Future Time Clauses

Future Time Clauses                                                 

level5.podomatic.com  document: 5-56int020502-1

A clause has a subject + verb. A future time clause has a time expression before the subject and verb. In the following sentence, the future time clause is underlined.  The time expression is before.  The other clause (he will turn off the light) is the main clause.

1.  Before he leaves, he will turn off the light.

     future time clause       main clause

Some common time expressions are:

     before                as soon as   (immediately after, 一…就, tan pronto como, как только)

     after                  until            (在…以前, 直到…才, hasta que, пока не )

     when                      by the time   (到…的时候, 到那时, cuando, к тому времени, когда)

You can combine a future time clause and a main clause to make one sentence. When the future time clause comes at the beginning, you need to put a comma after it. When the future time clause comes second (after the main clause), you don't use a comma.

2.   After I talk to him, I will call you. 

I will call you after I talk to him. (no comma)

3.   As soon as she gets here, we will begin to eat.         

We will begin to eat as soon as she gets here. (no comma)

4.   When he comes back from Iraq, they are going to get married.      

They are going to get married  when he comes back from Iraq. (no comma)

                                                                               

In the sentences above, notice that the verb in the future time clause is in present tense form, but it has future meaning. The verb in the main clause is usually in the future tense, and it uses will or be going to + base form.

Below, we combine two clauses into one sentence by inserting a time expression at the beginning of one of the clauses. The verb form after the time word changes to present, even though ( 尽 管 , aunque, хотя) the meaning is future.

5.     He will graduate.      He will look for a job. (when)

6.     When he graduates,           he will look for a job.

                         ^{present form                 future form}

                                         ^{future meaning              future meaning}

7.     She will pay her PG&E bill.        She will deposit some money in her account. (after)

8.     After she deposits some money in her account, she will pay her PG&E bill.       ^{present form                                                                                              future form}

                                           ^{future meaning                                                                                         future meaning}