Which sentence is correct (native English speakers, please!)?

Question

a. Will you please e-mail me back when you have received my e-mail?
b. Will you please e-mail me back when you receive my e-mail?

I mean that I want a person to e-mail me back after receiving my e-mail. But I'm a bit confused which sentence is correct.

I often hear a sentence like, "I won't go out when it rains." In this example, after "when," the present form is used , but not future form.

Is it wrong to say, "Will you please e-mail me back when you will have received my e-mail?"

Thank you for your help! :-)

Answer 1

The reason for the change in tense is because your sentence is in the conditional tense, not the future tense. The difference between the conditional and future tense are very subbtle. Future tense reads like "He is going to the movies tonight." Conditional tense reads like "If he arives early we will go to the movies tonight." Both occur in the future but as the name suggests one has a condition. In your case reciving the email is the condition.
Like everyone else said, both of you sentences work. However it is more polite (if that's what you're going for) to say, "Would you please email me..." instead of the use of "Will you please email me..." The use of "will" is more of a command while the use of "would" is more of a request.

Answer 2

Both a and b are correct, with b the more natural-sounding of the two. (Though as others have pointed out, there are even more natural-sounding versions.)

Yes, it IS wrong to say "...when you will have received". We don't use the future in any time clauses (when you go, before I leave, after I explain) even if the rest of the sentence is in the future.

Answer 3

Most Filipinos complicate themselves when constructing sentences. I was once like you. But anyway, the answer to this: Is it wrong to say, "Will you please e-mail me back when you will have received my e-mail?" is yes, it is wrong. If you really are looking for answer from a native English speaker, they will tell you to write instead "Please reply." It's very simple, you want a reply from another person.

Answer 4

Both a and b are acceptable although to ensure there is no confusion I would have said:

"Will you please reply to my email on receipt".

This ensures that they know they do not simply have to forward you the same message back.

"Will you please e-mail me back when you will have received my email".

This makes no sense. You are saying "when you will have" and this expression would cancel itself out. "When you have" or "when you've" is the correct form.

In your example "I won't go out when it rains." Won't is the short form for will not so the sentence is in the future.

Answer 5

How about including a sentence in your email such as "Please reply to this email at your earliest convenience," or "Send me a reply message upon receiving this email message." These sentences don't have the word "email" listed twice as a verb and noun and are a little less confusing.

Answer 6

In the U.S. both are acceptable. The two being, "when you receive" and "when you have received" or simply say "write back" or "please respond" In American English there is a such thing as proper English and slang. Slang is not always improper and in some instances is preferred.

Answer 7

How about:

Please e-mail your response. Thank you!

Answer 8

Definitely go with Sir Readalots's answer. It's accurate and concise :-)

Answer 9

Either one is correct but if you want future, past, or present tense, they would both be correct.

Hope this help. :-)

Answer 10

don't worry too much, your message will get through.
I prefer (a), but it might be simpler to say "please reply to my e-mail".