Sometimes learners of English do not understand the difference between I will do something tomorrow and I’m doing something tomorrow. Both are the future. When we think of the future in English, we usually think of ‘will’, but this is not the future normally. Normally we use the present continuous.
I’m meeting
I’m doing my homework later
I’m going to Paris next week.
The difference is whether the action is planned or unplanned.
This means whether or not you decided to do the future action BEFORE you say it. If it is planned (you decided before) we use I’m going, if we are deciding now we use I’ll go.
Here’s an example:
Imagine yesterday I was invited to a party next Saturday, and yesterday I decided to go. Now I say:
I’m going to the party on Saturday. I’m going.
But if someone asks me now if I’ll go to the party, and NOW I decide, I say:
Yes, I’ll go. I will go. The decision is now.
So we use ‘will’ for when we decide NOW, and we use 'am doing' for when we decided already.
Now think about your future. Think about next week. What are you doing? What are your plans?
On Monday I’m meeting Peter
On Tuesday I’m working
On Wednesday I’m going to the restaurant
On Thursday I’m staying at home
On Friday I’m writing my report
Usually we do know our future! We make plans!
That is why ‘will’ is only sometimes used, and usually it’s the present continuous.
So what are you doing tomorrow?
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