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12 The examination begins at 9.0 a.m. tomorrow morning. The presnt simple can be used with adverbs refering to future time when the action or event is regarded as part of a fixed time table. This differs a little in meaning from the present progressive used with such adverbs, in that the present progressive implies an element of personal agreement, planning, or intention on the part of the subject, whereas the presnt simple does not. Verbs commonly used in this way are those associated with announcements about timetables, schedules, organized events, etc., for example, begin, end, stop, leave, depart, arrive, come, go, open, close. There is an anologous use of the past simple: 13 He set his alarm for seven o'clock: the examination began at 9.0 the following morning. There are also some verbs that are not used in this way, viz., those verbs not normally used in a progressive form - verbs referring to activities to a state or condition (contain, resemble, equal, etc.). We do not make statements such as: I know the answer tomorrow. He resembles his father in a few years' time. |