Today/Present continuous

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Today/Present continuous
Message from robip posted on 28-09-2013 at 22:59:51 (D | E | F)
Hi everybody.

I'd like to know if it is possible to use TODAY with Present continuous for future.
I get up in the morning and I say:
I'm going to the dentist today (I mean in the afternoon or in the evening)
Is this sentence right?
Thanks in advance

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Edited by lucile83 on 29-09-2013 08:31

Re: Today/Present continuous from gerondif, posted on 28-09-2013 at 23:36:59 (D | E)
Hello,

I'm going to the dentist's today is correct!
It is a present tense with a future meaning, something that has been decided, a single project carried on today.

Re: Today/Present continuous from robip, posted on 29-09-2013 at 08:51:42 (D | E)
Hi gerondif,

thank you for your quick reply
go to the dentist and go to the dentist's are both correct
Look at this thread
Link

Re: Today/Present continuous from gerondif, posted on 29-09-2013 at 14:49:39 (D | E)
Hello,
It is considered correct by more and more people, it doesn't mean that it is grammatically correct, technically.
Normally, it works that way.
I am going to the supermarket, to the cinema etc (a building)
I am going to school, to work, to bed, to prison (a few examples where "the" dropped out).
I am going home (no to, no the).

If the shop is represented by the name of its owner or his or her profession, then:
I am going to the baker's (shop)
I am going to the dentist's (surgery).
I am going to the lawyer's (office)
I am going to John's (house).

Dropping out the 's is just for me laziness becoming a rule.
"I am speaking to John" should remain different from "I am going to John's" "I'm living at John's (with John) for the moment until I find a flat"

Of course, if, in the area where you live, you heard all your life " I am going to the vet tonight", fine, people will understand what you mean, but I still cross it out as wrong in my students' papers.
I haven't seen Harrod's or Tiffany's or Mc Donald's dropping out their 's yet.

Now, I am aware that a language lives and changes, for example, hopefully was not at all the same as "let's hope that"
He will come, hopefully.
Let's hope he comes soon.
I adapt but still grate my teeth

Re: Today/Present continuous from lucile83, posted on 29-09-2013 at 15:59:12 (D | E)
I agree with gerondif!

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