englishcam/The Conditional

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When I get home this evening…

TIME CLAUSES: THE FUTURE

1. TIME CLAUSES: FUTURE

Look at these sentences. What do you notice about them?

When I get home tonight, I'll play with my dog.

Before I leave the house tomorrow, I'm going to call my brother.

After I finish dinner, I'll wash the dishes.

As soon as Ana finishes her homework, she'll send an e-mail to Ivan.

Ivan is going to study for the exam before he goes to bed tonight.

Notice that in each sentence, the verb in the "time" clause is in the PRESENT SIMPLE tense, and the verb in the main clause is a future (will or going to). Also notice the comma separating the clauses. The comma is necessary when the time clause comes first. If it comes second, the comma is not used.

2. PRACTICE

Make sentences using these ideas: example:

Ivan/dance/once/class assignment/complete = Ivan will go dancing once he completes his class assignment.

1. I/have lunch/after/class/finish ________________________________________________________

2. Ana/take a shower/when/get home ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

3. Ivan/call Ana/as soon as/finish his homework ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Before/class/begin/we/have coffee ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

5. I/watch TV/after/eat dinner. _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

3. FREE PRACTICE

Complete the following sentences with your own ideas:

1. Before I go home today... __________________________________________________________

2. When the teacher asks me a question... _________________________________________________

3. I'll do my homework after...__________________________________________________________

4. As soon as it stops raining...__________________________________________________________

5. Ana's going to call Ivan before..._______________________________________________________

4. QUESTIONS

Ask questions using time clauses: Examples:

What are you going to do when you get home?

Where are you going to go after you leave here?

5. EXERCISE

Put the verbs in the correct form.

1. When Ivan (call) __________________ Ana, he (invite) ________________________ her to a movie.

2. Mike (have) _________________ dinner after he (finish) ______________________ his homework.

3. As soon as I (arrive) ___________________ home, I (feed) _______________________ my dog.

4. Before Ana (go) ______________________ home, she (go) _____________________ to the library.

5. I (drink) ___________________ a glass of milk before I (go) ____________________ to bed tonight.

That's all for now. Until next time, keep practicing your English!