English Grammar Exercises for B1 B2 – Present continuous and present simple for future use; future continuous

A. Match the sentence beginnings to the correct endings.

a   I’m going to own a Porsche.

b   we will be living in the new house.

c   with my grandparents tonight.

d   every month.

e   people will be living in cities underground.

f   starts in January.

g   is not taking place in the new stadium.

B. Read the information about Harriet’s trip next week, then complete the sentences using the present simple or the future continuous.

1   At 6.25 pm on Monday ……Harriet leaves New York. ……

2   During the flight ………………………………………… .

3   At 1.00 am on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

4   At 6.35 am on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

5   At 7.30 am on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

6   At 8.50 am on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

7   At 11.35 am on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

8   At 2.30 pm on Tuesday ………………………………………… .

C. Complete the dialogue between Pat and his friend Sam using the verbs in brackets in the present continuous (future use) or be going to future. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

Sam:   Hi Pat! It’s good to see you! I’ve been reading all your news on the blog.

            What 1……are…… you ……going to do…… (do) now?

Pat:   I 2……………………… (get) a job. I 3……………………… (meet) someone from Euroflight on Monday to talk about jobs in the company.

Sam:   You 4……………………… (not be able to) give up travelling!

Pat:   I know. I 5……………………… (find) it really difficult. But I’ve promised my mum and anyway I haven’t got any money left!

Sam:   So, no more travelling ever?

Pat:   I don’t think I’ll ever really stop travelling. I haven’t seen the Americas yet. One day 6……………………… (travel) along the Pacific coast. And I’ve already booked a weekend away next month – I 7……………………… (go) Scotland. Some friends and I 8……………………… (spend) the weekend in the mountains.

Sam:   You haven’t stopped at all! Where 9……………………… you ……………………… (live)?

Pat:   I 10……………………… (rent) a flat with my friend, Conor. We 11……………………… (look at) some possible places next week.

D. Underline the correct option. Sometimes both options are possible.

1   Have your parents decided what they are doing / are going to do next summer?

2   The bus leaves / is leaving at 6.00 tomorrow morning.

3   When they ask you what happened, what are you going to say / saying?

4   Get better soon. We think / will be thinking of you.

5   I can’t come out tonight – I’m going to babysit / babysitting.

6   I’m helping / I help at the school fair tomorrow.

7   My dad is retiring / is going to retire in the summer.

8   They’re not arriving / don’t arrive until later.

9   During the next hour, I shall be talking / am talking about the effect of the Internet on shopping habits.

E. Cross out all the options which are NOT possible. Cross out one or two options each time.

Hi Shaz

I’m so jealous of my sister! She (1) takes / is going to take / is taking next month off work and (2) spends / is spending / will be spending it in the Swiss Alps. She (3) is finally going to learn / is finally learning / will finally learn how to ski.

This time next week she (4) skiing / is skiing / will be skiing down the slopes. I hope she (5) will not be breaking / is not breaking / is not going to break her leg or something! Her plane (6) gets in / will get in / is getting in on Saturday morning and the classes (7) begin / are beginning / shall be beginning straight away in the afternoon.

She (8) picks up / is picking up / is going to pick up her tickets this afternoon and talks about nothing else! And just imagine what she (9) is going to be like / is being like / is like when she gets back. She (10) is not talking / won’t be talking / isn’t going to talk about anything else for months!

Grrr!

Jem   x

F. What would you say in the following situation? Write a sentence for each one, using one of the future forms from this unit.

1   Find out if your friend has any plans to go on holiday this year.

      Are you going on holiday this year?

2   You have an appointment at the dentist’s tomorrow at midday. Some friends want to visit you in the morning. Tell them what time they can visit and why.

      ………………………………………………………

3    You are arranging an interview for a summer job in a café. Tell the interviewer how to recognise you.

      ………………………………………………………

4    There is a good show at your local theatre. Ring the theatre to find out the time of the show.

      ………………………………………………………

5   A friend invites you to dinner tomorrow evening but you don’t want to go. Make an excuse.

      ………………………………………………………

6    It’s your birthday next week. Your mum wants to take you out but you have already made plans with your friends. Tell her about these.

      ………………………………………………………

G. Write questions with the words given, using the present simple, present continuous, be going to future or future continuous.

1   What / do / next weekend?

      What are you going to do next weekend?

2    What / do / this time tomorrow?

      ………………………………………………………

3    When / start / your next school term?

      ………………………………………………………

4    Who / have / dinner with tonight?

      ………………………………………………………

5    In ten years’ time, where / live?

      ………………………………………………………

6    What time / get up / tomorrow?

      ………………………………………………………

H. Circle the correct option(s). Sometimes more than one option is possible.

1   My friends …………… me outside the swimming pool at 5.00.

      a meet     b are going to meet

      c are meeting

2   What …………… your parents …………… you for your next birthday?

      a do … get     b are … getting

      c are … going to get

3   One day they …………… children.

      a have     b are having

      c are going to have

4   This time tomorrow …………… at the hospital.

      a I wait     b I’m waiting

      c I’ll be waiting

5   The boat …………… until the morning.

      a doesn’t leave

      b isn’t leaving

      c isn’t going to leave