Grammar in focus
Form
Present simple (base verb; -s with he / she / it) + a future time
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| The train leaves at 9:15. | The store doesn't open on Sunday. | What time does the film start? |
Use
- Timetables and schedules: trains, flights, buses, classes, stores. The bus leaves at 8:05.
- Programmed events: The concert starts at 7:30 on Saturday.
- Calendar facts: Tomorrow is Tuesday. The course begins on January 10.
Words used with it
at 9:15, tomorrow, next Friday, on Monday, in ten minutes, tonight, until noon.
Timetable or personal plan?
| present simple | present continuous |
|---|---|
| official schedule: The film starts at 8. | personal plan: I'm seeing Tom at 7. |
Watch out
The train leave at nine→ The train leaves at nine.- After does / doesn't use the base verb:
Does the film starts?→ Does the film start? - Typical verbs: leave, arrive, start, begin, open, close, finish, end.
En español
Presente simple + tiempo futuro = horarios y programaciones fijas: El tren sale a las 9. Para planes personales se usa el presente continuo.
US vs UK
This book teaches American English. These are the differences you will notice with British English on this topic.
Same tense. Americans write times with a colon and a.m./p.m.; British English often uses the 24-hour clock or a period.
Mismo tiempo. EE. UU. escribe la hora con dos puntos y a.m./p.m.
Semester (US) vs term (UK).
Semester (EE. UU.) vs term (Reino Unido).
Through for ranges is American.
Through para rangos es americano.
Exam practice
- Five parts, like a certification exam: multiple choice, open cloze, error identification, sentence transformation and US vs UK.
- Typed answers accept American spelling and contractions (don't = do not).
- Every item has feedback in English and Spanish. Items and options change order on every attempt.
- Only Exam mode saves your score to your progress. You pass with 70%.
Practice mode
No timer. Check each part as you go and read the feedback.
Exam mode
25 minutes. Feedback at the end. Your best score is saved.