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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Won't be able to

Hello everyone. Could you please explain the usage of the future tense in the sentence: "If you won't be able to help on Saturday, please let me know". There is a rule that we cannot actually use future after 'if', with a few exceptions such as requests and the meaning of refusal. this sentence doesn't seem to fall under either of the categories. Then why is this rule broken in this case? The sentence looks like the first conditional to me.
  

Top answer

The idea of this sentence is 'If you know now that you will not be able to help,please let me know'.

— Fivejedjon

  • The idea of this sentence is 'If you know now that you will not be able to help,please let me know'.
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3 Answers
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The idea of this sentence is 'If you know now that you will not be able to help,please let me know'.
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fivejedjonThe idea of this sentence is 'If you know now that you will not be able to help,please let me know'.
He may just realize it later, which would, too, be in the realm of "If you won't".
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Anonymouswhy is this rule broken in this case?
I'd say it's because the pattern closely resembles a case of if to introduce an indirect question. And indirect questions with if and will are acceptable. if is replaceable by whether in these cases.

I don't know [if you will be able to help].
I don't kno
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