3. The boat trip is setting off at eight

The Present Continuous tense can also denote future sense, with slight difference in meaning with the be going to future. Click here to widen in the particular use of this tense. Yet, notice there is no change in its structure.
Icono IDevice Reading activity

Paco has come back to the booking office to pay to the operator. She has told him that the boat trip is setting off at eight o'clock in the morning and what he needs for it. So, he has moved from Saigon to Can Tho, where he is going to meet Ms Ha, the guide. Read the following passage about this amazing trip.

By Duncid. Creative Commons.

Paco has had a pleasant sleep and he is now waiting for Ms Ha in Can Tho deck. It is ten to eight and already too hot and humid. From the main street a small and friendly woman is approaching...she must be Ms Ha.

Ms Ha: 'Good morning, sir. Are you Paco?'

Paco: 'Good morning. Yes I am, Ms Ha?'

Ms Ha: 'Yes, that's me! If you are ready for the trip, get on this traditional boat and I will tell you what we are going to see.'

Paco: 'I feel anxious to begin it!'

Ms Ha: 'Great! Well, first we are going to sail along the Mekong river to leave the town. After that we are going to get through the floating markets and see how both, vendors and buyers, do their business.'

 

By Sprklg. Creative Commons.

Paco: 'And are we going to have a stop during the itinerary?'

Ms Ha:'Of course we are. We are visiting a noodles elaboration industry at 10.00.'

Paco: 'It sounds nice.'

The trip is going on as planned and Paco is having a lot of fun with Ms Ha's unique sense of humor. After the visit to the industry, Ms Ha turns the boat to a bank of the river and catches some leaves from a banana tree. Then Paco asks:

Paco:'What are you going to do with these leaves?'

Ms Ha: 'I am going to do you a ring with them. Are you married?'

Paco: 'No, I am not, I haven't even got a girlfriend...'

Ms Ha: 'Neither am I..." Then she asks staring at him. "And would you like to have a Vietnamese one?'

Paco: 'ehem....er..." He blushes and changes immediately the conversation. "... and are we going to have lunch?'

Ms Ha: 'Oh yes. We are having it at one with my cousin. She has prepared a good meal for us.'

From this time on Paco is no more relaxed although the trip is fascinating. They eat and when they arrive again at Can Tho, he gets off the boat as fast as he can say her goodbye. He hears Ms Ha asking him 'what are you doing to do this afternoon? We could.....'


Remember clicking on the tab below for unknown words.

Identify the going to future and present continuous for future forms appearing in the passage. Can you draw a conclusion about the difference in use or meaning?



Icono de iDevice Self_Assessment activity
Read the sentences below and fill in the missing verbs either in the going to future or in present continuous.
  1. The boat trip at eight o'clock in the morning.
  2. He Ms Ha.
  3. I will tell you what we ."
  4. We along the Mekong river to leave the town.
  5. We a noodles elaboration industry at 10.00.

 

  

Icono IDevice Curiosity

The Mekong River is one of the world’s major rivers.

 By Fredrik Thommesen. Creative Commons.

 

Since the river flows through a number of countries, it has many different names in local languages. Click on the Mekong River above to know its different names and learn more about this fascinating river.