Both present continuous and be going to can be used to express the same idea. In some cases there is a difference of meaning.

The present continuous tense is common with verbs of movement.

I am just popping out to the café.

Are you coming to the party?

​The present continuous tense is mainly used to talk about personal arrangements and fixed plans. Be going to can also be used to express the same idea; however, it puts an extra emphasis on the idea of intention.

• I am going to get a new job. (= I intend to get a job.)

• I am getting a new job. (= It is already decided / arranged.  Here the focus is on the arrangement.)

• ​What are you doing this evening? (A question about arrangements)

• Are you going to do anything about that letter you received from the civic authorities? (A question about the intentions of the listener)

• I am seeing Peter tomorrow. (Here the emphasis is on the arrangement that already exists.)

• I am going to ask him to stop borrowing my car. (Here the emphasis is on the intentions of the speaker.)

​Events outside people’s control

We do not normally use the present continuous to talk about events that are outside people’s control.

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• It is going to snow before long. (NOT It is snowing before long.)

• Look at the sky. It is going to rain.

• Prices are going to fall.

​The Future with Be Going To

​We can use a form of be + going to + the base form to express future time.

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We are going to travel.

She is going to work as a nurse.

Is she going to work at a hospital?​

​1) In informal speech, going to before another verb often sounds like “gonna.”

I’m not “gonna” work after retirement

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2) We often shorten going to go to going

We’re going to go to the Grand Canyon.

We’re going to the Grand Canyon.​