3

Future Time
Clauses
Dreams for the
Future

Focus on Grammar 3
Part I, Unit 7
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Future
Future Dreams
Dreams 11

Im going to be an astronaut when I grow up.

Future
Future Dreams
Dreams 22

Before we have a baby,

well buy a bigger house.

Future
Future Dreams
Dreams 33

I wont quit my job until I win the lottery.

Future
Future Dreams
Dreams 44

After we retire, were going to travel.

Form
Form
A complex sentence about future time has two
clauses: a main clause and a time clause.
Im going to be an astronaut when I grow up.
Main Clause

Time Clause

Main
Main Clause
Clause
The verb in the main clause is often in the
future.
MAIN CLAUSE

TIME
CLAUSE

Subject

Will or
be + going to

Verb
(base
form)

Other
information

We

will

buy

a house

before we
have a baby.

He

wont

quit

his job

until he wins
the lottery.

We

are going to

travel

after we
retire.

Time
Time Clause
Clause
The verb in the time clause is often in the
present.
TIME CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

Subject

Verb
( present)

Other
information

Before

we

have

a baby

Until

he

wins

the lottery

After

we

retire

Time
word

we will buy a
house.

he wont quit his

job.
we are going to
travel.

Be
Be Careful!
Careful!
Dont use will or be going to in the future time
clause.

When
I will
save
enough
money,
going
buy
a car.
When
I save
enough
money,
ImIm
going
to to
buy
a car.

Clause
Clause Order
Order 11
Time clauses can come at the beginning or end
of sentences.
Im going to be an astronaut when I grow up.
Time Clause

Before we have a baby,well buy a bigger house.

Time Clause

Use a comma only when the time clause

begins the sentence.

Clause
Clause Order
Order 22
When she finishes school, shell join the Peace Corps.
Time Clause
(present)

Main Clause
(future)

I wont get married until I meet the right person.

Main Clause
(future)

Time Clause
(present)

As soon as they graduate, theyll look for a job.

Time Clause
(present)

Main Clause
(future)

Time
Time Expressions
Expressions 11
when
after
not . . . until
as soon as

Introduce the
first event

When they save money, theyll buy a new car.

now
past

future

Practice 1

Put the verbs in the correct

tense. Add commas where
necessary.

Example: After he (graduate) ___ he (go) ___ to law school.

After he graduates, hell go to law school.
1. They (own) __ a house by the time they (be) ___ married.
They will own a house by the time they are married.
2. She (not/start) __ her own business until she (get) ___ more
experience.
She wont start her own business until she gets more experience.
3. As soon as he (become) __ manager he (take) __ a vacation.
As soon as he becomes manager, hes going to take a vacation.

Time
Time Expressions
Expressions 22
before
until
by the time

Introduce the
second event

Before he gets married, hell find a good job.

now
past

future

Practice 2

Combine the sentences using

the time word provided. In each
pair, A is the first event.

Example: A. The children will go to college.

B. She will go back to school.

[as soon as]

As soon as the children go to college, shell go back to

school.

1.

A. You will finish your exams.

B. We will (not) celebrate.

[until]

A. My brother will buy a new suit.

B. He will go on an interview.

[before]

A. She will pass the driving test.

B. She will borrow the family car.

[after]

We wont celebrate until you finish your exams.

2.

My brother will buy a new suit before he goes on an interview.

3.

After she passes the driving test, she will borrow the family car.

References
References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.