Future Plans – Going to and The Present Continuous

When we talk about plans in the future, we use going to or the present continuous. However, there is a small difference between them. Experts disagree about the exact difference between going to and the present continuous for the future though the most commonly believed difference between going to and the present continuous is:

We use going to when we have the intention to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking.

We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements. A plan we have made with other people.

Look at this example:

Sarah wins some money. She decides to spend the money on a holiday.

Later that day, a colleague asks her about her plans for the money. Sarah says:

I’m going to spend the money on a holiday.

Sarah uses going to because she’s already decided what to do with the money when she speaks.

Later that day, Sarah calls her best friend and invites her to come on the holiday. They arrange to meet at the weekend to organise the holiday.

The next day, the same colleague asks Sarah: Have you decided where you want to go for your holiday?

Sarah answers: I’m not sure. I’m meeting a friend at the weekend to organise everything.

Sarah uses the present continuous because this is an arrangement. She has made a plan with another person.

Click on this link to see: How to Form Going to