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Pamela81 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

This is really confusing !!

Hi,
I know that after"when" I cannot use the future tense, although it is so natural to me and so difficult to remember this :-( in this specific case, I have really no idea of how to manage not to use it:

Situation: I am talking on the phone, I wish to speak with a person who in that moment is not available.So I would say:

"Can you tell me please when he is available" ? I would say "will" but rules say no future. Do I have to use present tense? or something like: "when is he going to be available"

Other confusing example:

"Please give me a call when you are back" I would say "will" but maybe here the only possibility is really only the present?

Thanks for helping with this issue

Pamela
  

Top answer

The rule does not say 'no future' at all; it merely observes that native speakers often use present for future in dependent clauses. However, sometimes we can and sometimes we cannot: it depends on the order of events. - - He will be available after you are told.

— Mister Micawber

  • The rule does not say 'no future' at all; it merely observes that native speakers often use present for future in dependent clauses.
  • However, sometimes we can and sometimes we cannot: it depends on the order of events.
  • - - He will be available after you are told.
  • Can you please tell me when he is going to be available?
  • - He will be available after you are told.
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8 Answers
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The rule does not say 'no future' at all; it merely observes that native speakers often use present for future in dependent clauses. However, sometimes we can and sometimes we cannot: it depends on the order of events. These are fine:

Can you tell me please when he'll be available?-- He will be available after you are told.
Can you please tell me when he is
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This is very clear! Thank you very much!
Pamela
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Pamela81I know that after"when" I cannot use the future tense, although it is so natural to me and so difficult to remember this
Yes. Well, you should be an English speaker who is trying to speak Italian and trying to remember to put the future in there where it is so unnatural! This difference between languages works both ways, you know!
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Hi CJ!
thank you very much for your detailed answer very helpful although it is so hard to keep in mind all this.

Let me try:

1. When will you be back ? (here future is OK because it is a direct question)
2. I don´t know when I´ll be back (it sounds to me ok but I don´t know why)
3. Call me when you are back or call me when you will be back (both ok)?

Please
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An interesting thread. Thanks for posting this, Pamela! Emotion: smile
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1. When will you be back ? (here future is OK because it is a direct question) Right.
2. I don´t know when I´ll be back (it sounds to me ok but I don´t know why) Right. You don't know the time you'll be back (hour or day, for example).
3. Call me when you are back or call me when you will be back (both ok)?
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hmmmmm :-(( so when there is not a specific clock time involved I don´t have to use the future? Is it correct?

Sorry but I think this is not completely clear :-((

Thanks

Pamela
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Clock time or calendar time. It doesn't matter.

You've basically got two cases:

1) when ... that tells clock time or calendar time or implies it.
2) when ... specifies a trigger event for the action in the main clause.

For 1) use present or future.
For 2) use only present.

1) I don't know when she arrives. / I don't know when she'll arrive.
2)
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