Lesson 3.15: More Future Forms - Future Time Clauses and Modal Verbs for Future Possibility

Lesson 3.15: More Future Forms - Future Time Clauses and Modal Verbs for Future Possibility

Expanding Your Future: Time Clauses and Modal Verbs!

We've covered the core ways to talk about the future: Future Simple ("will"), "going to" future, and Present Continuous for future arrangements. However, to express more complex future ideas and nuances, English uses additional tools. In this lesson, we'll look at two important ways to add detail and flexibility to your future expressions: Future Time Clauses and Modal Verbs for Future Possibility.

1. Future Time Clauses: Connecting Future Actions with Time Words

Future Time Clauses are clauses (parts of sentences with a subject and verb) that begin with specific time words and refer to the future. These clauses tell us *when* something will happen in relation to another future action. Common time words that introduce future time clauses include:

• when
• as soon as
• after
• before
• until / till
• if (in conditional sentences - type 1)
• unless (meaning "if not")

The crucial rule to remember with future time clauses is about verb tense usage:

Rule: In future time clauses, we usually use the Present Simple or Present Perfect Simple tense, even though we are talking about the future. We DO NOT use "will" in the time clause itself. The main clause of the sentence will typically be in the Future Simple (with "will").

This rule might seem counterintuitive, but it's a fundamental aspect of English grammar for expressing future time relationships in clauses.

Examples of Future Time Clauses in Use:

• "when" time clauses:
  • "I will call you when I arrive." (Time clause: "when I arrive" - Present Simple. Main clause: "I will call you" - Future Simple. Action of calling will happen *after* the action of arriving.)
  • "When she finishes work, we will go out for dinner." (Time clause: "When she finishes work" - Present Simple. Main clause: "we will go out" - Future Simple. Going out will happen *after* she finishes work.)
  • "When you have finished reading the book, can you lend it to me?" (Time clause: "When you have finished..." - Present Perfect Simple. Main clause: "can you lend it..." - modal verb for request. Lending can happen *after* the completion of reading.)
• "as soon as" time clauses:
  • "I will email you as soon as I get the information." (Time clause: "as soon as I get..." - Present Simple. Main clause: "I will email you" - Future Simple. Emailing will happen immediately *after* getting information.)
  • "As soon as the rain stops, we will go for a walk." (Time clause: "As soon as the rain stops" - Present Simple. Main clause: "we will go" - Future Simple. Walking will happen immediately *after* rain stops.)
• "after" time clauses:
  • "After we have had lunch, we will go shopping." (Time clause: "After we have had lunch" - Present Perfect Simple. Main clause: "we will go shopping" - Future Simple. Shopping will happen *after* lunch is completed.)
  • "After he leaves, I will clean the house." (Time clause: "After he leaves" - Present Simple. Main clause: "I will clean" - Future Simple. Cleaning will happen *after* he leaves.)
• "before" time clauses:
  • "Before you go to bed, you will need to brush your teeth." (Time clause: "Before you go to bed" - Present Simple. Main clause: "you will need to brush..." - Future Simple. Brushing teeth needs to happen *before* going to bed.)
  • "Before she has finished the course, she will find a job." (Time clause: "Before she has finished..." - Present Perfect Simple. Main clause: "she will find" - Future Simple. Finding a job will happen *before* course completion.)
• "until/till" time clauses:
  • "I will wait here until you come back." (Time clause: "until you come back" - Present Simple. Main clause: "I will wait" - Future Simple. Waiting will continue *up to the point* you come back.)
  • "We won't start dinner till everyone is here." (Time clause: "till everyone is here" - Present Simple. Main clause: "We won't start dinner" - Future Simple negative. Starting dinner will be delayed *up to the point* everyone is present.)
• "if" time clauses (Conditional Type 1):
  • "If it rains, we will stay at home." (Time clause: "If it rains" - Present Simple. Main clause: "we will stay" - Future Simple. Staying home is conditional *on* raining in the future.)
  • "If you study hard, you will pass the exam." (Time clause: "If you study" - Present Simple. Main clause: "you will pass" - Future Simple. Passing exam is conditional *on* studying in the future.)
• "unless" time clauses:
  • "Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus." (Time clause: "Unless you hurry" - Present Simple. Main clause: "you will miss" - Future Simple. Missing bus is conditional *on not* hurrying in the future.)
  • "Unless she calls, I will assume she is coming." (Time clause: "Unless she calls" - Present Simple. Main clause: "I will assume" - Future Simple. Assuming she is coming is conditional *on not* receiving a call in the future.)

Key point: Even though these time clauses are about the future, we use Present Simple or Present Perfect Simple in the time clause itself, NOT Future Simple ("will"). The Future Simple tense is used in the main clause to describe the future action that is dependent on the time clause.

2. Modal Verbs for Future Possibility and Likelihood

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that add extra meaning to main verbs, often expressing possibility, probability, necessity, permission, etc. Several modal verbs are useful for talking about different levels of future possibility and likelihood. The most common modal verbs for future possibility are:

• might (expresses possibility, but less certain than "may" or "could" in some contexts)
• may (expresses possibility, often similar to "might", but can sometimes suggest slightly higher possibility)
• could (also expresses possibility, often interchangeable with "might" and "may" for future possibility)

These modal verbs are used to indicate that something is possible in the future, but not definite or certain like "will." They express varying degrees of uncertainty.

Forming Future Possibility with Modal Verbs:

The structure is:

• Subject + modal verb (might/may/could) + base form of the verb

Formula: Subject + might/may/could + Base Verb

Examples of Modal Verbs for Future Possibility in Use:

• Using "might":
  • "It might rain tomorrow." (Expressing possibility of rain, perhaps lower probability)
  • "I might go to the party, but I'm not sure yet." (Expressing uncertainty about going, possibility exists)
  • "She might be late, traffic is bad." (Suggesting possibility of lateness due to traffic)
• Using "may":
  • "It may snow tonight." (Expressing possibility of snow, often similar to "might")
  • "They may decide to move to a new city." (Expressing possibility of them making that decision)
  • "He may not come to the meeting." (Expressing possibility of his absence)
• Using "could":
  • "We could go to the beach tomorrow if the weather is good." (Expressing possibility of going to beach, conditional on weather)
  • "She could get the job, she has good qualifications." (Expressing possibility of her getting the job based on qualifications)
  • "They could be delayed, their flight was late leaving." (Suggesting possibility of delay due to flight issue)

Nuances of "might," "may," and "could" for Future Possibility:

In many contexts, "might," "may," and "could" are often interchangeable for expressing future possibility. However, there are subtle shades of meaning:

• "Might" can sometimes suggest a slightly lower probability or more uncertainty than "may" or "could," but this is not always strictly adhered to and can depend on context and speaker's intention.
• "May" and "Could" often express similar levels of possibility. "May" can sometimes sound slightly more formal than "might" or "could." "Could" can also sometimes carry a sense of conditional possibility (e.g., "We *could* go if we have time").

In general conversation, don't worry too much about very fine distinctions – focus on using these modals to express that something is *possible* but not *certain* in the future. They all signal a lower degree of certainty than "will."

Key takeaway: Future Time Clauses use Present Simple or Present Perfect Simple in the time clause itself (with words like "when," "if," "before," etc.), and Future Simple in the main clause. Modal verbs like "might," "may," and "could" are used to express different levels of future possibility and likelihood, offering a more nuanced way to talk about uncertain futures. These tools further expand your ability to communicate about future events in English with greater precision and flexibility. Congratulations, you've now explored a wider range of ways to talk about the future! Next, we will likely move into practice exercises or review to solidify your understanding of verb tenses.