If you put some ingredients in the refrigerator overnight, ...

[MichaelLu2000]

Does the sentence in bold sound grammatically and semantically correct to native speakers of English?

A: I have to work overtime tomorrow so I think we will need to order pizza for dinner.
B: No worries. I will be home early. If you put some ingredients in the refrigerator tonight, I can cook tomorrow night.

 

[teechar]

Hi there,
Do you have another account on this forum?

 

[MichaelLu2000]

Hi there,
Do you have another account on this forum?

I want to delete the other one. My other email address won't be usable in a few days.

 

[teechar]

Please confirm by telling us the name of your other account.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

Please confirm by telling us the name of your other account.

Please delete "Chien Te Lu" I am the owner of the these two accounts.

 

[Tarheel]

@MichaelLu2000 Does your question concern the sentence in bold?

 

[MichaelLu2000]

@MichaelLu2000 Does your question concern the sentence in bold?

Oh yes! Sorry for forgetting to edit the context body. The title has been changed. I've edited it.

 

[Tarheel]

I have to know what the question is before I can attempt an answer.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

I have to know what the question is before I can attempt an answer.

I have edited it.

 

[Tarheel]

I had to look at the OP again (obviously).

Çontext is important. Probably both of them know what ingredients are being referred to. Also, it is obviously not meant literally. Is it possible? Definitely. In the right situation it would perfectly natural. Keep in mind that the person who has to understand what is being said is the person being spoken to.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

I had to look at the OP again (obviously).

Çontext is important. Probably both of them know what ingredients are being referred to. Also, it is obviously not meant literally. Is it possible? Definitely. In the right situation it would perfectly natural. Keep in mind that the person who has to understand what is being said is the person being spoken to.

Err…..so you mean the sentence in bold is grammatically and semantically correct?

 

[Tarheel]

Yes. It's OK.

 

[Rover_KE]

If you put some ingredients in the refrigerator tonight, ...

Most native English-speakers would say 'fridge' but your word isn't wrong.

 

[Tarheel]

@MichaelLu2000 Tell me what word I left out. (#10.)

 

[MichaelLu2000]

@MichaelLu2000 Tell me what word I left out. (#10.)

Thank you for your replies. By the way, can I use the following sentences as well:

1. If it rains tonight, I can’t play basketball in the park tomorrow. The ground will be wet.
2. If it rains tonight, I can’t play basketball in the park.
3. If you don’t come to my party, I can’t introduce you to my family tomorrow.
4. If I don’t buy some apples tonight, I can’t make some delicious apple juice tomorrow.

I think the first one sounds weird with “can’t” while the rest are fine, but I am not sure.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for your replies. By the way, can I use the following sentences as well?

1. If it rains tonight, I can’t won't be able to play basketball in the park tomorrow. The ground will be wet.
2. If it rains tonight, I can’t play basketball in the park. That's OK if you were planning to play basketball tonight.
3. If you don’t come to my party, I can’t won't be able to introduce you to my family tomorrow.
4. If I don’t buy some apples tonight, I can’t won't be able to make some delicious apple juice tomorrow.

I think the first one sounds weird with “can’t” while the rest are fine, but I am not sure.

See above. You need to use the future form of "can't" when talking about the future.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

See above. You need to use the future form of "can't" when talking about the future.

Agree. Actually I think they all sound better with “won’t be able to”

It seems “can” and “will be able to” are interchangeable but “can’t” and “won’t be able to” are not

 

[emsr2d2]

Agree. Actually I think they all sound better with “won’t be able to”.
It seems “can” and “will be able to” are interchangeable but “can’t” and “won’t be able to” are not.

I would prefer "won't be able to" in #2 but, depending on context, "can't" is possible.

"Can" and "will be able to" are not always interchangeable. "Can" is the simple present. The related form is "am able to". As always, context is very important.

 

[MichaelLu2000]

I would prefer "won't be able to" in #2 but, depending on context, "can't" is possible.

"Can" and "will be able to" are not always interchangeable. "Can" is the simple present. The related form is "am able to". As always, context is very important.

Yeah I know it depends on the context, but it seems “can’t” and “won’t be able to” are far less interchangeable than “can” and “will be able to”

 

[emsr2d2]

Yeah I know it depends on the context, but it seems “can’t” and “won’t be able to” are far less interchangeable than “can” and “will be able to”

You're still missing the fact that "can" is the present simple and "will be able to" is the future voice. Of course they're not interchangeable!