A ferry departure can be tomorrow while its verb is present simple. The speaker is reporting a timetable. The same pattern works for scheduled openings, classes and other fixed calendar events.

The idea

Use the normal present-simple forms for an event presented as scheduled: the ferry departs, the courses finish. With a singular third-person subject, questions and negatives use does/doesn't + base verb. A future date or time gives the intended reference.

Examples

  • The ferry departs at 06:40 tomorrow.
  • Boarding closes twenty minutes before departure.
  • The exhibition opens next Thursday.
  • Our course finishes on 18 June.
  • Does the last shuttle leave at midnight?
  • The library doesn't open until ten next Sunday.

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Watch out

Do not put -s on both does and the main verb: Does it leave?, not Does it leaves? A future time does not force will. Will can still be grammatical in an announcement; present simple specifically presents the event as part of a schedule.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The ferry ___ at 06:40 tomorrow. (depart / departs)

    Show answer or example answer

    departs

    The ferry is singular, so use departs, even though the departure is tomorrow.

  2. Choose the correct option. Does the last shuttle ___ at midnight? (leave / leaves)

    Show answer or example answer

    leave

    Does already marks third-person agreement, so the main verb stays leave.

  3. Choose the correct option. The library doesn't ___ until ten next Sunday. (open / opens)

    Show answer or example answer

    open

    After doesn't, use base-form open. Until ten says opening does not happen before ten.

Use it today

Invent a timetable for a museum visit: a departure, an opening and a return journey. Write three statements and ask one question to check a time. Include one later-than-usual opening with doesn't ... until.