present continuous for the future

The present continuous can talk about the future when the plan is fixed: you have decided, you know when, and often someone else knows about it too. It's for the things you write in your diary.

A time word, or the situation, shows that it's the future. Without one, the same sentence is about now.

Arrangement or going to

Both talk about plans. Use the present continuous for an arrangement with a time and often a place. Use going to for something you have decided, even when nothing is fixed yet.

Not for the weather

Nobody arranges the weather, so use will or going to for it.

Timetables

For timetables (trains, films, classes), use the present simple.

Common mistakes

• × I meet Sam tomorrow. → I'm meeting Sam tomorrow.
• × Tomorrow I will meeting her. → Tomorrow I'm meeting her.
• × It's snowing tomorrow. → It's going to snow tomorrow.