Using The Present Simple To Talk About The Future
The present simple can be used to talk about talk about scheduled future events (things that happen according to a schedule or timetable). These events are usually scheduled by someone else and they are usually public events.
Tomorrow is Friday.
The train to Ottawa leaves at 11:30 a.m.
What time does the movie begin tonight?
What time do you finish work tomorrow?
When do you leave for NYC?
What time does the store open tomorrow?
Final exams start next week.
The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
The plane departs at 8 p.m.
Her train arrives at 8:35 a.m. tomorrow morning.
The Monet exhibit closes on Sunday.
The sale ends next week.
I fly to Paris next week.
Only the verbs below can be used in the simple present to talk about a future scheduled event:
arrive
be
begin
close
depart
end
finish
fly
leave
open
start
Thank you, Teacher Melanie,
This lesson is really useful to me. At first, I think you’re mentioning about the structure of near future am/is/are + going to do something. Then I read the lesson and it’s totally new knowledge to me. Thanks in advance for this valuable lesson.
You’re welcome, Ha!
This is new information for a lot of English learners! Teachers & students focus a lot on ‘be going to’ + ‘will,’ but we use a few different tenses in English to talk about the future!
I’m glad this was useful to you.
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hi, thanks for your good lesson.
I have a question . As you know we use both Simple Present and Present Continuous for future events. What is the difference between them?
for example:
Beyonce gives a concert in NY next month.
Beyonce is giving a concert in NY next month.
both sentence have the same meaning or different.
Hi, Mustafa!
Only certain verbs are used in the present simple to talk about a future scheduled event (see the list of verbs above).
This sentence is not correct:
X: Beyonce gives a concert in NY next month.
You cannot use the verb ‘give’ this way.
This sentence is correct:
Beyonce is giving a concert in NY next month.
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Thank you too much,
Your lessons are very useful to make easier some difficult points in english.
Thanks again for your helpful lesson.
Thank you, Teacher Melanie,
I am wondering if we can use this grammar for the future that will be after 2 or 3 years. For example, I am traveling to Dubai next December 2014. Is it a good sentence?
I am profoundly grateful for your help.
Yes, absolutely, Mohammed!
“I am traveling to Dubai in December 2014.”
– In this case you shouldn’t use ‘next’ because December 2014 is not ‘next.’ December 2013 is next. Also, use either ‘next’ OR ‘2013,’ but not both because you are repeating yourself:
“I am traveling to Dubai next December.”
“I am traveling to Dubai in December 2013.”
I have an article about using different tenses to talk about your weekend plans, but the same information applies to your sentence:
/grammar-future-what-are-you-doing-this-weekend/
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your tutorials are helpful for me ! Nice Work
tks so much Melanie
Hello, teacher Melanie! My wife is an on-line English teacher and hence I often hear the words (she says to her students): “You do this exercise” or ”You do this exercise on gerunds”. She means that she wants her student to do these exercises.
But I do not think this a right way to use The Present Simple. What can you say about this usage of the tense? Please, I don`t know whether I should start correcting her or leave her with this habbit.
Sergey Larin, Ukraine.
Well, Sergey, I don’t want to start an argument between you and your wife, but your wife isn’t entirely correct.
Here are some things she can say:
“Do this exercise (on gerunds).” [Imperative]
“I’d like/I want you to do this exercise (on gerunds)” [Formal/Polite]
“Here’s an exercise (on gerunds) I’d like you to do.”
I hope that helps!
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Thank you very much Melanie….
Thank you good lessen useful for me .
thanks alot
hi many thanks about your useful lessons i write down them and teaches to my pupils so can you help me i need some exercises about the future tenses