next + day/week/month/yearUse next directly before the time unit. No article goes before next in this pattern.
Future Time Expressions
A2Use future time expressions to show when something happens after now: tomorrow, next week, in two days, soon, by Friday, within an hour.
What you'll learn
- Use next with days, weeks, months, and years.
- Use in + period to say when from now.
- Use by to give a deadline.
- Use within to give a time limit counted from now.
- Recognize future markers like tomorrow and soon.
Structure
in + number + day(s)/week(s)/month(s)Use in + period to mean after that time passes from now.
by + deadline pointUse by with the latest time something can happen.
within + periodUse within with a period counted from now, not with a deadline point like Friday or 5 p.m.
Build a sentence
Time expression
Clause
We will finish the reportnext week
We will finish the report next week.
Use next + time unit with no article: next week.
When to use
Plans
Use these expressions to place appointments, travel, meetings, and personal plans after now: tomorrow, next week, in two days.
Deadlines
Use by for the latest acceptable time: by Friday, by 6 p.m., by the end of the month.
Time limits
Use within when the clock starts now and the action must happen before a period ends: within an hour, within two days.
Markers
tomorrowsoonnext weeknext monthin two daysin a weekby Fridayby 6 p.m.within an hourwithin two days
Common mistakes
Wrong
We will travel the next week.
Correct
We will travel next week.
In this future time phrase, use next directly before the time unit.
Wrong
The package will arrive after two days.
Correct
The package will arrive in two days.
Use in + period to say when something happens from now.
Wrong
I will reply by two days.
Correct
I will reply within two days.
Two days is a period, so use within, not by.
Wrong
Please finish the report within Friday.
Correct
Please finish the report by Friday.
Friday is a deadline point, so use by.
Common misconceptions
❝ By Friday means exactly on Friday. ❞
By Friday means no later than Friday. The action can happen earlier too.
❝ Within two days means after two full days. ❞
Within two days means before two days pass. It can happen earlier.
Skills in this rule (7)
USE_TOMORROW_AND_SOONw4Use tomorrow and soon to point to the near future
Use tomorrow for the next day and soon for a near future moment. These markers place the action after now.
USE_NEXT_PLUS_TIMEw5Use next with a future day, week, month, or year
Use next before a time unit like week, month, or year to move one step forward from now. Do not add the before next in this pattern.
USE_IN_PLUS_FUTURE_PERIODw5Use in + time period for a future point after now
Use in with a length of time such as two days, a week, or three months to mean after that time passes. This answers when from now.
USE_BY_FOR_DEADLINEw5Use by for a deadline
Use by with a future time limit when the action happens before that point or no later than that point. Focus on the final limit, not the duration.
USE_WITHIN_FOR_TIME_LIMITw5Use within for a time limit counted from now
Use within with a period such as an hour, two days, or a week. It means before that amount of time passes.
CHOOSE_DEADLINE_OR_TIME_LIMITw4Choose by for a deadline and within for a time limit
Pick by when the sentence gives an end point such as Friday or 6 p.m. Pick within when the sentence gives a period such as two days or an hour.
PICK_FUTURE_MARKERSw3Recognize common markers of future time
Words and phrases like tomorrow, next week, soon, in two days, by Friday, and within an hour signal future reference. They help you place the action after now.