Italian grammar
Appena / finché non / dopo che + futuro
Talk about things that haven't happened yet with appena, finché non, dopo che.
From the scene Appena lo saprò (As soon as I know)
In short
About the future, use the futuro after appena and finché non (appena parlerò), the futuro anteriore after dopo che.
Your turn
Which one goes with as soon as you know?
Options: appena parlerò · finché non confermerà · appena saprai
Show answer
as soon as you know → appena saprai
How it works
After appena (as soon as), finché non (until) and dopo che (after) about the future, Italian uses the futuro where English uses the present.
Good to know
Appena parlerò (as soon as I talk), finché non confermerà. (In relaxed speech you'll also hear the present: appena finisci.) Dopo che takes the futuro anteriore for the step that comes first: dopo che avrai parlato (after you've talked).
as soon as I talk (to my mum) appena parlerò
Tomás
Quasi. Appena parlerò con mia mamma, la finisco.
Almost. As soon as I talk to my mum, I'll finish it.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Quasi. (blank) con mia mamma, la finisco.
Options: Appena parlerò · Appena saprai · Finché non confermerà
Show answer
Tomás
Quasi. Appena parlerò con mia mamma, la finisco.
Almost. As soon as I talk to my mum, I'll finish it.
as soon as you know appena saprai
Your turn
What goes with appena saprai?
Options: until she confirms · as soon as you know · as soon as I talk (to my mum)
Show answer
appena saprai → as soon as you know
until she confirms finché non confermerà
Javi
Va bene, allora aspettiamo finché non confermerà.
OK, then we wait until she confirms.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Va bene, allora aspettiamo (blank).
Options: appena parlerò · appena saprai · finché non confermerà
Show answer
Javi
Va bene, allora aspettiamo finché non confermerà.
OK, then we wait until she confirms.
after you talk (to dad) dopo che avrai parlato
Tomás
Sì, mamma. Dopo che avrai parlato con papà, chiamami.
Yes, mum. After you talk to dad, call me.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sì, mamma. (blank) con papà, chiamami.
Options: Appena saprai · Dopo che avrai parlato · Appena parlerò
Show answer
Tomás
Sì, mamma. Dopo che avrai parlato con papà, chiamami.
Yes, mum. After you talk to dad, call me.
as soon as she calls me appena mi chiamerà
Tomás
Fatto. Appena mi chiamerà, avremo la lista.
Done. As soon as she calls me, we'll have the list.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Fatto. (blank), avremo la lista.
Options: Appena saprai · Appena mi chiamerà · Appena parlerò
Show answer
Tomás
Fatto. Appena mi chiamerà, avremo la lista.
Done. As soon as she calls me, we'll have the list.
Common mistake
Not sapresti or sappia here. You (his mum, on the phone).
Come? Me lo confermi appena lo saprai?
What? You'll confirm as soon as you know?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| as soon as I talk (to my mum) | appena parlerò |
|---|---|
| as soon as you know | appena saprai |
| until she confirms | finché non confermerà |
| after you talk (to dad) | dopo che avrai parlato |
| as soon as she calls me | appena mi chiamerà |
More lines from the story
- TomásCome? Me lo confermi appena lo saprai?What? You'll confirm as soon as you know?
- TomásAdesso, centoventi. Dopo che avrò parlato con mia mamma... trecento!Right now, a hundred and twenty. After I talk to my mum... three hundred!