Sunday, October 16, 2005

Future time in complex sentences

When we write complex sentences combining dependent and independent clauses, we use the same tense in each clause.

When I visited Miami, I went to Coconut Grove. (past)
When I eat at a restaurant, I order fish. (present)

If we want to use future time with a complex sentence, we use the future form with either will or be going to in the independent clause only. We use the present tense in the dependent clause.

I will go to the Mall of America when I travel to Minnesota.
When he gets home, he is going to be hungry.