EnglishCafe
 

previous page EnglishCafe Top following page







1.3. The exceptional usage as the present tense which is used in a adverbial clause of time or a condition
The time or the condition clause is before, after or if clause etc. The clause means like a sentence. Even if they means the future, "will" or "shall" is not used, the present tense is used instead.

(6)
a. You will make a large profit if you invest in the stock.
b. I will go out after I finish my homework.

(6a) uses if clause and (6b) uses after clause. And the other clauses, for example in "You will make a large profit." of (6a), which is called the main clause, uses "will."

The main clause means the future and the adverbial clauses properly do. The above might be thought as follows.

(7)
a.*You will make a large profit if you will invest in the stock.
b.*I will go out after I will finish my homework.

"Will" is added in each adverbial clause, but they are not the ordinary uses. (* means unacceptable.) Why the present tense is used is that the main clause has already expressed the future with "will" and "shall." Thus, the adverbial clause does not need the same expression. It is natural that the time relationship of the adverbial clause follows the main clause.


Time sensation cut 3






previous page EnglishCafe Top following page



Copyright (c) EnglishCafe : Unapproved printing of the text and figure in this site is forbidden.