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  • Hi! This is Kee from BBC Learning English,

  • and today I'm going to tell you the differences between 'be going to' and the present continuous to talk about future plans.

  • We use 'be going to' to talk about future plans.

  • The plan will probably take place, but it's not a definite plan.

  • If I say: I'm going to meet my friends this weekend,

  • it means I made plans with my friends, but it could mean that we haven't decided where to meet, nor have we decided what time to meet.

  • On the other hand, we use the present continuous to talk about future plans that are almost definite.

  • If I say: I'm meeting my friends this weekend,

  • it means I made plans with my friends, and we may have decided where to meet and what time to meet.

  • So, this plan is almost definite and it's difficult to cancel.

  • So remember, the present continuous describes a more definite plan than 'be going to'.

Hi! This is Kee from BBC Learning English,

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