*You can use the present simple 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.
*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
leave
open
start
Melanie is a TESL-certified English teacher. She lives near Toronto, Canada. Through her blog, videos, podcasts, and social media, she helps thousands of people around the world improve their English. She makes English a little less confusing and a little more fun! She also helps people understand Canadian and American culture. She believes that natural interaction with a native speaker helps people practice what they have learned and builds their confidence with English!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
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.
= )