Grammar check please - Future tense

Question

Is this correct?? We could go next month if you will not have watched it by then

MountainHiker · Accepted Answer

Yes, that is correct.  It sounds as though you are referring to a movie.

Dimkon · Answer

Thank You. I was referring to a car race.

MountainHiker · Answer

Still works.

Glad it was helpful.

Miriam · Answer

Hello, Dimkon

I'm afraid there is something wrong in your sentence:
"We could go next month if you will not have watched it by then."

"Will" is rarely used in conditional clauses ("if-clauses").

"We could go next month if you have not watched it by then" --> correct.

There are mainly two exceptions to the rule that "will" and "won't" cannot appear in if-clauses (and in some time clauses as well):

1. Where "will/wont" has a volitional or habitual meaning rather than a pure future meaning:
"If you won't (= will not) help us, our plans will be ruined."

2. Where even though the if-clause refers to the future, the condition expressed by the whole sentence obtains in the present:
"If it will make any difference, I'll gladly lend you some money."
In the example, the future contingency expressed in the if-clause determines a present decision.

But neither of these is the case in your sentence. It would be grammatically correct without "will".

Miriam

Grammar check please - Future tense

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