Scheduled Events
Indicating planned activities and events
The Dinosaur Exhibit will open this coming week.
The very popular Dinosaurs exhibition is returning to the Lawrence Hall of Science this week. "Dinosaurs" features fourteen, giant, robotic creatures, real dinosaur fossils, activity stations for visitors and daily, live
demonstrations on dinosaur topics.
The show will include two new prehistoric reptiles, Elasmosaurus
and Mosasaurus. Some of the robotic dinosaurs are full-size. Opening-day activities will feature a presentation by Kevin Palin on the latest dinosaur discoveries and a series of art and science demonstrations.
exhibition (n.) show
robotic creatures (n.) – computerized, machine-like animals
fossils (n.) very old bones, or plant remains preserved in rocks
topics (n.) – subjects
prehistoric (adj.) – before the time of written history; very old
reptiles (n.) – animals such as snakes or lizards
discoveries (n.) – new findings
demonstrations (n.) – lectures or classes showing how to do something
Scheduled Events – routine, near future, far future
| PRESENT TENSE | PRESENT PROGRESSIVE | WILL |
|---|---|---|
We use present tense for regular, reoccurring (weekly, monthly, yearly) activities, habits, customs. "This is what routinely happens." |
We use the present progressive for an activity in the very near future: one that is in our current time frame (discussions of personal arrangements and fixed plans.) "This what I can see coming." |
We use will for making predictions, guesses or calculations. We also use will is to give information about schedules or itineraries. "This what I predict will happen." |
The exhibition returns to the Hall of Science this week. |
The exhibition is returning to the Hall of Science this week. ("current events") |
The exhibition will return to the Hall of Science next week. |
Dinosaurs features life-like creatures. |
Dinosaurs is featuring life-like creatures. |
Dinosaurs will feature life-like creatures. |
The exhibit includes two new reptiles. |
The exhibitors are including two new reptiles. (fixed plans) |
The exhibit will include new reptiles. |
Do you go to it? |
Are you going to it? (personal arrangement) |
We will go to it. (think, guess) / Will you go to it? (plans) |
Yes, I leave in a few minutes. (not a habitual activity) |
Yes, I'm leaving in a few minutes. |
Yes, I will go in a few minutes. |
What do you do next year? (an open question) |
What are you doing next year? (fixed plans) |
What will you do next year? (unknown plans) |
Related page: Be going / Will
Observation vs. Prediction
| OBSERVATION | PREDICTION |
|---|---|
We use present progressive for activities and events that we can see coming. The completion time is in the future. |
We use will for activities and events about which we have enough information to make a guess. (We aren't actually observing it, but can predict it happening.) |
This trip is costing you a lot of money. (I see the charges.) |
This trip will cost you a lot of money. (Opinion – it includes luxury accommodations.) |
She is having a baby. (I see she is pregnant. She's not having it right now.) |
The baby will have blue eyes. (Prediction – both parents have blue eyes.) |
Hold on. We're sinking! (I see the boat going into he water.) |
Pay attention. You will sink the boat. (Prediction) |
Adverbs Used with Scheduled Events
| NEAR FUTURE | FUTURE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
We use adverbs that are in our current time frame, but not yet arrived – soon. |
We use adverbs that are often tied to future times, such as those found in a calendar, a timetable, or a schedule. We also use future before adverbs of sequence. |
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AT, IN, ON |
THIS |
IN A... / IN THE... |
NEXT |
THE COMING |
AFTER / BEFORE |
at midnight (time ahead) |
† tomorrow (sometime tomorrow) |
in a second |
next week (sometime next week) |
in the coming year |
after next week |
at noon(time ahead) |
† tonight |
in a while |
next Tuesday |
the coming month |
after I get back |
(on) January 10.(time ahead) |
this morning (time not passed) |
in a minute |
next month / spring |
the coming week |
as soon as I return |
in the summer (time ahead) |
this evening (time not passed) |
in an hour |
next semester / term |
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in 2020(time ahead) |
this week(time not passed) |
in just a while |
next year |
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on January, 10 at 2:00 a.m. |
this month (days not passed) |
in the coming week |
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in the coming month |
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soon |
† sometime within the range of the period |
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Practice
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence in the context of the paragraph.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3: