Present & Future Tense Time Frames

Present & Future Tense Time Frames

MAIN CLAUSE	ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
Use future tense to introduce a planned event or future activity.	Use an adverb clause to introduce a second event and relate the timing of it: earlier, later, or same time. Use present tense in the adverb clause.
FUTURE TENSE We will watch a movie	PRESENT TENSE after you arrive. (later than the your arrival time.)
We will make popcorn	before you arrive. (earlier than your arrival time.)
We will be making popcorn	while you are driving here. (in the same time – duration – as your trip.)
	as you are driving here.
We will sit down	when you arrive. (at the same time – short duration – as your arrival. )
We can/ will sit here	as long as we want. (for all the time we want.)
We will  go out to dinner	as soon as the movie ends. (a new activity starts exactly after the first one ends.)
	when the movie ends.
	once the movie ends.
We won't start the movie  (negative)	until you arrive. (not before your arrival time.)
We will have made the popcorn    (future perfect)	by the time you arrive. (in the time before your arrival.)
PRESENT TENSE We watch a movie	PRESENT TENSE whenever we get together. (at the same-time, a frequent habit)
	anytime we get together.

When Has Two Meanings!

ONE TIME FRAME	TWO TIME FRAMES
SAME TIME	IMMEDIATELY AFTER
The dog comes when I call.	I will close the door when the dog comes in.

 Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
I'll make some popcorn. After we'll eat it	I'll make some popcorn. Afterward, we'll eat it. I'll make some popcorn. After that, we'll eat it. After I make popcorn, we'll eat it.
I'll call you before I will get there.	I'll call you before I get there. (Use present tense in the adverb clause.)
I'll lock the door before I leave.	I'll lock the door after I leave. (After introduces the 2nd event.)

 Adverbs in Mixed Time Frames

Past Tense

 Past Tense Time Frames

MAIN CLAUSE	ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
Use future tense to introduce a planned event or future activity.	Use an adverb clause to introduce a second event and relate the timing of it: earlier, later, or same time. Use present tense in the adverb clause.
PAST TENSE We watched a movie	PAST TENSE after you arrived. (later than the your arrival time.)
We made popcorn	before you arrived. (earlier than your arrival time.)
We were making popcorn	while you were driving here. (in the same time – duration – as your trip.)
	as you were driving here.
We sat down	when you arrived. (at the same time – short duration – as your arrival. )
We sat there	as long as we wanted. (for all the time we want.)
We went out to dinner	as soon as the movie ended. (a new activity starts exactly after the first one ends.)
	when the movie ended.
	once the movie ended.
We didn't start the movie  (negative)	until you arrived. (not before your arrival time.)
We had made the popcorn	by the time you arrived. (in the time before your arrival.)
PRESENT TENSE We watched a movie	PRESENT TENSE whenever we got together. (at the same time, a frequent past habit. ) anytime we got together.

 Commas

Clause Order

 Adverb Clause Position

INITIAL POSITION	FINAL POSITION
Use a comma after the adverb clause when occurs first.	Use no comma when the adverb clause occurs after the main clause.
USE A COMMA As soon as you get here, we'll leave.	USE NO COMMA We'll leave as soon as you get here.
Before I drink coffee, my head hurts.	My head hurts before I drink coffee.
After I drink coffee, my headache stops.	My headache stops after I drink coffee.
When you give me the keys, I'll start driving.	I'll start driving when you give me the keys.