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Thread: Two Future sentences.

  1. #1
    Kotfor is offline Member
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    Default Two Future sentences.

    Here it is an issue comprised two parts.

    Part 1

    What is the difference to your mind between these two?

    1) I will tell you when he comes.
    2) I will tell you when he will come.


    My guess


    1) I will tell you (about something, but not about his coming) when he comes.

    - Jane who bought this jacket?
    - I will tell you when John comes.

    2) I will let you know about his coming as soon as he comes.

    - Do you know when John is coming.
    - No, i don't but I will tell you when he will come.
    ==================================================

    Part 2
    I would like to get some explanation about this situation.

    Let me know when he calls you.


    I think that there are two ways people may understand it

    1) Let me know (about something else) when he calls you (similar to the jacket example)
    2) Let me know the time when he will call you.

    Is it possible then, that people use this phrase to mean (2) while it is more appropriate to use it when you mean (1)?

  2. #2
    Verona_82 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    Hi.
    I think your guess is right.

    I will tell you (when?) when he comes. It is a conditional sentece.
    I will tell you (what?) when he will come. It is a non-conditional sentence.

  3. #3
    Kotfor is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    What do you think about the second part?

  4. #4
    mykwyner is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    Here's my sense of these sentences:


    1) I will tell you when he comes.

    I will tell you (about something, but not about his coming) when he comes.
    I agree with this interpretation.

    2) I will tell you when he will come.

    To me, this means, "I know what time he will be here; I haven't told you yet, but I will tell you at some time in the future." This could also mean, "Let me know what he said to you after he calls you."



    Let me know when he calls you.

    To me, this means, "He is going to call you at a time in the future, and after he calls you, tell me that he called you."

  5. #5
    Kotfor is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    Thanks.
    How would you understand this one?

    Let me know when he will call you.

  6. #6
    mykwyner is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kotfor View Post
    Thanks.
    How would you understand this one?

    Let me know when he will call you.
    To me, this means he is going to call you at a time in the future. You don't yet know when he is going to call, but you will know when to expect his call at a time before he actually calls. When you learn what time to expect his call, let me know that time.

    Yes, these sentences are confusing and somewhat ambiguous. These are just my interpretations, others may read them differently.

  7. #7
    Coolfootluke is offline Member
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    I am not a teacher.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kotfor View Post
    Here it is an issue comprised two parts.

    Part 1

    What is the difference to your mind between these two?

    1) I will tell you when he comes.
    2) I will tell you when he will come.

    My guess


    1) I will tell you (about something, but not about his coming) when he comes.

    - Jane who bought this jacket?
    - I will tell you when John comes.

    That is a valid interpretation. The sentence normally means, however, that you will inform me of his arrival as soon as he gets here.

    2) I will let you know about his coming as soon as he comes.

    - Do you know when John is coming.
    - No, i don't but I will tell you when he will come.

    No. Your "as soon as he comes" and "when he will come" clash. Sentence 2 is a bit odd; I think it is meant to be a wrong version of sentence 1. Still, it is just barely possible, and it would mean that you will tell me later what time John is expected to arrive. That would be more natural as "I will let you know when John is coming."
    ==================================================

    Part 2
    I would like to get some explanation about this situation.

    Let me know when he calls you.

    I think that there are two ways people may understand it

    1) Let me know (about something else) when he calls you (similar to the jacket example)
    2) Let me know the time when he will call you.

    Yes, but I think you got the tense wrong in 2: "Let me know that he called you when he does."

    Is it possible then, that people use this phrase to mean (2) while it is more appropriate to use it when you mean (1)?

    It is ambiguous, but it would normally be part of a conversation that would let the meaning come out. It is natural in both contexts.

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    Kotfor is offline Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    Quote Originally Posted by Coolfootluke View Post
    I am not a teacher.
    Thanks for contribution, Coolfootluke. Could you tell me one thing. I've got such an impression that you are stating some things based on your feeling of a native speaker rather than on some grammar sources? Am I right on that?

    I am a bit puzzled by your opinion where you consider this sentence to be wrong.

    I will tell you when he will come.

    Is it due to two FUTURES in it?

  9. #9
    Coolfootluke is offline Member
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    I am not a teacher.
    Quote Originally Posted by Kotfor View Post
    Thanks for contribution, Coolfootluke.

    You're welcome.

    Could you tell me one thing. I've got such an impression that you are stating some things based on your feeling of a native speaker rather than on some grammar sources? Am I right on that?

    Always. English grammar is descriptive; I only use it as a way to talk about English.

    I am a bit puzzled by your opinion where you consider this sentence to be wrong.

    I will tell you when he will come.

    Is it due to two FUTURES in it?

    Yes, partly. An ESL learner could easily make that mistake when he means "I will tell you when he comes." The other reason is the one I stated, that its literal meaning is more naturally expressed a different way, making this way quite unlikely.

  10. #10
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    5jj
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    Default Re: Two Future sentences.

    There is a little bit of confusion here.
    It will help, Kotfor, if you restrict yourself to one question per thread in future.

    I will look at Part 1 of your OP in this post:
    1) I will tell you when he comes.
    2) I will tell you when he will come.


    My guess
    1) I will tell you (about something, but not about his coming) when he comes.

    - Jane who bought this jacket?
    - I will tell you when John comes.

    2) I will let you know about his coming as soon as he comes. X
    2) I will tell you when he will come.

    mykwyner: To me, this means, "I know what time he will be here; I haven't told you yet, but I will tell you at some time in the future."
    I agree with mykwyner.


    I will tell you when he comes.
    Coolfootluke: The sentence normally means, however, that you will inform me of his arrival as soon as he gets here.
    This is indeed an alternative possibility for the meaning of #1. I don't agree with Coolfootluke that it is necessarily the 'normal' meaning. So much depends on context.

    Neither, Verona, is a conditional sentence.
    bhaisahab and Coolfootluke like this.

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