Future time clauses: I'll call you when I land – future time clause exercises with when and until
About this lesson
This B1 drill lesson gives future time clause exercises: when, as soon as, once, before, after and until with the present, and will in the main clause.
- Grammar
- Present simple or present perfect after the time word, will or an order in the main clause, won't … until, and if (maybe) vs when (sure).
- Topic
- Moving abroad: Calla and Idris's checklist for Copenhagen, Calla's messages with her sister, Idris's email to the landlady, her reply, and a chat with Philippa.
- Activities
- Gap-fills, choices, sorting, drag-and-drop, word order, matching, a memory game, tables, quizzes, true or false and a chat, each one self-marking.
What's inside
Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: future time clausesGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the phrases: after the time word or in the main clause?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right form after the time wordChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with the present simple: no will after the time wordFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2No will after when
- Fill in the gaps: present simple and willFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right form: will or present simple?Choose the optionUnlock
- Drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: two sentences, one sentenceMemory gameUnlock
- Read Saskia's note to her roommate and fill in the gaps: present simple and willFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 3Before, after or until?
- Choose the right time wordChoose the optionTry it
- Sort the sentences: until, before or after?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: won't … untilFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right answer: what happens first?QuizUnlock
- Put the words in order: before, after and untilUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endings: before, after and untilMatchUnlock
- Read Mr. Fennimore's note for the dog sitter and fill in the gaps: present simple and willFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 4When I've finished… if or when?
- Fill in the gaps: the present perfect after the time wordFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose if or whenChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the table: two sentences, one sentenceFill in the tableTry it
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
- Read Lorelei's message to her team and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: Moving to Copenhagen
- Read Calla and Idris's moving checklistReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the checklist again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Calla's messages with her sister and fill in the gaps: present simple and willFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Idris's email to Mrs. Holm and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Mrs. Holm's reply and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Philippa texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right form: a new jobChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with the present simple and will: a trip to Mexico CityFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: questionsUnjumbleUnlock
- Sort the sentences: if or when?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Fill in the table: when or won't … untilFill in the tableUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endings: a busy weekendMatchUnlock
- Find the mistake in each sentenceQuizUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Choose the right time word: a camping tripChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with the present perfect: in the kitchenFill in the gapsUnlock
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or false: everyday plansTrue or falseUnlock
- Read Kerensa's forum post and fill in the gaps: present simple and willFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Margit's email to her host family and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Mom's note on the fridge and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
Grammar: future time clauses: the present after the time word
To join two future actions with a time word, English puts the present after when, as soon as, once, before, after or until, and the future in the other clause: We'll wait here until the rain stops. Will never follows the time word.
Future time clauses: I'll call you when I land
Talk about the future with a time word: the present after the time word, will in the main clause.
Time word + present, will + verb
When I land, before she leaves, until it stops: the time clause takes the present. The main clause takes will or won't, or be going to, can or an order: Call me when you land!
time word + present, will + verb
when / as soon as / once / before / after / until+ present simplemain clause: will + verb
When I land, I'll call you.
We'll wait here until the rain stops.
As soon as she gets the keys, she'll send us a photo.
Which verb goes where?
After the time word: present
- present simple: when I arrive, before she leaves, until it stops
- present perfect for a finished action: when I've finished, once we've packed
- never will (not: when I will arrive)
In the main clause: future
- will / won't: I'll call you. We won't start.
- or be going to, can, or an order: Call me when you land!
Six time words
When: at that time. As soon as: right then, with no wait. Once: after it's done. Before and after: earlier or later. Until: up to that time, then it stops: I'll stay until the party ends.
| Time word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| when | at that time (it will surely happen) | I'll text you when I get home. |
| as soon as | immediately after that, with no wait | We'll leave as soon as the taxi comes. |
| once | after it's done | Once we find an apartment, we'll buy a sofa. |
| before | earlier than that | Call me before you leave. |
| after | later than that | We'll eat after the guests arrive. |
| until | up to that time, then it stops | I'll stay until the party ends. |
When I've finished: the present perfect
If the first action will be over before the second one starts, the present perfect fits: I'll call you when I've finished my report. The present simple works here as well: when I finish.
When I've finished: the present perfect
Use the present perfect after the time word when the first action will be finished before the second one starts: I'll call you when I've finished my report. You can go out as soon as you've cleaned your room. The present simple is fine too: when I finish.
Until, commas and questions
Until takes a positive verb: We won't start until you arrive. A time clause at the start gets a comma; at the end, none. Questions keep will in the main clause: What will you do when you get there?
Until, commas and questions
until + a positive verb: We won't start until you arrive. (Not: until you don't arrive.) Time clause first: use a comma. When I land, I'll call you. Time clause second: no comma. I'll call you when I land. Questions: What will you do when you get there?
If or when?
When is for something that will surely happen; if is for a maybe: If it rains, we'll stay in. When it gets dark, we'll go home. Both take the present.
- As soon as the movers arrive, we'll start.as soon as: right then
- I'll call you when I've packed the last box.present perfect: finished first
- Before the guests come, clean the kitchen.an order in the main clause
- We won't eat until Dad gets home.won't … until
- What will you do after you graduate?a question
- If it rains, we'll stay in. When it gets dark, we'll go home.if = maybe, when = sure
Common mistakes
Watch for When I will arrive, until he will come, until you don't arrive and As soon as she arrive. He, she and it still take -s, just as in the present simple.
When I will arrive, I'll call you.
When I arrive, I'll call you.
no will after the time word
I'll wait until he will come.
I'll wait until he comes.
until + present simple
We won't start until you don't arrive.
We won't start until you arrive.
until already means "up to then": no don't
As soon as she arrive, we'll eat.
As soon as she arrives, we'll eat.
he / she / it + -s, as in the present simple
More lessons on this grammar: Future tenses lessons and exercises
Try the future time clause exercises
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What's in the lesson
- 40 auto-checked exercises
- 6 games
- 1 real-life document
- 1 grammar scheme
- 1 picture
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- use the present after the time word: I'll text you as soon as I get to the station, not as soon as I will get
- show what will be finished first with the present perfect: I'll send you the photos when I've edited them.
- use won't … until with a positive verb: We won't eat dinner until Grandma is here.
- choose before, after or until by meaning: Keep your seatbelt on until the plane stops.
- pick when for something sure and if for a maybe: Our flight lands at six. When we land, I'll text you.
- Grammar:
- future time clauses · when / as soon as / until · before / after / once · present simple for the future
- Topic:
- grammar practice · moving abroad · plans · travel
Teaching tips
- Chain the class's evening plans: one student says When I get home, I'll make dinner; the next starts from that action: When I make dinner, I'll… Stop the chain at any will after when.
- Join two to-do items into one sentence: pairs take two steps (Pack the boxes. Call the movers.) and link them with before, after, as soon as or until, as on the moving checklist.
- Sort maybes from sure things: read out prompts like my next birthday, winning the lottery or tonight's sunset; students start a sentence with If or When and finish it with will.
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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B1
English Grammar Practice · B1 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the present perfect continuous, narrative tenses, future forms, modals of deduction, the second conditional, the passive, relative clauses, reported speech, question tags and linkers. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course
- 1Present perfect continuous: how long have you been doing it?
- 2Present perfect simple or continuous: how many or how long?
- 3Past perfect: what had happened before?
- 4Narrative tenses: telling a great story
- 5Future forms: plans, promises and timetables
- 6Future time clauses: I'll call you when I land
- 7Used to, be used to, get used to: settling in
- 8Modal verbs: can, must, should or might?
- 9Could, was able to, managed to: did you make it?
- 10Modals of deduction: whose bag could it be?
- 11Second conditional: what would you do?
- 12Conditionals compared: real or imagined?
- 13Present and past passive: how is it made?
- 14Passive in other tenses: what's being done?
- 15Relative clauses: the person who, the place where
- 16Reported statements: who said what?
- 17Reported questions and commands: what did they ask you?
- 18Indirect questions: could you tell me where it is?
- 19Question tags: it's your first day, isn't it?
- 20Gerunds and infinitives: enjoy doing or decide to do?
- 21Reflexive pronouns: did you make it yourself?
- 22Although, however, despite: great view, tiny room
- 23So, such and because of: what a storm!
- 24Phrasal verbs: who's going to clean it up?
- 25All, both, either, neither, none: two or a whole group?
- 26-ed and -ing adjectives: bored or boring?
- 27Advanced comparatives: the more, the better
- 28Articles with place names: the Nile, but Lake Como