FuturePlans
be going to vs Present Continuous · diary plans
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Tell your partner two things you're doing this weekend and one thing you're going to do soon.
Open your phone calendar. Pick one arrangement in the next 7 days and describe it in detail.
What's one big plan you have for the next 12 months? Is it a fixed arrangement or just an intention?
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minbe going to vs Present Continuous for the future
Use 'be going to + verb' for INTENTIONS and plans you've decided but not necessarily organised ('I'm going to learn Italian').
→ I'm going to get fit this year. (intention, no plan yet)
→ I'm playing tennis with Marco on Saturday. (fixed arrangement)
→ She's going to apply for that job — she just decided last night.
→ We're flying to Madrid on Friday. The tickets are booked.
More detail
Use Present Continuous for fixed ARRANGEMENTS — things already in the diary with a time, place or other person ('I'm meeting Sara at 7'). Both are 'now-facing' futures; the difference is how organised the plan is.
Question 1.I ____ (have) dinner with my parents tomorrow — it's all booked.
Question 2.One day I ____ (write) a book. I don't know when, but I will.
Question 3.What ____ you ____ this evening? Anything fun?
Question 4.She ____ (start) a new diet on Monday — she said so last night.
Question 5.Sorry, I can't — I ____ (meet) Tom at six.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Which sentence describes a fixed arrangement in your diary?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to make plans
to organise things you intend to do
"Have you made plans for the weekend?"
What plans have you made for this weekend?
to have something on
to have an arrangement / be busy with something
"I've got something on Friday night."
What have you got on this week?
to book (a table / a flight)
to reserve in advance
"I booked a table for 8pm."
Last thing you booked online?
to be tied up
to be very busy and unavailable
"Sorry, I'm tied up until 5pm."
When are you most tied up during the week?
to pencil something in
to provisionally schedule something
"Let's pencil it in for Thursday."
Pencil in a coffee with your partner — pick a real day.
to clash (with)
to happen at the same time as something else
"Friday clashes with my gym class."
What two things clash in your schedule?
free / available
not busy at a particular time
"I'm free after 6pm."
When are you actually free this week?
a quick catch-up
a short, informal meeting
"Fancy a quick catch-up tomorrow?"
Suggest a quick catch-up to your partner — set time and place.
Discuss with a partner
- →Compare diaries: find a 30-minute window to meet this week.
- →What are you up to this weekend?
Finish the sentence about you
- I'm tied up …
- Could we pencil in …
- I'm free …
60-second write
Write a 3-message WhatsApp exchange arranging a quick catch-up.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 min'going to' → 'gonna' in fast speech
- • I'm going to call him → /aɪm gənə kɔːl/
- • We're going to be late → /wɪə gənə bi/
- • What are you going to do? → /wɒtəjə gənə duː/
- • She's going to love it → /ʃiz gənə lʌv ɪt/
How to say it
In natural spoken English, 'going to + verb' is almost always pronounced /ˈɡənə/ ('gonna'). Don't write it — but DO say it. Practise reducing the vowels and linking it to the next verb.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minA very full week
Monday is always a nightmare. I'm having a 9 a.m. call with the Berlin team, then I'm meeting a client for lunch in town, and at six I'm picking my sister up from the airport. Tuesday is calmer — I'm going to finally tidy my flat (I've been saying that for a month). On Wednesday evening I'm seeing a play with Lena; we booked the tickets ages ago. Thursday and Friday I'm completely tied up with a workshop, but on Saturday I'm going to switch my phone off and do absolutely nothing. Sunday brunch with my parents at 11, as always.
Question 1.Which day is the writer 'going to' do something (intention, not arrangement)?
Question 2.Why does the writer use Present Continuous for Wednesday evening?
Question 3.What is the writer's plan for Saturday?
Q1.The writer has a fixed arrangement on Tuesday.
Q2.The Wednesday tickets were booked recently.
Q3.Sunday brunch is a regular thing.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minAre you free on Thursday?
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Hannah:Hey, are you free on Thursday evening? I was thinking we could finally do that catch-up.
Yusuf:Thursday… let me check. Ah, I'm having dinner with my sister at seven, so that clashes a bit.
Hannah:No worries. What about Friday? I'm not doing anything after work.
Yusuf:Friday's good actually. I'm going to leave the office early — I've decided I really need a proper weekend.
Hannah:Perfect. Shall I book that little Thai place near the river?
Yusuf:Yes please. Pencil me in for seven thirty — I'm definitely there.
Question 1.Why can't Yusuf meet on Thursday?
Question 2.What has Yusuf decided about Friday?
Question 3.What is Hannah going to do?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 1: personal questions
Task
Answer short questions about your future plans clearly, with one extra detail per answer.
Strategy
Don't just say 'yes' or 'I'm busy.' Add a tense + a detail: 'Yes, on Saturday I'm meeting an old school friend — we're going to that new café in the centre.' One sentence with be going to OR Present Continuous instantly raises your band.
Example
Q: 'What are you doing this weekend?' A: 'I'm seeing my cousin on Saturday — we booked tickets to a basketball game. And on Sunday I'm going to relax at home, maybe cook something new.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I ____ (see) the doctor at 10 tomorrow — it's all confirmed.
Question 2.We ____ (start) saving more money next month — we've decided.
Question 3.Sorry, I'm a bit ____ on Friday — back-to-back meetings.
Question 4.Shall I ____ you ____ for Saturday lunch?
Question 5.What ____ you ____ this evening? Want to grab a coffee?
Q1.Correct: 'I will meet Sara tomorrow at 6, it's arranged.'
Q2.Complete: 'One day I ____ (learn) to drive — I just keep putting it off.'
Q3.Reorder: 'we / book / table / shall / a / ?'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 90-word reply to a friend who asks 'What are you up to next week?' Use at least 3 fixed arrangements (Present Continuous) and 2 intentions (be going to). Include one phrase from the vocab list.
Show model answer
Hey! Next week is pretty full, to be honest. On Monday I'm having dinner with my parents — they're in town for two days. Tuesday is the only free evening, so I'm going to finally do some yoga (I keep saying that). Wednesday I'm tied up with a workshop until late. Thursday I'm seeing the dentist at 5, and on Friday I'm going to leave the office early and do nothing all weekend. Want to pencil in a quick catch-up on Saturday morning?
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
DIARY ROLEPLAY: Pairs. Each student invents 4 things in their week (mix of arrangements + intentions). They have to find ONE evening to meet up — without lying about their diary. Use 'are you free…?', 'I'm tied up', 'pencil you in', 'shall we…?'. Then swap partners and try again with a tighter constraint (e.g. 'we need to meet twice').
Useful phrases
- • Are you free on…?
- • Let me check my diary.
- • I'm ____-ing on Tuesday.
- • Sorry, that clashes with…
- • I'm going to + verb…
- • Shall I pencil you in for…?
- AAre you free for a coffee on Wednesday morning?
- B_______________
- ACool. What are your weekend plans then?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Push students to actually USE their phones / diaries — make it real, not abstract. ~20 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Send a real voice note to a classmate: 'Here's my next week.' Use 3 arrangements + 2 intentions.
Write 8 sentences about your next 7 days using both future forms.
Listen to a podcast intro and note every future-tense verb you hear in the first 2 minutes.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Present Continuous = fixed arrangement with a time/place/person.
- be going to = intention or decision, not yet organised.
- Both are 'now-facing' futures; choose based on how organised the plan is.
- 'going to' usually sounds like /ˈɡənə/ in speech.
- Diary chunks ('tied up', 'pencil in', 'clash') sound very natural.