Conditionals: They won't let us in after the film...

[Penuel]

Hello everybody!

Please help me to choose the right answer for:

They won't let us in after the film ... .

a) starts
b) has started

And please explain your choice.

Many thanks in advance.

[Mixmixi]

I think 'a' is correct. Because your are talking about something that is going to happen, not something that already has happened.

Mixmixi
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Let's make a deal; I'll correct every single one of your grammatical mistakes AND YOU DO THE SAME FAVOUR FOR ME.

[Penuel]

ok, i like your deal.
but regarding my question, the answer in that exercise is actually "b) has started", but i couldn't find any grammar references to understand the answer,
I thought that a) is correct too, as when we have AFTER, BEFORE, IF, WHEN,etc, we should use present simple in the sentence with future meaning.

[Alan]

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Hi,

I would choose 'has started' because it gives the idea of immediacy. The use of 'starts' is less effective because it suggests something routine as in: The film starts at 2 o'clock'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Mixmixi]

Hi Alan,
Your example is the reason why I prefer to choose starts. You know, I think the whole sentence is like a warning, and when we want to warn someone we use predicate shaped sentences. I'am not sure, but I want to ask to explain it please?

Mixmixi
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[Alan]

Hi,

I can only repeat that the use of the present perfect (has started) indicates that it is about to start and thus conveys the idea that it is as you have suggested a sort of warning because it is going to start immediately.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Mixmixi]

Ok, thank you Alan, but I don't know why I am not convinced yet. Sorry Penuel for stealing your question.

Mixmixi
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Let's make a deal; I'll correct every single one of your grammatical mistakes AND YOU DO THE SAME FAVOUR FOR ME.

[Anj]

I think that B is the right answer. Just to make things easier, take it not as a warning... Imagine that the film is shown right at this moment. When it HAS already started, that's when they will start not allowing people in. Only AFTER it has started.

I hope I'm right :D

[Mixmixi]

I think I am getting the point now, thank you Alan and Anj for your answers.

Mixmixi
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Let's make a deal; I'll correct every single one of your grammatical mistakes AND YOU DO THE SAME FAVOUR FOR ME.

[Penuel]

Hello everybody,

Can anybody please give an example of "a sort of warning because it is going to start immediately"

Thanks!

[Alan]

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Hi Penuel,

I'm not quite sure why you have quoted part of what I gave as an explanation for and reason why 'has started' is used in this sentence:

[David30]

Hi,

Please check the following sentences.

If I am a student, they would not let us in after the film has started.
If I am a professor, they will let us in after the film has started.

Thanks

[Sahid59]

...

Hi David30..

It is getting an attraction of the audience now....

Can you please explain a little, why you used different tenses for the first verbs while maintaining the second verbs in both the sentences as same (present perfect)..

..
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Sahid59

Better tomorrow with better English

[Penuel]

Dear Alan,
I understood from your message that I couldn't explain well what I actually needed , and that's happened because of my Egnlish of course.
To understand clearly the matter I've asked for, I wanted anybody give me another example for the similar situation. And I thought that your explanation was, DEFINITELY, correct and that is why I got an extract from your message.
And if I could explain my need clearly, please help me with some more examples.
Thank you very much in advance.

[Penuel]

Hello everybody!

What do we have to choose for :
They won't know until the letter ......
a)arrives b)has arrived

Can we choose b) in this sentence as per Alan and Anj's explanations above?

Thanks.