Present simple for future arrangements & plans

Question

Hi there,I was quite surprised to come across the following sentence in "English file advanced":We ’re move / move into our new flat next month.Both options are plain incorrect in my opinion; the present continuous should be used instead. Or?

GPY · Accepted Answer

1. We're move into our new flat next month.
2. We move into our new flat next month.
3. We're moving into our new flat next month.

(1) is incorrect. (2) and (3) are correct.

Paul Evdokimov · Answer

GPY,thanks. The thing is I don`t get why number 2 is correct... We don`t use the present simple tense for future arrangements and plans, and no way one can consider moving house to be a part of their schedule. o_O

GPY · Answer

Paul EvdokimovGPY,thanks. The thing is I don`t get why number 2 is correct... We don`t use the present simple tense for future arrangements and plans, and no way one can consider moving house to be a part of their schedule. o_O

A schedule is a list of future arrangements, so I don't really grasp your distinction. In any case, whether you care to think of the move as a plan, arrangement or schedule, "We move into our new flat next month" is correct, so if you have been told something that implies otherwise, then what you have been told is wrong.

CalifJim · Answer

Paul Evdokimov and in no way ~~one can~~ can one consider moving house to be a part of their schedule.

I can't understand why you think this. You make an arrangement with the realtor and/or the former owner of the flat about what day you can take possession your new flat. This is almost always a specific date that is agreed to by everyone concerned. When you arrange to do something on a specific date, it's a scheduled event.

We move in on Thursday.
We leave for Paris on the 12th.
The plane lands at 10 pm.
The committee meets at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
They celebrate their anniversary next month.
I get my next paycheck on Monday.

CJ

Paul Evdokimov · Answer

GPYA schedule is a list of future arrangements, so I don't really grasp your distinction.

Well, I mentioned schedule implying timetable.The difference between a timetable and an arrangement is that the former is repetitive and requires the present simple tense when referring to the future, whereas the latter requires the present continuous. Obviously, moving house doesn`t relate to timetable, but we don`t use the present simple tense for the arrangements...

GPY so if you have been told something that implies otherwise, then what you have been told is wrong.

I can`t find any references to the present simple for future arrangements in my grammar books. By the way, what`s the difference between 2 and 3?

GPY · Answer

Paul Evdokimovwhereas the latter requires the present continuous.

This is not necessarily true, as the previous examples demonstrate.

Paul Evdokimov By the way, what`s the difference between 2 and 3?

There is virtually no difference in meaning.

As I believe I may have mentioned in a previous reply, you are using the wrong character for the apostrophe. You are still typing a grave accent. I don't know what kind of keyboard you are using, but, if possible, try to find the correct apostrophe character. The grave accent is noticeably wrong.

Paul Evdokimov · Answer

GPYThis is not necessarily true, as the previous examples demonstrate.

Would you please refer to any text book where the usage of the present simple for future arrangements has been approved? Or is mostly acceptable for colloqial English?

GPYyou are using the wrong character for the apostrophe.

Yeah, it`s just my bad grammar habit. I usually misuse hyphens where dashs are required for the same reason.Don`t get offended.

Paul Evdokimov · Answer

CalifJim, I should have used 'timetable' instead of 'schedule' to avoid this controversy. Anyway, your examples have perplexed me; I would use the present continuous in each sentence except for the one about the plane. The general rule tells us to use the present continuous tense for future arrangements and the present simple tense for timetables and schedules.

GPY · Answer

Paul EvdokimovWould you please refer to any text book where the usage of the present simple for future arrangements has been approved? Or is mostly acceptable for colloqial English?

I think all good text books will cover the use of present simple for future events. I think the difficulty may be more to do with a bogus distinction that you are making between future "arrangements" and other types of scheduled future event.

Paul EvdokimovYeah, it`s just my bad grammar habit. I usually misuse hyphens where dashs are required for the same reason.Don`t get offended

Dashes can be a nuisance to type. Out of habit (from the bad old ASCII days), I still sometimes type two hyphens, --, for a dash. However, apostrophes are easy to type, provided that you have the key on your keyboard (I'm not sure whether this applies to all languages). You should make an effort to try to find how to type the apostrophe correctly, and get out of this particular bad habit.

Paul Evdokimov · Answer

GPYa bogus distinction that you are making between future "arrangements" and other types of scheduled future event.

It`s not just me who`s making distinctions, by the way. OK, since you can`t quote any, I`ll give some of my references to you:

"I'm doing something = I have already decided and arranged to do it:
L A: What are you doing on Saturday evening? (not What do you do)
B: I'm going to the theatre. (not I go)
0 A: What time is Katherine arriving tomorrow?
s: Half past ten. I'm meeting her at the station.
C I'm not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere.
C Steve isn't playing football next Saturday. He's hurt his leg.
We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for public
transport, cinemas etc.):
U My train leaves at 11.30, so I need to be at the station by 11.15.
U What time does the film start this evening? "
Murphy,R. English grammar in use.

"W? us? th? pr?s?nt ?ontinuous to talk about things w? hav? arrang?d to do,
in parti?ular so?ial arrang?m?nts and appointm?nts. Th?r? is n?arly always a
tim? ??pr?ssion.
?: ?re ?ou doing ???thing o? Frid?? eveni?g?
B: Not re?ll?. Why?
?: I,m having ? p?rty. Would ?ou like to come?
W? us? th? pr?s?nt simpl? to talk about ?v?nts in th? futur? bas?d on a
fix?d tim?tabl?, programm? or ?al?ndar.
|im's plane leaves ?t 12.00."
Vince,M. Language practice.

"We can often use either the present simple or 'will' to talk about future events that are part of some timetabled routine. However,we prefer the present simple for fixed, unchangeable events.

The sun rises at 5:16 tomorrow.(more likely than The sun will rise...)

We avoid the present simple when we talk about less routine arrangements. Instead we use the present continuous:

Are you staying in to watch TV tonight? (not Do you stay to watch TV tonight?)

Hewings,M. Grammar in use.

Present simple for future arrangements & plans

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