Person thinkingTense Sequence

Comparing Near and Future Events

 

 

 

Near future vs. Far future

After certain adverbs, present tense verb forms replace the future tense.

NEAR FUTURE FAR FUTURE
tea

After I make tea,

we will watch a movie on TV .

 TV Reporter

I will make some tea

before we watch a movie on TV.

 

 

 

 

Adverbs with Mixed Time Frames
NEAR FUTURE - EVENT 1 FAR FUTURE - EVENT 2

As soon as you get here,

we'll leave.

When you give me the keys,

I'll be able to begin driving.

I'll have to take the drivers exam

before I get my driver's license.

After the examiner passes me,

you will be proud of me

I won't be able to drive alone.

until I have a license.  (unless)

*I will have already reached age sixteen

by the time I get my license.


* a comma is used when a clause is changed to initial position

**(future perfect verb tense)   Also see Adverbs of Mixed Times

 

Other Adverbs

 after 

before

when

as soon as

until

by the time

 

 

 

 

Word Order – commas
INITIAL POSITION MIDDLE POSITION

  USE COMMAS

 NO COMMAS

As soon as you get here, we'll leave.

We'll leave as soon as you get here.

Before I drink coffee, my head hurts.

My head hurts before I drink coffee.

After I drink coffee, my headache stops.

My headache stops after I drink coffee.

When you give me the keys, I'll start driving.

I'll start driving when you give me the keys.

 

 

 

After / Afterwards
FAR FUTURE - EVENT 2 NEAR FUTURE - EVENT 1

We'll sit down and talk.

after you arrive.
 

NEAR FUTURE - EVENT 1 FAR FUTURE - EVENT 2

You will arrive

Afterwards, we'll sit down and talk.

You will arrive

before we sit down and talk.

 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERRORS FIX

*After I will make tea, we will watch a movie on TV .

After I make tea, we'll watch a movie on TV.
I will make tea before we watch a movie.
I will make tea; afterwards, we will watch a movie. (Substitute "afterwards" for "after" to avoid tense change.)

 

 

 

TahitiPractice

Travel

 

 

 

 

Enter the correct tense and subject-verb agreement.

  1. Type your answer in the box.
  2. Then, check your answer.

Next week, we are going on vacation.

 

Next week, we are going on vacation. , .

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Sequence of Events

 

 

  1. Select the verb that best completes the sentence.  
  2. An asterisk (*) indicates an incorrect answer.
# YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
1.       get       
2.              
3.        
4.        
5.        
   

 

 

 

Index Grammar-Quizzes  |  Previous  Measurements   | Next  Narration