USING THE SIMPLE PRESENT TO EXPRESS FUTURE TIME

Clara Molina V. Ramn Arturo Vega

Using The Simple Present To Express Future Time

The simple present can also be used to express future time in a sentence concerning events that are on a definite schedule or timetable. These sentences usually contain future time words. Only a few verbs are used in this way: e.g., open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, return.

Examples

The museum opens at ten tomorrow morning. Classes begin next week. Johns plane arrives at 6:05 P.M. next Monday.
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 to express fixed arrangements, present or future:

Your exam starts at 09.00 His mother arrives tomorrow. Our holiday starts on the 26th March to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until: He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday. She'll see you before she leaves. We'll give it to her when she arrives
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 Events in the near future The Simple Present is occasionally used to talk about something that will happen in the future, and is mostly used when talking about transportation or scheduled events. Examples: The plain arrives tomorrow at 10 a.m. The weekly meeting starts in a few hours. Tutoring sessions start next wednesday.

Use the Present Simple when an event is certain to happen in the future. Examples: My grandmother turns 100 this July. Winter starts on 21 December.

Use the Present Simple to talk about events that we can't change (for example, an official meeting or a train departure). Examples: The meeting starts at 4 PM. The train leaves at the noon. .
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OTHER EXAMPLES

QUESTIONS FORM
1. What plans do you have for the last weekend of November? 2. What time does Banamex open next Saturday? 3. When does the train for Paris leave? It leaves at 7 tomorrow morning. 4. When does the plane take off?

Wh question + do / does + subject + verb +word future time

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OTHER EXAMPLES AFIRMATIVE FORM 1. I have an appointment with my brother tomorrow 2. Ted and Saras wedding is next Saturday 3. Our plane leaves at eight o'clock tomorrow night. 4. The bus to the science museum leaves at 8 o'clock tomorrow 5. The South Sail Club gives its annual dinner next week. 6. I fly into Bombay at noon, and then speak at the conference at 3:00 p.m. 7. Bettina graduates on the 25th. I have no idea what shes going to do after that
Subject + verb + word future time
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OTHER EXAMPLES

NEGATIVE FORM
1. The first flight to Rome doesnt leave at 6 a.m. 2. The train for Birmingham doesnt departs from platform 3. 3. The special doesnt sale offer closes August 31. 4. The new airport doesnt open on Christmas Eve. 5. The public exhibition of a collection of his paintings doesnt end in a week.

Subject + dont/ doesnt + verb + word future time

In addition, a verb in a subordinate clause referring to the future time also appears in the simple present tense in certain situations. The future time is determined by the main verb or by the context; the verb in the subordinate clause appears after the subordinating conjunctions after, before, until, when, as soon as, and often, if. The verb in the subordinate clause may be any verb not just those referring to scheduled events, timetables, or travel. (A) Ill call you after the party is over. (B) The young couple is preparing a room for their baby before he arrives.

(C) Youd better not leave your job until you have another one. (D) When John finishes undergraduate school, hes going to attend Harvard Medical School. (E) Please let us know as soon as you get into town well have lunch. (F) If it rains tomorrow, we wont be able to go on the picnic as planned.

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Structure of sentences

Subject + verb (simple present form) + future time word The doors open in 10 minutes. The premier arrives on Tuesday. Classes end next week. The publisher distributes the galley proofs next Wednesday. The lunar eclipses begins in exactly 43 minutes.

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This table gives a simple scale of probability for each structure. It is not exact because language is not a science, and there are many variables. This table should help you to think about the "concept" of the future in English. This concept does not exist in all languages, but it is rather important in English.

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% probability before speaker speaks of structure event happening 0% will 70% 90% Going to

used for

example

No plan intention

Don't get up. I'll answer the phone. We're going to watch TV tonight. I'm taking my exam in June.

Present plan continuous

99.99% Simple Present

Schedule My plane takes off at 6.00am tomorrow.

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Source:

http://drshadiabanjar.blogspot.com/2008/11/using-simple-presentpresent.html http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exerciseenglish-38625.php http://www.171english.cn/html/grammar/00044.htm

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