Tense (future in the past)

Question

Hello,
Situation: "In the bank they tell me: "Come back when you have your phone number". Two days after I go to the bank with my phone number"
Which sentence is correct:
1) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I have my phone number
2) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I would have my phone number
3) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I had my phone number

Thanks

Wai_Wai · Accepted Answer

Two days after I go to the bank with my phone number".
Unfortunately you has to use 'later' (or 'pass') instead.
There is a strange rule in English that if 'after' is used to mentioned a time in the past (measuring from now), it is permitted to use. (PS: Hopefully this stern rule will be removed in future and people have more freedom in writing ^^.)

And since what you said must be past, you should rewrite as:
- Two days later,/passed. I went to the bank with my phone number (in mind) ^^

1) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I have my phone number
2) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I would have my phone number
3) I'm here because they/he told me to come back when I had my phone number

I think this is said to the teller. My personal style tells me "I'm here..." is weird to be used as an opening. I would rather say:
Hey. Good morning/afternoon! The teller told me to come back when I had my phone number the day before yesterday(=2 days ago).

First subordinate clause will use simple tense.
Wrong example:
I will come back when I will have my phone number.
--> Since it is clear the action of having my phone number occus in future, it is no need to repeat using future tense. A simple present tense would do.

The correct one:
I will come back when I have my phone number.

Second when you reported what the teller said, all of them were passed. We should use past tense.
- The teller told me to come back when I had my phone number the day before yesterday
--> Here instead of future tense in the past (I'm not sure the exact name of it), ie your second choice, we use simple past ie your third choice.

Hope this helps.

Anonymous · Answer

0hello. I have another question about 01b00future in the past02b00. . 02br
02br
00This is a story:02br
02br
00When I went to Paris last spring for a job interview, I had not been for 5 years. I arrived the evening before the interview, and spent happy hour walking round thinking about the good times I had had there as a student. As I was strolling by the Seine, I saw a familiar face - it was Kay, the woman I had share a flat when I was a student. I could tell she had not seen me, so I called her name and she looked up. 02br
02br
01b001)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she had02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day02u00. 02br
02br
01b002)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she would has02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day.02u02br
02br
00Which sentence is correct. 02br
02br
00Thanks.02br
02br
00hello. I have another question about 01b00future in the past02b00. . 02br
02br
00This is a story:02br
02br
00When I went to Paris last spring for a job interview, I had not been for 5 years. I arrived the evening before the interview, and spent happy hour walking round thinking about the good times I had had there as a student. As I was strolling by the Seine, I saw a familiar face - it was Kay, the woman I had share a flat when I was a student. I could tell she had not seen me, so I called her name and she looked up. 02br
02br
01b001)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she had02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day02u00. 02br
02br
01b002)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she would has02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day.02u02br
02br
00Which sentence is correct. 02br
02br
00Thanks.0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
02br
01font01b001)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she had02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day02u00. 02font02br
02br
01font01b002)02b00 She had arrived in Paris that morning, and 01u01b00she would has02b02u00 a hospital appointment 01u00the next day.02u02font02br
02br
01font00Which sentence is correct. 02font00A is correct. 02br
02br
00For B, you have formed your words incorrectly. I think you mean 'she would 01i00have00.02i00 . .'00 You could say this, but it is unlikely that you would. It would suggest that the event will happen in her future, and that you know but she doesn't. eg 01i00I met her last Monday. The next day, she would have a fatal accident, but as we spoke, she was happy about her plans for the future.02i02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive0-

ORLANE · Answer

hi,
Do you have the complete text?

Tense (future in the past)

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