Expressing future time

Using the present simple tense

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Using the present simple for fixed events

It is a surprise to many people that the present simple tense is, after will, the most common way to talk about the future. The present simple is used (almost always with a definite time) in situations where events have been firmly fixed, generally well in advance . This is why both grammar books and textbooks stress the use of the present simple tense to refer to timetables:

Southbound, the train leaves Edinburgh at 0935 until 28 September.
(Bank of English)

The present simple tense is also used in cases that do not fit neatly into the "timetable" category to suggest an especially high degree of certainty about events:

Fiona returns to the bank next week two days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm. (Bank of English)

If you would like to see a teaching activity for Secondary 2 - 3 which provides practice in using the present simple tense for talking about timetabled future events, click on
SCHOOL CALENDAR.

Using the present simple for fixed events
Using the present simple in subordinate clauses