Future Time Clauses

Future Time Clauses

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. We will learn about future time clauses in English.

Future time clauses are similar in structure to if clauses type 1, but instead of if, they start with the adverb or adverb phrase: when, while, before, after, until, as soon as. The structure is – the time clause is in the present simple tense, while the main clause is in the future. The time clause can be the first or the second in a sentence.

Time clauses using “when”

We use future time clauses with “when” to indicate that one action will happen at the same time as another action or immediately after it in the future.

• I’ll make dinner when I get home.
• When I finish my homework, I’ll give you a call.
• We’ll start the meeting when everyone arrives.

Time clauses using “while”

We use future time clauses with “while” to indicate that two actions will be happening simultaneously in the future.

• I will finish my report while you prepare dinner.
• While I am on holiday, my neighbour will water my plants.
• He will work on her presentation while she gathers the necessary data.

Time clauses using “before”

You can use future time clauses with “before” to indicate that one action will happen prior to another action in the future.

• Katie will finish her homework before she goes to bed.
• I will call you before I arrive.
• We will clean the house before the new tenants arrive.

Time clauses using “after”

We use future time clauses with “after” to say that one action will happen following another action in the future.

• Jill will call you after she finishes her meeting.
• We will go out for dinner after Peter arrives home.
• She will apply for the job after she updates her CV.

Time clauses using “until”

We use future time clauses with “until” to indicate that an action or event will continue up to a certain point in the future.

• We will wait here until the rain stops.
• I will learn English until I become fluent.
• We will stay awake until the fireworks start.

Time clauses using “as soon as”

You use future time clauses with “as soon as” to say that one action will happen immediately after another action in the future.

• I will call you as soon as I arrive at the hotel.
• We will start the meeting as soon as everyone is here.
• He will let us know as soon as he gets the information.

Remember that the time clause is always in the present, not in the future.

I’ll let you know as soon as I find out (not I’ll let you know as soon as I will find out)

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