First Conditional And future time clauses
A. The first conditional describes future events that are likely to happen. First conditional = real conditions. if X happens, Y will happen Examples: 1. If Mary comes, she'll want to drive. 2. If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
B. You can use the word unless to mean ‘if not’ Example: I won’t go if you don’t come with me = I won’t go unless you come with me = You can use the connector in case Example: I won’t go in case she goes
C. Remember that you can never use the future in the if clause. Only present forms are possible. Examples: 1.If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir. (Pres. simple) 2.If he's feeling better, he'll come. (Pres. Continuous) 3.If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her. (Present perfect)
D. You can use an imperative instead of the will clause. Example: Do your homework if you have some spare time. You can use a present tense / an auxiliary instead of the will clause. Example: If she has some spare time, she writes / can write letters.
E. You can also use time clauses using when or other time connectors (as soon as, once, after, before, while, until). Examples: 1.Write an as soon as you can. 2.I’ll tell him when/after I get back from lunch. 3.I’ll call you once I get home
BUT REMEMBER!!!!!! Just as with the word if, you can’t use future time after these time connectors Examples: I’ll call you when I get home. I’ll call you when I’ll get home. We’ll go there when/as soon as you are ready. We’ll go there when/as soon as you’ll be ready.