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English speakers often use the present continuous tense
(subject + 'be' = verb-ing) to talk about future arrangements. A future arrangement
is a plan that you have decided and organised with another person.
I'm spending Christmas and New Year with my Mum and
Dad.
We're meeting Susan at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
Sometimes the arrangement is between a person and a
group of people, or an organisation or
company:
I'm working over the New Year. (this arrangement
is between Alice and her employer)
They are flying to New York tomorrow morning.
(they have made this arrangement with the airline)
It is not always necessary to state who the arrangement
is with. For example, Tim says:
So what are we all doing at Christmas?
I'm popping over to Poland for a few days.
I'm looking forward to a nice cosy Christmas.
Alice and Helen understand that Tim is talking about
arrangements, even though he does not say who the arrangements are with.
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English speakers often use the present continuous tense to
talk about things they are about to start doing. This is especially common with verbs
of movement, such as go, come, leave etc.
I'm going to bed now - goodnight.
Will you help me finish the housework? - Sorry, I can't:
I'm leaving for work now.
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Time expressions are often (but not always) used when present
continuous is used to talk about future arrangements.
I'm working over the New Year.
They are flying to New York tomorrow morning.
So what are we all doing at Christmas?
I'm popping over to Poland for a few days.
I'm going to bed now.
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to pop over:
to visit briefly
cosy (adj):
warm and comfortable
fancy joining me?:
would you like to join me?
over the New Year:
for a period of time around New Year
to have a chinwag:
to have a chat
the main event:
the most important occasion (here, Christmas day)
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