Make it yours

Speak first, compare a model, then say a new version. These tasks are ungraded.

Speaking task 1

Describe three invented arrangements for the coming week. Give a day or time for each.

Compare a possible response

I’m meeting Eva on Monday. I’m having lunch with Ben on Wednesday. I’m visiting my sister on Saturday.

Success check: Use be + ing and future time expressions.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Speaking task 2

Diary task: A works on Friday until six and is free after seven. B has a class until seven and is free at eight. Agree to meet at eight at the café. On your own, speak both parts.

Compare a possible response

Are you working on Friday? Yes, until six. I’m studying until seven. Are you free at eight? Yes. We’re meeting at eight at the café.

Success check: Ask about availability and confirm time and place.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Speaking task 3

Change an arrangement from Saturday at the library to Sunday at the café. Explain both changes.

Compare a possible response

We aren’t meeting on Saturday. We’re meeting on Sunday. We aren’t meeting at the library. We’re meeting at the café.

Success check: Make the revised day and place clear.

This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.

Recap

Listen and repeat. I’m meeting Eva tomorrow. Are you working tomorrow? Are we meeting at six?

I can discuss a future arrangement and agree on a meeting time.

  • I can use the main pattern.
  • I can make one sentence of my own.
  • I know one thing to practise again.

Keep building your grammar

Present Continuous Tense: Rules and ExercisesBe Going To: Plans and IntentionsFuture Forms: Will, Going To and Present ContinuousExplore the Grammar Hub