Expressing future time

Using the present continuous page 2 of 2

Restrictions on using the present continuous

In contrast to other ways of referring to future time, the present continuous is restricted to actions performed by human beings. So the following is impossible:

The trees are losing their leaves soon.

To express this idea, you would need to employ another construction:

The trees will lose their leaves soon; or
The trees will be losing their leaves soon; or
The trees are going to lose their leaves soon.

Using the present continuous for plans
Restrictions on using the present continuous

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