Which sentense is wrong English ?

[renzheng04]

Hello teachers,

I am confused by finding the wrong among the following sentences.

1.What time will the train leave Tomorrow ?
2.What time is the train leaving Tomorrow ?
3.What time is the train going to leave Tomorrow ?
4.What time does the train leave Tomorrow ?

Are they all right?Many thanks for your help.

 

[heidita]

Hello teachers,

I am confused by finding the wrong among the following sentences.

1.What time will the train leave Tomorrow ?
2.What time is the train leaving Tomorrow ?
3.What time is the train going to leave Tomorrow ?
4.What time does the train leave Tomorrow ?

Are they all right?Many thanks for your help.

Hi, renz. This is done in all languages, I think, but in English. You CANNOT use the present simple to indicate future.
So sentence number 4 is grammatically not correct.

Happy New Year!

cheers

 

[rewboss]

You CANNOT use the present simple to indicate future.

Yes you can, in certain specific cases.

All four sentences are correct, but some may be more useful than others:

1. "will" + verb is used here to make a prediction: I predict that the train will leave tomorrow.

2. "be" + verb + "-ing" is used here to indicate something which has already been arranged: Preparations have already been made for the train to leave tomorrow (staff have been given rotas, the route has been established, timetables printed, and so on).

3. "be going to" + verb is used here to indicate something which has previously been planned. It is planned that the train leaves tomorrow. You could use this construction for this sentence, but it's not the one most native speakers would naturally use.

4. Present simple is used here to indicate something which has been timetabled. This is quite common in English: "The meeting starts at 8am", "The plane lands at 10.30", and so on. This would in fact be the perfect construction to use for this sentence.

 

[heidita]

4. Present simple is used here to indicate something which has been timetabled. This is quite common in English: "The meeting starts at 8am", "The plane lands at 10.30", and so on. This would in fact be the perfect construction to use for this sentence.

Good point.
In any case, which would be the wrong sentence then in your opinion? There must be one as this is obviously a grammar test.

It might be the "going to " form...as this is used for actions slightly further in the future than the present continuous...though I still believe it is the simple present the odd one out.

I hope renz will make us wiser when he gets the answer from his teacher.

cheers

 

[renzheng04]

Hello,

Thank you alot for taking time to offer help.

I think the situation set is not clear enough for us to choose the best answer,OK ?