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Question

Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter (a), (b) or (c). If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a “No improvement” response will be signified by the letter (d).

Wake me up when father will come .

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2016 English Previous Year Paper (14-Feb-2016)
The correct answer is

comes

Analyzing Sentence Improvement: Future Time Clauses

The question asks us to identify the best substitution for the underlined part in the sentence: "Wake me up when father will come." This sentence involves a clause introduced by "when" referring to a future event. Understanding how to use tenses in such clauses is key to solving this sentence improvement problem.

Understanding Future Time Clauses

In English grammar, when a sentence has a main clause referring to the future and a subordinate clause introduced by conjunctions like 'when', 'if', 'as soon as', 'until', 'before', 'after', etc., referring to a future event, the subordinate clause typically uses the simple present tense, not a future tense (like 'will come' or 'will have come'). The future meaning in the subordinate clause is understood from the context of the main clause.

The main clause "Wake me up" implies a future action (you will wake me up). The subordinate clause "when father will come" refers to the specific future time this action should happen.

Evaluating the Options for Substitution

Let's examine each provided option as a potential replacement for "will come":

  • (a) comes: This is the simple present tense. According to the rule for future time clauses, the simple present tense is correctly used in the 'when' clause to refer to a future event. "when father comes" correctly indicates the future time when the action in the main clause ("Wake me up") should occur.
  • (b) will have come: This is the future perfect tense. The future perfect is used to talk about an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. While it refers to the future, it is not the correct tense for a simple time clause introduced by 'when' indicating a future event that triggers the main action. "when father will have come" is grammatically awkward and incorrect in this context.
  • (c) came: This is the simple past tense. The simple past tense is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed in the past. The sentence is about a future event ("Wake me up" implies future), so using the past tense "came" is incorrect. "when father came" would mean you should be woken up at the specific time in the past when your father arrived, which contradicts the future nature of the main clause.
  • (d) No improvement: The original sentence uses "will come" in the 'when' clause referring to the future. As explained by the rule for future time clauses, this is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, improvement is needed.

Determining the Best Substitution

Comparing the options, "comes" (simple present) is the only grammatically correct tense to use in the 'when' clause to refer to a future event when the main clause refers to the future. This aligns with the standard English grammar rule for future time clauses.

Therefore, the best substitution for "will come" is "comes". The improved sentence reads: "Wake me up when father comes."

Future Time Clauses Summary
Clause Type Conjunctions Tense (Subordinate Clause) Tense (Main Clause) Example
Future Time Clause When, if, as soon as, until, before, after Simple Present Future (will + base verb) or Imperative I will call you when I arrive.
Wake me up when father comes.

Revision Table: Key Grammar Points

Revision: Future Time Clauses Grammar
Concept Rule/Explanation Correct Example Incorrect Example
Future Time Clauses Use simple present in clauses beginning with 'when', 'if', 'as soon as', etc., when referring to the future. She will sing when she feels happy. She will sing when she will feel happy.
Main Clause Tense The main clause usually uses a future tense (like 'will') or an imperative (like 'Wake me up'). I will leave as soon as it stops raining. I leave as soon as it stops raining. (Incorrect for future meaning)

Additional Information: Other Conditional and Time Structures

While the rule for future time clauses is straightforward, English has various ways to express conditions and time, which can sometimes be confusing. Here are a few related points:

  • Zero Conditional: Used for general truths and facts. Both clauses use the simple present. Example: If you heat ice, it melts.
  • First Conditional: Used for a real possibility in the future. The 'if' clause uses simple present, and the main clause uses 'will' + base verb. Example: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside. (This structure is very similar to future time clauses like the one in the question).
  • Past Time Clauses: When referring to past events using 'when', 'while', 'as soon as', etc., past tenses (simple past, past continuous) are used as appropriate. Example: I was sleeping when the phone rang.

It's important to distinguish between 'when' used as a time conjunction (referring to a time) and 'when' used as an interrogative (asking a question about time).

By applying the rule for future time clauses, we correctly identified that "comes" is the proper tense for the subordinate clause in the given sentence.

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Similar Questions

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Important Questions from Phrase Replacement

  1. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, No substitution required.

    Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.

  2. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.

    Gayatri informed one of the directors that she has sent the material for printing.

  3. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.

    We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out

  4. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.

    The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.

  5. Select the word segment that substitutes (replaces) the bracketed word segment correctly and completes the sentence meaningfully. Select the option 'no correction required' if the sentence is correct as given.
    In simple words ‘Welfare’ (mean a state of well being and happy.)
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