> Other English exercises on the same topics: Conjunctions | Future | Present [Change theme]
	> Similar tests: - Placement test : grammar for beginners - Two presents: present continuous, present simple - Present simple - Present simple or continuous - Future simple - Modal: may/might - Present simple - Express the future
	> Double-click on words you don't understand

When + future or not - The very first steps...

lf there's a particular construction that is a real issue for students of English Grammar (even for the good ones... ), it's the use of "When + future or not...". It's often puzzling for most of them, especially when speaking . 

On this site, you can find many exercises and some lessons about this question. I have already made three lessons whose exercises you'll be encouraged to do if you succeed in this one with flying colours. Come on... let's go for it! 

  I) WHEN= DIRECT INTERROGATIVE ADVERB. It introduces a direct interrogative clause. It's used to ask questions about the moment of an action.

Structure of a  direct interrogative clause:

Interrogative word  + SHALL/ WILL + SUBJECT +  complements (Predicate) ...+ ?

- When will he come to take me home?

- When shall we have dinner at last?

 "WHEN" used in a DIRECT INTERROGATIVE CLAUSE=> can be followed by FUTURE + ?

2.     

     2) WHEN= an INDIRECT INTERROGATIVE ADVERB. It forms an indirect  interrogative clause introduced by a main clause  (often a very brief one, using to wonder/ to report/ to tell/ to ask/ to know/ to want/ to know...)

      - I wonder when she will give me her answer...

"WHEN" used in an INDIRECT INTERROGATIVE CLAUSE=> must be followed by FUTURE.

The indirect interrogative doesn't admit the subject-verb inversion, or a question mark at the end of the sentence.

 - In the affirmative form: I wonder (I ask myself...)

  - In the negative forme: I am not sure... ;  I don't know...

  - In the interrogative form: Do you know... ? - When...? and after the expression : the day when= relative pronoun + future; BEWARE! The question mark at the end belongs to the interrogative main clause. 

  - I wonder when she will give me an answer.                                                           

 - Do you know when the delayed plane from Washington will land?

 -  He doesn't know when he will be able to come to see you.

 3) The temporal subordinate clauses are built thanks to many various  temporal subordinate conjunctions. The main ones are: 

     AS, AS SOON AS, AFTER, AS LONG AS, BEFORE, ONCE, SINCE, TILL/ UNTIL, WHEN, WHENEVER, WHILE;

A VERY IMPORTANT REMARK:

In a sentence in the future, temporal subordination conjunctions CANNOT BE FOLLOWED BY A FUTURE. (a present or a present perfect MUST be used). Following the sequence of tenses, instead of a "conditional", we  will use a preterite. 

-           - Will you still love me when I'm 64 ? 

-      - She'll open her mail as soon as she comes back home.

  - Once you know the culprit's name, the case will be over. 

-     

 To go further, you may study the following lessons and do the exercises: test,test, test. After working on these tests, several of which are "2 stars", you'll be real champions of "when".  Good LUCK!    

Twitter Share
English exercise "When + future or not - The very first steps..." created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. When Kristin would havewill havehavehasI don't know her new job, she'll be able to rent her own flat.


2. Tell me when she hasshe isshe'sshe'll beI don't know ready to hear what she must be told.


3. She's late again! When will she learndid she learnshe will learnI don't know at last that punctuality is a key to success?


4. I don't know when will she stopshe stopsshe'll stopshe has stopI don't know complaining, but she's really selfish and boring!


5. ' Mommy, when aren't Iam II'm notI'mI don't know older, you'll let me drive your car, won't you ?'


6. I hope the day will come when is povertypoverty ispoverty will bewill poverty beI don't know eradicated.


7. 'Will you give me a hand when I needI will needI shall needI'm needingI don't know it? ' ' Of course I will! '


8. As long as she will askwill she askshe asksdoes she askI don't know it politely, I will give her what she needs.


9. Oh dear... what terrible weather! I wonder when the rain would stopwill stophas stopstopsI don't know.


10. I'm not sure when this letter getshall getgetswill getI don't know to them.


11. When he will be readyhe's readywill he be readyha has readyI don't know, we'll go and have a drink with friends.


12. When you knowedwill you knowyou will knowyou shall knowsI don't know the results of your exams?