Scheduled Events
Planned activities and events
DINOSAURS! Exhibit Will Open This 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. Tickets will be sold at the door. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
discoveries (n.) – new findings
demonstrations (n.) – lectures showing how to do something
exhibition (n.) show
feature (v.) – offer something as a special attraction
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
| ROUTINE | NEAR FUTURE | FAR FUTURE |
|---|---|---|
We use present tense for regular, reoccurring (weekly, monthly, yearly) activities, habits, customs. "This is what routinely happens, and it will happen again in the future." |
We use the present progressive for an activity in the very near future, in our current time frame (discussions of personal arrangements and fixed plans.) "This is what I can see coming." |
We use the modal will for making predictions, guesses or calculations, and for discussing scheduled activities. "This what I predict will happen." "This is what is scheduled to happen." |
| THIS HAPPENS | I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING SOON | THIS IS SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN |
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Dinosaurs! features life-like creatures. |
Dinosaurs is featuring life-like creatures. |
Dinosaurs! will feature life-like creatures. |
The exhibit includes two new reptiles. (fact, standard set-up) |
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,) *Will you go to it? |
We will go to it. (think, guess) |
*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 after that? (an open question) |
What are you doing afterward? (fixed plans) |
What will you do after that? (unknown plans) |
*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.
Related page: Be going / Will
Present Tense vs. Will
Observation vs. Prediction
| OBSERVATION |
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We use present progressive for activities and events that we can see coming. The completion time is in the future, but the personal time-frame is a present one. |
This trip is costing you a lot of money. (I can see the charges.) |
She is having a baby. (I can see she is pregnant.) |
Hold on. We're sinking! (I can see the boat going down.) |
| PREDICTION |
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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 will cost you a lot of money. ( prediction) |
The baby will have blue eyes. (prediction.) |
Pay attention. You will sink the boat. (prediction) |
Adverbs
Scheduled Events
Adverbs for Near vs. Far Events
| NEAR FUTURE | ||
|---|---|---|
For scheduled events, we use adverbs that are in our current time frame, but not yet arrived – soon. These adverbs commonly occur with present progressive but may also occur with will. |
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| AT, IN, ON | THIS¹ | IN (time) |
at midnight (time ahead) |
tomorrow (sometime, tomorrow) |
in a second (while, minute) |
at noon (time ahead) |
tonight |
in an hour |
(on) May 1. (time ahead) |
this morning (afternoon, evening) |
in just a while |
in the summer (time ahead) |
this week (month, season, year) |
in the coming week |
in 2020(time ahead) |
this decade (century, era) |
in time (indefinite) |
on May 1, at 2:00 a.m. |
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soon (indefinite) |
| ROUTINE & FAR FUTURE | ||
|---|---|---|
We also use adverbs with future times, such as those found in a calendar, a timetable, or a schedule. These adverbs occur with simple present tense (routine), future will (scheduled events), and before, after (time-relative events). |
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| NEXT | THE COMING | AFTER / WHEN |
next week (sometime next week) |
in the coming year |
after next week |
next Tuesday |
the coming month |
after I get back |
next month / spring |
the coming week |
as soon as I return |
next semester / term |
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when I return |
next year |
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if I return |
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¹sometime within this range of time, within this period
After / When / As soon as — Time-Relative Events We will get together when I return.
Practice 1
A Trip
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
The Economy
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 3
Car Servicing
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.