Learn English – To now or From now

alternativesexpressionstime-reference

Please have a look at the following construction.

  • I would like to get this over and done with as soon as possible, so please put me down for the closest time to now/from now.

So basically, I want to ask for the nearest time slot or session available for an appointment/booking etc. Should I use FROM or TO with 'now'?

I have looked up both examples on google book search, and could barely find examples for either of those.Perhaps I am looking at the wrong type of expressions? If neither TO or FROM works, what are some alternatives I can use to indicate that I want to have the booking as close to the current time as possible?

Please provide detailed explanation on using 'from' or 'to' with 'now'
Many thanks.

Best Answer

In the US, no one says either:

Please put me down for the closest time to now.

or

Please put me down for the closest time from now.

Usually someone will ask instead for the "earliest" or the "soonest" or "the next" appointment:

When is your earliest availability?

Please schedule me for the earliest opening.

I would like to schedule the earliest appointment possible.

I want the next available appointment.

I want the soonest appointment possible.*

Note that "earliest" can refer to either the earliest date or the earliest hour on a specific day (the first appointment of that day).

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