Use Of Time Connectors In English

TIME CONNECTORS

In written English, the events of a story are told by means of complex sentences. Thus, it is important that the order of the events is clear and easy to follow. To achieve this, some phrases expressing time are used:

1. When, while, as are used to talk about actions or situations that take place at the same time.

- Mary had an accident while/ when she was living in Australia (= during the time that she was living in Australia).

- While/ when/ as John was cooking dinner, Jane was cleaning the living-room.

If we are talking about an event which happened at a specific time, then we can only use when.

- It was raining when my car broke down (= at that time).

2. During/ for are used with nouns or noun phrases.

- Mary goes to Australia during the summer (= part of the summer).

- Mary goes to Australia for the summer (= the whole summer)

3. First, then, after, before, later, so, finally, in the end, etc. introduce a chain of events.

4. Past time expressions: This morning/afternoon/evening, yesterday, the day before yesterday, the following day, last week/month/year, three days/months/years ago, some time later, etc.

After, Before, When… Indicating time

When — two similar meanings

SAME TIME IMMEDIATELY AFTER

To indicate an activity occurs at the same time, the verb in the main (matrix) clause is followed by the preposition, when, with a clause as its complement. When is also used in a slightly different sense (understanding) of the word: an activity occurs immediately after another activity.

MAIN CLAUSE – ACTIVITY 2

The dog comes

(present) ACTIVITY 1

when I call. (present) MAIN CLAUSE – ACTIVITY 2

I close the door

(present) ACTIVITY 1

when the dog comes in.

(present)

The dog won't go outside

(future) when it rains. (present) The dog will run back in

(future) when its feet touch the wet ground. (present)

The dog didn't go outside

(past)

when it rained. (past)

The dog ran back in

(past) when its feet touched the wet ground. (past)

Common Mistakes

ERROR FIX

*I'll make some popcorn. After we'll eat it. I'll make some popcorn. Afterward, we'll eat it.

I'll make some popcorn. After that, we'll eat it.

After I make popcorn, we'll eat it.

*I'll call you before I will get there. I'll call you before I get there. Use present tense in the adverb clause.

*I'll lock the door before I leave. I'll lock the door after I leave. After introduces the 2nd event.

Past Tense Time Frames

FOCUS ON THE OCCURRENCE FOCUS ON THE EARLIER-LATER

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