EnglishCafe
 


previous page EnglishCafe Top following page







1.2.4. The present tense in the time and the conditional adverb clauses
In the time and the conditional clauses, both of the present tense and the past tense are used, but "will" and "shall" is usually not used even if it means the simple future. It is inevitable that the present tense is used instead. See the following examples.

(27)
a. The athletic meeting will be held outdoors unless it rains.
b. As soon as we get the tickets, we'll send them to you.
c. You will make a large profit if you invest in the stock.

In the above, the main clauses express the future and we can expect "will" or "shall" is also used in the subordinate clauses, but the present tense is used inevitably. One of the reasons can be considered that the time relation is subordinate to the main clause. (*8)

*8 If we explain this in detail, it is lack of explanations, but we do not explain more. As the common knowledge, it will be sufficient.

See the following figure of the adverb clause of the above.
(28)


E is at the future and M is also put in it, because it implicates "will" or "shall." See also the following examples.

(29)
a. I will still be working when you come back to the office.
b. I will go out after I finish my homework.
c. It will be a long time before he gets well.

The above is the same. When clause, after clause and before clause are used, even if these means the future, the present tense is usually used. (*9)

*9 Sometimes "will" is used in the time and the conditional clauses. But these do not usually mean the future, they mean the volition. See the following examples.
a. If you will go out without an overcoat, you will catch a cold.
b. I will tell you if you will not tell anyone.
(Yasui:1982)

Actually, "will" of the simple future can be used. In the case of this, the adverb clause is not subordinate to the main clause, that is, the unbound clause.
However, whether it is the bound clause or not depends on the meanings. Therefore we can usually consider that "will" of the time and the conditional clause is the volitional "will."



Time feeling






previous page EnglishCafe Top following page



Copyright (c) EnglishCafe : Unapproved printing of the text and figure in this site is forbidden.