Four Corners 3 – Unit 5: Present Continuous for Future Arrangements

Question 1

Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous to describe a future arrangement?

Accepted Answer

She is meeting her doctor at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Question 2

Read the conversation below.

Alex: 'What are you doing on Saturday night?'
Jordan: '_____ a concert with my family.'

Which response correctly completes Jordan's sentence using the present continuous for a future arrangement?

Accepted Answer

I am attending

Question 3

Look at the schedule below.

| Day       | Activity                        |
|-----------|---------------------------------|
| Monday    | English class at 9:00 a.m.      |
| Wednesday | Dentist appointment at 2:00 p.m.|
| Friday    | Movie with friends at 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday    | Family dinner at 6:00 p.m.      |

Using the present continuous for future arrangements, which sentence correctly describes Wednesday's plan?

Accepted Answer

She is going to the dentist at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Question 4

Which sentence does NOT use the present continuous correctly for a future arrangement?

Accepted Answer

I am finishing my homework when she called me last night.

Question 5

A student wrote the following paragraph about weekend plans.

[FIGURE: Handwritten student paragraph reading: 'This weekend is going to be very busy for me. On Saturday, I am playing soccer with my team in the morning. In the afternoon, my parents and I visit my grandparents. On Sunday, I will studying for my math exam all day. I hope I have time to relax!']

Which sentence in the paragraph contains a grammar error related to the present continuous for future arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Both B and C contain errors.

Question 6

What is the key difference between using 'will' and the present continuous for future events?

Accepted Answer

'Will' is used for spontaneous decisions, while the present continuous is used for pre-arranged plans.

Question 7

Look at the dialogue below.

Maria: 'Do you want to come to the gym with me tonight?'
David: 'I can't. I _____ dinner with my boss tonight. We already made a reservation.'

Which verb form best completes David's sentence?

Accepted Answer

am having

Question 8

Which time expression is LEAST likely to be used with the present continuous for future arrangements?

Accepted Answer

yesterday morning

Question 9

Review the survey results below.

| Activity Planned for This Weekend | Number of Students |
|-----------------------------------|--------------------|
| Going to a party                  | 12                 |
| Visiting family                   | 8                  |
| Playing sports                    | 15                 |
| Studying at home                  | 5                  |
| Traveling out of town             | 3                  |

Based on the table, which sentence correctly uses the present continuous to describe the MOST popular weekend activity?

Accepted Answer

Most students are playing sports this weekend.

Question 10

A friend texts you: 'Are you free on Saturday afternoon?' You have already bought tickets to a basketball game. Which response BEST uses the present continuous for a future arrangement?

Accepted Answer

I am watching a basketball game — I already have the tickets.

Question 11

Which sentence uses the present continuous for future arrangements in the NEGATIVE form correctly?

Accepted Answer

She isn't attending the meeting tomorrow because she has a conflict.

Question 12

Read the email excerpt below.

[FIGURE: Printed email excerpt reading: 'Dear Professor Kim, I am writing to let you know that I cannot attend class on Monday. My family and I are flying to Seoul for my cousin's wedding. We are leaving early Sunday morning and are returning on Tuesday evening. I apologize for any inconvenience. Best regards, Min-jun']

How many present continuous verb forms does Min-jun use to describe future arrangements in this email?

Accepted Answer

Three future arrangements are described using the present continuous.

Question 13

Two students are discussing their plans. Read their conversation.

Lily: 'I heard you got a new job. When do you start?'
Sam: 'I _____ work at the new office starting next Monday. I'm really excited!'

Which option correctly completes Sam's sentence with the present continuous for future arrangements AND fits the context naturally?

Accepted Answer

am starting

Question 14

Look at the weekly planner below.

| Day       | Morning              | Evening                   |
|-----------|----------------------|---------------------------|
| Monday    | Gym class            | Study group with Ana      |
| Tuesday   | —                    | Dinner with parents       |
| Wednesday | Doctor's appointment | —                         |
| Thursday  | —                    | Online guitar lesson      |
| Friday    | School project       | Movie night with friends  |

A student wants to explain why she cannot meet on Thursday evening. Which sentence BEST expresses this using the present continuous for future arrangements?

Accepted Answer

I am taking an online guitar lesson on Thursday evening.

Question 15

A student is asked to rewrite the following sentence to make it sound more natural as a future arrangement: 'We will have a team meeting next Tuesday at 10 a.m.'

The student rewrites it as: 'We are having a team meeting next Tuesday at 10 a.m.'

Which statement BEST evaluates the student's rewrite?

Accepted Answer

The rewrite is correct and more natural because the present continuous signals a pre-arranged, confirmed plan.

Question 16

The present continuous tense can be used to talk about definite plans or arrangements that have already been made for the future.

Accepted Answer

true

Question 17

The sentence 'She is flying to Paris next Monday' describes a spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking.

Accepted Answer

false

Question 18

In the sentence 'They are having a party on Saturday,' the word 'having' functions as the main verb in the present continuous form and refers to a future event.

Accepted Answer

true

Question 19

The present continuous and the simple present tense are interchangeable when describing future arrangements in everyday spoken English.

Accepted Answer

false

Question 20

A student who writes 'I am going to visit my grandparents this weekend' is correctly using the present continuous to express a future arrangement.

Accepted Answer

false

Question 21

Explain the difference between using the present continuous tense to describe an action happening RIGHT NOW and using it to describe a FUTURE arrangement. Give one example sentence for each use.

Accepted Answer

When we use the present continuous for an action happening right now, we mean something is in progress at this moment (e.g., 'She is talking on the phone.'). When we use it for a future arrangement, we mean something is already planned or scheduled to happen later (e.g., 'She is meeting her doctor tomorrow.'). The key difference is that the future use always includes or implies a future time expression.

Question 22

Read the schedule below and answer the question that follows.

| Day       | Activity                        | Time     |
|-----------|---------------------------------|----------|
| Monday    | Study group with Ana and Luis   | 4:00 PM  |
| Tuesday   | Doctor's appointment            | 10:30 AM |
| Wednesday | Soccer practice                 | 5:00 PM  |
| Thursday  | Family dinner at Grandma's      | 7:00 PM  |
| Friday    | Movie night with friends        | 8:00 PM  |

Using the schedule above, write THREE complete sentences about what the person is doing this week. Use the present continuous tense for future arrangements in each sentence.

Accepted Answer

On Monday, she is studying with Ana and Luis at 4:00 PM. On Wednesday, she is practicing soccer at 5:00 PM. On Friday, she is watching a movie with her friends at 8:00 PM.

Question 23

A student wrote the following paragraph about her weekend plans. Identify and correct ALL errors related to the use of the present continuous for future arrangements. Then briefly explain why each correction is necessary.

*'This weekend I am go to the mall with my sister. We are buy new clothes for the school dance. In the evening, my parents are cooking a special dinner. Also, my cousin visits us on Sunday.'*

Accepted Answer

Corrections: 1) 'I am go' → 'I am going' — the present continuous requires the base verb + -ing. 2) 'We are buy' → 'We are buying' — same rule: the auxiliary 'are' must be followed by the -ing form. 3) 'my cousin visits us' → 'my cousin is visiting us' — since this is a future arrangement (a plan), it should use the present continuous, not the simple present.

Question 24

Why is it important to include a future time expression (such as 'tomorrow,' 'next week,' or 'on Friday') when using the present continuous for future arrangements? What might happen if you leave out the time expression? Support your answer with an example.

Accepted Answer

Future time expressions are important because the present continuous can describe both a current action and a future plan. Without a time expression, the listener or reader may not know which meaning is intended. For example, 'She is leaving' could mean she is walking out the door right now, or it could mean she has a plan to leave later. Adding a time expression — 'She is leaving tomorrow morning' — makes the future arrangement clear and avoids confusion.

Question 25

[FIGURE: A weekly planner page (Monday–Sunday) shown as a hand-drawn or printed calendar grid. Monday is blank. Tuesday shows 'English exam – 9 AM.' Wednesday shows 'Lunch with Maria – 1 PM.' Thursday is blank. Friday shows 'Flight to Cancún – 6 PM.' Saturday shows 'Beach day with family.' Sunday shows 'Return flight – 3 PM.' The planner belongs to a 10th-grade student named Carlos.]

Imagine you are Carlos. Using the planner above, write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) to a friend describing your plans for the week. Use the present continuous for future arrangements. Include at least ONE question in the present continuous asking your friend about their plans.

Accepted Answer

Hi! I have such a busy week ahead. On Tuesday, I am taking my English exam at 9 AM, so I need to study tonight. On Wednesday, I am having lunch with Maria, and then on Friday, I am flying to Cancún with my family at 6 PM — I can't wait! We are spending Saturday at the beach. Are you doing anything fun this weekend?

Question 26

We already bought the tickets, so we _____ (see) the new movie this Saturday night.

Accepted Answer

are seeing

Question 27

Maria confirmed her reservation last week, so she _____ (fly) to Paris on Monday morning.

Accepted Answer

is flying

Question 28

Look at the schedule — the team _____ (meet) the new coach at the sports center tomorrow afternoon.

Accepted Answer

is meeting

Question 29

Because they have already sent out invitations to all their friends, Jake and Lily _____ (have) a birthday party for their sister next weekend.

Accepted Answer

are having

Question 30

After reviewing the context clues in the sentence 'They booked the restaurant a month ago,' a student correctly concludes that the couple _____ (celebrate) their anniversary there next Friday.

Accepted Answer

is celebrating

Four Corners 3 – Unit 5: Present Continuous for Future Arrangements

Part A: Multiple Choice

Part B: True / False

Part C: Short Answer

Part D: Fill in the Blank

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