Explanation
Exercises

🧠 First Conditional & Future Time Clauses

Talk about real future possibilities and actions that happen when/as soon as/before/after/until something else happens.
If + present, … will + base verb ❌ No will after if/when Comma when the if/when clause comes first Main clause: will / modal / imperative Time clauses use present for future Unless = if… not As soon as / once / until / before / after
🧩First Conditional — Form
FORMULA If + present simple, will + base verb (or modal / imperative).
Order can change: Main + if-clause (no comma).
  • 💧 If it rains, we’ll stay home.
  • We’ll stay home if it rains.
  • 📱 If he doesn’t call, text me immediately. (imperative)
  • 🏁 If you finish early, you can leave. (modal)
  • 🎯 If you want to lose weight, you should cut sugar. (modal)
Questions & negatives
  • What will you do if you miss the bus?
  • If she doesn’t study, she won’t pass.
⛔Common mistakes (important!)
  • ✗ If you will help me, I’ll pay you. → ✓ If you help me, I’ll pay you.
  • ✗ Comma in the middle: We’ll go, if it rains. → ✓ We’ll go if it rains.
  • ✗ Future after time words: I’ll call you when I will arrive. → ✓ … when I arrive.
Tip
  • Unless = if… not: Unless it rains, we’ll play. (= If it doesn’t rain…)
  • Formal alternative: If you should need help, call me. / Should you need help, call me.
  • In case shows preparation, not condition result: Take an umbrella in case it rains.
⏱️Future Time Clauses — Form
RULE After when, as soon as, before, after, until, once, while, by the time, use a present form (often present simple / sometimes present perfect). The other clause takes will, a modal, or an imperative.
  • 🕒 When I’m 70, I’ll retire.
  • As soon as you finish, you can leave.
  • Before you go to sleep, I’ll tell you a story.
  • Until I hear from you, I won’t decide.
  • Once you’ve saved enough, buy the ticket. (present perfect in the time clause)
🔤Punctuation & Position
  • Comma when the time/if clause comes first: If it rains, we’ll stay home.
  • No comma when the main clause comes first: We’ll stay home if it rains.
  • Both orders are correct for emphasis or flow.
Compare
First conditional
If + present, will… (result/decision).
Future time clause
When/After/Until + present, will… (timing).
🧷Useful connectors
  • as long as / so long as / provided (that) = only if: You can go out as long as you finish your homework.
  • by the time + present perfect: By the time we arrive, the shop will have closed.
🧪More natural examples
  • If the traffic is bad, we’ll take the subway.
  • Call me as soon as you land.
  • If you don’t wear sunscreen, you’ll get burned.
  • We’ll start the meeting when everyone is here.
  • After you’ve read the text, answer the questions.
Recap: First conditional = If + present, will/modal/imperative (real future result). Future time clauses (when/as soon as/before/after/until/once) use a present form for the future, and the other clause carries the future meaning. ❌ Never use will after if/when. ✅ Add a comma if the dependent clause comes first. 🌟
Exercises:
1
2
3

First conditional and future time clauses

Choose the correct forms to complete the first conditional sentences below.
1
If you now, you before sunset.
2
We lunch after we the meeting.
3
Maya the job if she well in the interview.
4
As soon as the plane , I you.
5
Your manager happy if you the report late.
6
We here until the rain .
7
If you your phone, it before evening.
8
When you home, I you.
9
Unless you the instructions, the machine .
10
Before the movie , we some popcorn.

First conditional and future time clauses

Choose the correct forms to complete the first conditional sentences and future time clauses below.
1
What will you do if the flight ____?
A.
B.
C.
2
Call me when you ____ at the airport.
A.
B.
C.
3
If it ____ tonight, we’ll cancel the picnic.
A.
B.
C.
4
I’ll send the file as soon as I ____ my laptop.
A.
B.
C.
5
We won’t leave until the kids ____ their homework.
A.
B.
C.
6
You’ll pass the course provided you ____ every class.
A.
B.
C.
7
Take cash in case the shop ____ cards.
A.
B.
C.
8
Before she ____ the call, she’ll check the number.
A.
B.
C.
9
By the time the movie ____ , it’ll be midnight.
A.
B.
C.
10
Unless he ____ now, he won’t catch the bus.
A.
B.
C.

First conditional and future time clauses

Complete the sentences with the correct form. Use Present Simple in the if/time clause and will / won’t + V in the main clause.
1
If it tomorrow, we’ll cancel the picnic. (rain)
2
If you call me after 10 p.m., I . (not/answer)
3
Unless you now, you’ll miss the train. (leave)
4
When the meeting , we’ll go for lunch. (finish)
5
As soon as I home, I’ll text you. (get)
6
If the traffic is heavy, we late. (arrive)
7
If you don’t save your file, you everything. (lose)
8
If she regularly, she won’t pass the exam. (not/study)
9
If we finish early, we to work on Saturday. (not/need)
10
If they a discount, we’ll place a big order. (offer)