when + present clause, main clause with willUse present form after when for future meaning. The future result goes in the main clause.
Conditional Time Clauses
B1Use present form after when, unless, as long as, and provided that, even for future meaning. Put will in the main clause.
What you'll learn
- Keep when and unless clauses in the present, not with will.
- Keep as long as and provided that clauses in the present.
- Choose the linker that matches the meaning.
- Put will in the main clause for the future result.
- Add a comma when the condition or time clause comes first.
Structure
unless + present clause, main clause with willUnless means if not. Keep the unless clause in the present form.
as long as + present clause, main clause with willUse this for a condition that must continue. Do not use will inside the as long as clause.
provided that + present clause, main clause with willProvided that is more formal than if. Keep the condition clause in the present form.
Build a sentence
Linker
Scenario
When Maria arrives,we will start
When Maria arrives, we will start.
Future meaning, but present form after when.
When to use
Future time point
Use when for a future moment that will happen. When Lisa gets home, we will eat.
Negative condition
Use unless to mean if not. Unless Tom calls, we will leave without him.
Required condition
Use as long as or provided that for a condition that must be true. As long as the weather stays dry, we will play outside.
Markers
whenunlessas long asprovided that
Common mistakes
Wrong
When Tom will arrive, we will eat.
Correct
When Tom arrives, we will eat.
After when, use the present form for future meaning. Will stays in the main clause.
Wrong
Provided that Anna will call, we will wait.
Correct
Provided that Anna calls, we will wait.
Provided that takes the present form in the condition clause, even when the result is future.
Wrong
Call me unless you need help.
Correct
Call me if you need help.
Unless means if not. Here the speaker wants the positive condition, so if is the right choice.
Wrong
When Lisa arrives, we start dinner.
Correct
When Lisa arrives, we will start dinner.
The result clause talks about the future plan, so use will there.
Wrong
When Maria gets here we will leave.
Correct
When Maria gets here, we will leave.
Put a comma after the first clause when it comes before the main clause.
Common misconceptions
❝ If the sentence is about the future, both clauses should use will. ❞
In these patterns, the condition or time clause stays in the present. Will goes in the main clause, not in both parts.
❝ Unless is just another word for when. ❞
Unless means if not. It gives a negative condition, not a time point.
Skills in this rule (6)
USE_PRESENT_AFTER_WHEN_UNLESSw5Use present form after when and unless for future meaning
In clauses with when or unless, use the present form even when the result is about the future. Do not put will inside that clause.
USE_PRESENT_AFTER_AS_LONG_AS_PROVIDED_THATw5Use present form after as long as and provided that for future meaning
After as long as and provided that, use the present form to state the condition. The future result goes in the main clause, not inside the condition clause.
CHOOSE_THE_RIGHT_LINKERw5Choose the right linker for the meaning
Use when for a future moment, unless for a negative condition, as long as for a limit that must continue, and provided that for a formal condition.
BUILD_MAIN_CLAUSE_WITH_WILLw4Build the result clause with will
Put will in the main clause to show the future result. Keep the condition or time clause in the present form.
PUNCTUATE_FRONTED_CLAUSEw3Use a comma after the first clause
When the when/unless/as long as/provided that clause comes first, put a comma before the main clause. No comma is needed when the main clause comes first.
USE_CASE_REAL_FUTURE_CONDITIONSw4Use these clauses for real future conditions and time points
These patterns talk about real situations in the future: a time point with when, a negative condition with unless, or a required condition with as long as and provided that.