Future Time Clauses

After when/if/as soon as/before/after, use present for future meaning

intermediate

When to Use

•After time/condition words when talking about the future: I'll call you when I arrive.
•Plans with sequences: We will eat after the guests arrive.
•Conditions combined with time: If it stops raining, we'll leave immediately.
•Deadlines/order: Finish your work before you go home.
•Immediate actions: As soon as he gets here, we'll start.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Time/condition word + present simple, future (will) in main clause

Negative (-)

Time/condition word + present simple negative, future in main clause

Question (?)

What will you do when/if ...?

💡 Do not use will directly after when/if/as soon as/before/after/until. Use present to express the future in the clause.

Examples

✓Call me when you arrive.

✗Call me when you will arrive.

Use present after when for future meaning.

✓We'll leave as soon as they get here.

✗We'll leave as soon as they will get here.

No will after as soon as.

✓Finish this before you go.

✗Finish this before you will go.

Use present after before.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Remember: time clause uses present; main clause uses will/won't.
• Common starters: when, if, as soon as, before, after, until, once.
• Swap clause order freely: We'll start when everyone arrives / When everyone arrives, we'll start.
• Avoid will in the clause after the time/condition word.

first-conditional present-simple future-simple 📝 tenses-intermediate 📝 time-clauses-quiz

Future Time Clauses

After when/if/as soon as/before/after, use present for future meaning

intermediate

When to Use

•After time/condition words when talking about the future: I'll call you when I arrive.
•Plans with sequences: We will eat after the guests arrive.
•Conditions combined with time: If it stops raining, we'll leave immediately.
•Deadlines/order: Finish your work before you go home.
•Immediate actions: As soon as he gets here, we'll start.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Time/condition word + present simple, future (will) in main clause

Negative (-)

Time/condition word + present simple negative, future in main clause

Question (?)

What will you do when/if ...?

💡 Do not use will directly after when/if/as soon as/before/after/until. Use present to express the future in the clause.

Examples

✓Call me when you arrive.

✗Call me when you will arrive.

Use present after when for future meaning.

✓We'll leave as soon as they get here.

✗We'll leave as soon as they will get here.

No will after as soon as.

✓Finish this before you go.

✗Finish this before you will go.

Use present after before.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Remember: time clause uses present; main clause uses will/won't.
• Common starters: when, if, as soon as, before, after, until, once.
• Swap clause order freely: We'll start when everyone arrives / When everyone arrives, we'll start.
• Avoid will in the clause after the time/condition word.

first-conditional present-simple future-simple 📝 tenses-intermediate 📝 time-clauses-quiz

Future Time Clauses

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Future Time Clauses

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗When you will see him, tell me.

✗We'll start after they will arrive.

✗If it will rain, we'll cancel.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗When you will see him, tell me.

✗We'll start after they will arrive.

✗If it will rain, we'll cancel.

💡 Practice Tips

Related