I'm sorry but the ferry _____ (leave) in 30 minutes.

[dewedfrost]

Haven't we got time for a drink? I'm sorry but the ferry _____ (leave) in 30 minutes.
I'd say:
1) leaves
2) is leaving
3) will be leaving

I have to complete such a sentence taken from an exercise. I have already searched for some suggestions on the net, but I'd like to have your advice. Can you help me, please? Thank you so much in advance.

 

[teechar]

You're right that all three can be used. However, #1 is the most economical, and it's probably the one you'll come across the most.

 

[jutfrank]

You haven't actually asked your question.

Each of those correct answers has a distinct use.

 

[Rover_KE]

You posted the same question here.

We recommend posting a question on one forum only initially. If you do not get a satisfactory answer from that forum and you feel that you have exhausted its possibilities, then of course trying a different forum might help. It is only courteous however, to tell the second forum that you have already asked the question on another forum and then give a precis of the answers you received there, or provide a link to it, along with an explanation of why you are now looking elsewhere.

(emsr2d2)

 

[Tarheel]

Abe: Haven't we got time for a drink?
Bob: Well, the ferry leaves in 30 minutes.
Abe: It'll have to be a quick one, then won't it?

 

[tedmc]

Abe: Haven't we got time for a drink?
Bob: Well, the ferry leaves in 30 minutes.
Abe: It'll have to be a quick one, then won't it?

The last comma is placed one word too early.;-)

 

[Tarheel]

The last comma is placed one word too early.;-)

No, it's right where I meant it to be.
:-|

(The speaker paused after one then completed the sentence. (Quite possible in a real life situation.))

 

[emsr2d2]

That's an unnatural place for the pause if the next word is "then". A pause followed by "won't it?" would work for me. Otherwise, I would put the comma (and therefore the pause) after "then". That's the natural end of the sentence without the question tag.

 

[Tarheel]

Abe marches to a different drummer.