I am confused..

[Ana Laura]

Hello,
I would like to know what is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?

1)What are you going to do this weekend?
2)What are you doing this weekend?

Which question might be followed by an invitation? why?

Which question is a way of asking what someone intends to do, but has maybe not yet planned?

Thanks.

[riverkid]

Hello,
I would like to know what is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
1)What are you going to do this weekend?
2)What are you doing this weekend?

There is no difference, Ana Laura. You could even use,

"What will you do this weekend"

although that wouldn't be the normal choice.

While each structure has special jobs, sometimes, in certain situations, we have the ability to use either, with little difference in meaning. Imagine a scale with each structure at their own end, doing the language job they do. But sometimes they meet in the middle of this scale and in this "overlap" area, either will work.

Both 'be going to' and 'present continuous for the future' are used for future events. The latter is especially used for fairly close to time to now events.


Which question might be followed by an invitation? why?

Either one could.


Which question is a way of asking what someone intends to do, but has maybe not yet planned?

Either one is.

Thanks.

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[Ouisch]

There isn't much, if any, difference between the two questions. However, sometimes there are subtle differences (depending upon the tone of voice used, etc.)

What are you going to do this weekend?
This is generally just a conversational question. Sometimes someone will ask you this question with the intent of telling you their exciting weekend plans.

A: "What are you going to do this weekend?"
B: "Oh, not much, probably just relax at home. How about you?"
A: "You won't believe this, but my husband just called me and told me he's taking me to dinner and the theatre Saturday night!"
B: "How romantic, I can't wait to hear all about it on Monday!"

What are you doing this weekend?
This question is quite often followed up with an invitation.

A: "What are you doing this weekend?"
B: "I thought I'd clean out the bedroom closet and rearrange my kitchen cupboards."
A: "Well, if you think you can tear yourself away from that, my uncle just called and said that he and my aunt won't be using their cabin up at the lake this weekend, and I'm welcome to stay there and bring a friend. Are you interested?"