In this sentence "Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026 takes off at 6:20." Can I replace "will take off" with "takes off"？
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Yes. Positively.– anongoodnurseCommented May 17, 2014 at 3:44
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They do not mean the same. The Simple Present Tense (Present Indefinite) is used for something that happens regularly/ usually/ normally -- Flight 4026 (generally) takes off at 6:20 . On the other hand, the formal future tense *will*+verb indicates a (definite) possibility in the future.– KrisCommented May 17, 2014 at 6:36
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1@Kris Are you saying that it would be incorrect to say The plane takes off at 6:20 in the case where that route and timing had never been flown before and will never be flown again by that plane ?– FrankCommented May 17, 2014 at 6:42
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@Frank English Language Learners– KrisCommented May 17, 2014 at 6:45
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It could be a lot easier for you if you think of English tenses as a two-tense system (past and non-past), and will as just a modal verb (to express a possibility in the future). For what it's worth, I agree with njboot's answer below.– Damkerng T.Commented May 17, 2014 at 10:27
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1 Answer
Yes, you can. Both sentences are grammatically correct.
"Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026 takes off at 6:20."
"Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026 will take off at 6:20."
A third (and equally viable alternative):
"Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026 is taking off at 6:20."
Pick whichever one sounds best, to you.
