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verb tenses


Luca Nicola

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Hello, this is Luca

Here another question. I found this sentence in a guided exercise.

I'm too angry to talk now. I'll come back when I've calmed down.

The sentence is correct, but it doesn't seem so to me. Could you explain me why?

I would have written: I'll come back when I will have calmed down.
In my mother language it sounds like this: I will come back (tornerò) (future tense) when I will have calmed down (quando mi sarò calmato) (future perfect)
and I come back when I've calmed down.

thanks in advance

best regards,
Luca

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  • Head Tutor

Hello Luca,

A good question that many students ask.

The rule in your language is perfectly logical. However, you know that logic does not always prevail in English.

For some reason, in English, after an expression of time (when, once, after, before, etc.) we must not use the future tense, but its equivalent present tense:

I'll call you when I will get home.

I'll call you as soon as will have  calmed down.

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