Simple Present

for schedules

When an event is on a schedule or timetable (for example, the take-off time for a plane), we often use the present simple to express the future.

We usually also use a future word (expressed or understood) like:

tomorrow, at 6.30pm, next week.

Only a few verbs are used in this way, for example:be, open, close, begin, start, end, finish,

arrive, come, leave, return

Look at these sentences:

The train leaves Detroit at 9pm tonight.

John starts work next week.

Tomorrow is Thursday.

Exercise 1.Order the words to form sentences.

1. ./tonight/at/arrives/the/7:30/train2. is/holiday/Monday/next/a/?3. the/bank/in/./closes/an hour/half4. until/the/./9 o’clock/doesn´t/show/start/next5. tomorrow/time/bus/what/our/?/does/leave/morning

Possible Answers

./tonight/at/arrives/the/7:30/train

The train arrives tonight at 7.30.

The train arrives at 7.30 tonight.

Tonight the train arrives at 7.30.

Possible Answers

is/holiday/Monday/next/a/?

Is next Monday a holiday?

Possible Answers

the/bank/in/./closes/an hour/half

The bank closes in half an hour.

In half an hour the bank closes.

Possible Answers

until/the/./9 o’clock/doesn´t/show/start/next

The next show doesn't start until 9 o'clock.

Possible Answers

tomorrow/time/bus/what/our/?/does/leave/morning

What time does our bus leave tomorrow morning?

What time tomorrow morning does our bus leave?

Look at the following timetableAt what time does the flight to Washington depart?It departs at 12:55 in the afternoon

Exercise 2

Look at the following timetable1. At what time does the flight to Atlanta depart?

Exercise 2

Look at the following timetable2. At what time does the first flight to New York depart?

Exercise 2

Look at the following timetable3. At what time does the flight to Boston depart?

Exercise 2

Look at the following timetable4. At what time does the flight to Las Vegas depart?

Exercise 2

Look at the following timetable5. At what time does the flight to Miami depart?

Exercise 2

Answers…1. It departs at 2:30 in the afternoon.2. It departs at 12:00.3. It departs at 1:50 in the afternoon.4. It departs at 12:20 in the afternoon.5. It departs at 1:45 in the afternoon.

Exercise 2