All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2568: "We’ll See What Happens With This English Grammar"
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Aubrey Carter
Release Date: February 18, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, Lindsay and Aubrey dive into a common English grammar question: why do native speakers say phrases like “We’ll see what happens”—using present tense in the subordinate clause—rather than “We’ll see what will happen,” even though both refer to the future? They break down this grammar rule, explore when and why present tense is used in future contexts, offer plenty of practical examples, and share a role play to reinforce the lesson. Perfect for intermediate to advanced learners, the episode aims to help listeners avoid a frequent ESL mistake and improve their natural-sounding English.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: Future Thinking and Listener Question
- Aubrey starts by discussing future planning and references a show recommendation (“Pluribus” on Apple TV).
[02:38] Lindsay: “Yeah, I do [think about the future frequently]. So when we took Strengths Finder... I do think a lot. I feel like I spend a lot of time thinking about the future.”
- Transition to a listener question from Pay Yao about future tense grammar.
[03:45] Lindsay: (Reading question) “I wonder why Lindsay said 'we’ll see what happens' instead of 'we’ll see what will happen' on the podcast. Can you please explain?”
2. Grammar Breakdown: Future Tense & Subordinate Clauses
The Rule:
- When the main clause is in the future tense, the subordinate clause (time, conditional, or purpose clause) uses present tense, even when both actions are future events.
[04:28] Aubrey: “Present tense is used in subordinate clauses when the main clause is in the future tense, even though both actions refer to the future.”
Three Key “Buckets” Where This Happens:
- A. Time Clauses
- Trigger words: after, before, when, while, as soon as, until.
- Examples:
- “I’ll call you when I arrive.” (not “when I will arrive”)
[06:02] Aubrey: “We would not say, ‘I’ll call you when I will arrive’. Instead, we use the present tense, ‘when I arrive’.”
- “We’ll start the meeting after everyone gets here.”
- “She’ll let you know as soon as she finds out.”
- B. Conditional Clauses
- Trigger words: if, unless, provided that.
- Examples:
- “If it rains, we’ll stay home.”
[07:18] Aubrey: “That would be strange, right? ...Not ‘if it will rain, we’ll stay home’.”
- “You’ll miss the bus unless you hurry.”
- “We’ll begin the meeting provided that everyone agrees.”
- “If it rains, we’ll stay home.”
- C. Purpose Clauses
- Trigger words: once, in case.
- Examples:
- “Once you feel better, we’ll go for a walk.”
- “I’ll take water bottles in case they allow us to take in drinks.”
[09:00] Lindsay: “We’re not saying 'once you will feel better', we’re saying 'once you feel better.'”
Why This Rule?
- Native usage & naturalness: It sounds “off” to repeat “will” in both clauses. The present tense in the subordinate clause indicates future by context and grammar convention.
[08:48] Aubrey: “It does seem like it would make more sense to have them both be in the future, because we’re talking about the future. But that’s not how this works.”
3. Role Play Demonstration
Scenario: Lindsay and Aubrey plan a lunch together.
Key examples—Notice correct use of present tense after time/conditional words:
- Aubrey: "I’ll text you when I’m on my way."
- Lindsay: "We’ll probably wait and order food after everyone arrives."
- Aubrey: "If it rains, we’ll just move inside."
- Aubrey: "It shouldn’t last long. Once it stops, we can still do a fire pit if everyone is up for it."
[11:17] Lindsay: "I don’t see any 'will' in the second part of that sentence."
[11:20] Aubrey: "Exactly right...after that, present simple: 'I am on my way.'"
4. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
- Explicit discussion of the ESL mistake: saying “will” in both parts of the sentence.
- Encouragement to use and practice the correct pattern to sound natural.
- Advice to observe native usage through listening/reading.
[13:39] Aubrey: “Yes, it’s about knowing grammar, but it’s also about observing language...The more you’re taking in English, the more you’re going to do this correctly.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- [04:28] Aubrey: “Present tense is used in subordinate clauses when the main clause is in the future tense, even though both actions refer to the future.”
- [08:48] Aubrey: “It does seem like it would make more sense to have them both be in the future... But that’s not how this works.”
- [13:39] Aubrey: “You might not be making this mistake because you’ve heard it used correctly so many times in the podcasts and TV shows... The more you are taking in English, the more you’re going to do this kind of thing correctly.”
- [14:06] Lindsay: “Through osmosis a little bit, right?”
- [11:17] Lindsay: “I don’t see any will in the second part of that sentence.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:38 – Personal reflections on future-thinking and listener question intro
- 03:45 – Reading the grammar question from listener Pay Yao
- 04:28-09:41 – Grammar deep-dive: The three “buckets” (time clauses, conditional clauses, purpose clauses)
- 10:23-12:26 – Role play demonstrating target grammar in context
- 13:08 – Advice: Listen for and observe correct usage in native materials
- 13:39 – Takeaway: Practice, observe, and internalize through exposure
Takeaways & Practice Tips
- To speak naturally:
- Use future tense (“will”) in the main clause.
- Use present simple tense after time, conditional, or purpose words—even if the whole sentence refers to the future.
- Practice recognizing and using this pattern in your own speaking and writing.
- Improve by listening to native sources and shadowing them.
- Re-listen to the episode for reinforcement and check out related lessons (e.g. Episode 2561 on expanding vocabulary).
Final Thoughts
The episode answers a common learner question clearly, with humor and lots of actionable examples. Lindsay and Aubrey encourage listeners to immerse themselves in English to develop this and other natural grammar habits—emphasizing the show's motto, “Connection, not perfection!”