@ PRESENT CONTINUOUS vs GOING TO... (explanation)

Slight differences between PRESENT CONTINUOUS and BE+going to+ INF :

1. PRESENT CONTINUOUS:

Action which is going to take place in a planned future (it comes from a decision already taken in the past, meetings, travels, parties, etc...)

Eg: Next Monday I am flying to Paris

2. "BE + going to...+ INF":

2.1. It is mainly used when we want to emphasize the speaker's wish to performe his/her intention)

Eg: This evening I am going to the see the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona (because I bought the tickets 10 days before)

2.2. We also use it to describe actions that will happen in a very close future because there are signs that shows the obvious fact.

Eg: The sky is very dark; it is going to rain