The Simple Present Tense to express the Future

I know, it sounds strange. Present tense to talk about future?

This is a very simple rule in grammar and it's used to talk about something that has been scheduled, like a trip or an appointment with the doctor that will happen soon, in the near future. Another thing to remember is that almost always a time is indicated, or voiced.

Here are some examples:

• I take the bus tomorrow at 8:00.
• I go to the doctor at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
• She runs in the marathon in three days.
• I start spring cleaning this week.

Another way we use the simple present to express, or talk about, the future is in a dependent adverb clause.

A dependent clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone, it must be used with an independent clause or it won't make any sense. Also, in a complex sentence, a sentence that has both a dependent and independent clause, there will be an clause marker like in example below:

I'll go to the store when I finish cleaning the house.

Here we can divide the sentence into two parts.

1. I'll go to the store,
2. when I finish cleaning the house.

Part 1. is a dependent clause, which means it is a complete sentence with a complete meaning by itself.

Part 2. is an independent clause, which means alone, the meaning isn't complete, it doesn't make sense. In this case it is a dependent adverb clause and the clause marker is the adverb 'when'.

Now, to use simple present to express future in a complex sentence, like in the example above.

• The teacher will give the exam when the students sit down.
• I'll go to the new dentist after you go.
• Before we take the bus, we will have to get a schedule.

That's it! These are the only ways to use the present simple tense to express a future action. Thank you to my lovely friend from Germany for asking me about this. 

If anyone has a comment or a question, feel free to leave a comment in the comment box below (you have to click on the word 'comments' and it will open) or you can email me by clicking the link on the right side of the page and also in the 'Contact Me' tab.

Have a great day!

Word of the Day

cloven
Definition:	Split; divided.
Synonyms:	bisulcate

Word of the Day provided by The Free Dictionary

Present Simple Tense

Grammar can be very confusing when learning a new language. Tenses, verb conjugation, sentence structure. It really is a lot of information to be remembered along with memorizing words and their spelling. It can be a long, slow process, but there is nothing wrong with that. There are people who catch onto languages very quickly and others who need to go at a slower pace. No matter which one you are, just remember everyone is different in how they look, talk and walk, so it only goes on to reason that everyone is also different in the process of learning, no matter what kind of learning it is. 

The important thing is to go step by step, just like a baby. Learn one step thoroughly before going on to the next. Most English language books or courses start with the basic, fundamental steps first. The reason for this is that you (the student) need to know these things because they will be applied to other things as you you go along. Understanding the basics will help you in understand the more complex parts of grammar and structure when you get to that point. Remember, don't be in a hurry. Relax and make your learning enjoyable.

As Teddy pointed out in his comment to me earlier today, many students have a hard time knowing when to use the present, past and other tenses. Below is an explanation of the present simple tense. I think this will be enough to start with for now and I will follow up on it in the coming days.

We use the present simple tense in the following ways:

1. To talk about habits and or routines: I go to school everyday. / I swim every summer.
2. Facts or general truths: The earth is round. / The tiger attacks its prey.
3. To present thoughts, feelings, states or conditions: I understand. / The teacher thinks we are good students. / They like ice cream. /  It is warm today. / The north pole is always cold. 
4. To show scheduled events in the near future (The simple present tense will show future) My plane takes off at nine a.m. tomorrow. / We go to Disney World next week. 
5. To show events at any time in the future in a dependent clause: I'll cook when everyone comes home. / She eats when she is happy.

In the present simple, English uses the verb in its base (infinitive) form, without any additional endings.

• (walk) I walk my dog every morning at ten. 
• (drive) You drive very well. 
• (eat) I always eat lunch at 12:00 p.m.

But when we use it in third person singular (he, she or it), we add an 's' or an 'es'.

• (walk) Mary walks her dog every morning at ten.
• (drive) He drives very well.
• (eat) My father always eats lunch at 12:00 p.m.
• (wash) She washes dishes as soon as they are finished eating.

The present simple tense is very often used with adverbs of repeated time:

• (never) I never swim after I eat.
• (always)  He always forgets to walk the dog.
• (sometimes) I sometimes look for sales on the weekends. 

 Here are some links to exercises that can help you to apply what you have just read, enjoy! Practice makes perfect!


Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5 
Exercise 6 
Exercise 7 
Exercise 8 
Exercise 9
Exercise 10