Simple present used as simple future

by adminOctober 18, 2021May 19, 2023

How to Use the Present Simple to Talk about Future Events

Simple present used as simple future

Simple present used as fixed programme and fixed plan. It indicates future time. For examples:
The Delhi university graduation forms start in May.
She goes abroad next week.
My father returns from Dubai tomorrow.
Mr Kevin resigns next month.
The prime minister attends the meeting tomorrow.

Note: future time expressing adverbs:

Next + time (week, month, year, night, day), tomorrow, in April, on Sunday, on Tuesday (next Tuesday or upcoming days).

We use present simple tense in expressing future events that are the type of some official arrangements such as a timetable (schedules) or program:
Eva arrives at 6 p.m.
His secretary meets you tomorrow.
We get off the bus in Muzaffarnagar and continue by taxi to go to our conference.
Our next meeting is on May 5^th.

Note: personal plans or any prediction is not used with the simple present tense. It suggests that plans or arrangements are fixed and definite.

We use will, going to or the present continuous for personal plans or predictions. ( see unit present continuous and future indefinite)
I think she will leave the job soon.
I am really worried; I’m going to see my mother on Saturday.
It is drastically spreading fear in Rome due to the blast of the oldest church in the world; I believe it will affect the rest of Italy soon. (not … I think it affects the rest).

However, we use the present simple tense if we have specific predictions:

There is a Dhoom Ketu star rises at 9 P.M. tomorrow.
The sun sets at 6: 45 tomorrow.

conditional sentences generally start with two clauses. One of them is a principal clause and another one is a sub-ordinate clause.

Sub-ordinate clause(Simple present used as simple future):

“if, when, before, after, till, until, unless, as soon as, as long as and in case” are the conjunctions; simple present indefinite tense is used with them. And simple future tense is used with the principal clause.

If you come here, I will lend you money.

Sub-ordinate clause principal clause

Simple present tense simple future tense

Sub + M.V¹/M.V⁵+ Obj sub + shall/will + M.V.¹ + obj

There are following conjunctions are used with present indefinite tense are given below:

Time conjunctions of adverbial clauses(Simple present used as simple future):

after, before, when, and until.

Let’s have look following examples of simple present used as simple future:

After you reach the station, you’ll see my cab on the opposite side of the station.
Wait here until she completes her work.
When you go to her, she will help you.
He will have reached there before you go.
Conditional clauses with if, unless, in case, provided (as long as, so long as also means on condition that or provided that). It is used to set limits in a given situation.
He will get success in his interview tomorrow, provided that he speaks English with confidence.
I’ll bring you another ball pen in case you don’t like this one.
If you say nothing, I won’t let you go outside.
Don’t need to give his car back unless he returns your money.
You will score good marks as long as you study smartly.
As long as I go across this country I will find your brother’s killer.

Present simple is used in that and wh- clauses when both main clause and that/wh-clause refer to the future. We don’t use will/shall in that/wh-clause in this type of sentence:

Main clause	That/wh-clause
I’m damn sure.	that you are selected for this post.
I will tell you	Where she comes there. (not she will come there.
I’ll ask her	When she gets (goes) here. (not she will get here.