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Correct Use of the
Time Expressions
After, Before, and
When
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By Kenneth Beare
Updated on October 26, 2020
The time expressions after, before and when
are used to indicate when something happens
in the past, present, or future. Each is a
subordinating conjunction which introduces a
dependent clause and can be used at the
beginning or in the middle of a sentence.
I went to school after I had finished my
homework.
She takes the train when she travels to
London.
Mary finished the report before she
made the presentation.
or
After we have discussed the issue, we can
make a decision.
When we get up, we take a shower.
Before we left, we visited our friends in
Seattle.
After, before and when introduce a full clause
and require a subject and verb. Therefore, the
time expressions after, before, and when
introduce adverb clauses.
After
The action in the main clause occurs after what
occurs in the time clause. Notice the use of
tenses:
Future: What will happen after something
occurs.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: future
We'll discuss the plans after he gives the
presentation.
Jack is going to propose to Jane after
they have dinner on Friday!
Present: What always happens after
something else occurs.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple
Alison checks her mail after she gets
home.
David plays golf after he mows the lawn
on Saturdays.
Past: What happened after something (had)
occurred.
Time clause: past simple or past perfect
Main clause: past simple
They ordered 100 units after Tom (had)
approved the estimate.
Mary purchased a new car after she
(had) researched all her options.
Before
The action in the main clause happens before
the action described in the time clause. Notice
the use of tenses:
Future: What will happen before something
else occurs in the future.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: future
Before he completes the report, he will
check all the facts.
Jennifer will speak with Jack before she
makes a decision.
Present: What happens before something else
occurs on a regular basis.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple
I take a shower before I go to work.
Doug exercises every evening before he
eats dinner.
Past: What (had) happened before something
else occurred at a point of time in the past.
Time clause: past simple
Main clause: past simple or past perfect
She had already eaten before he arrived
for the meeting.
They finished the discussion before he
changed his mind.
When
The action in the main clause happens when
something else occurs. Notice that "when" can
indicate different times depending on the
tenses used. However, "when" generally
indicates that something happens after, as
soon as, upon something else occurring. In
other words, it happens just after something
else occurs. Notice the use of tenses:
Future: What happens when something else
occurs in the future.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: future
We'll go out to lunch when he comes to
visit me. (general time)
Francis will give me a call when he gets
the confirmation. (after in a general
sense—it could be immediately, or later)
Present: What always happens when
something else occurs.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple
We discuss the bookkeeping when she
comes every month.
Susan plays golf when her friend Mary
is in town.
Past: What happened when something else
(had) occurred. The past tense of "when" can
indicate that something happened regularly or
one specific time in the past.
Time clause: past simple
Main clause: past simple
She took the train to Pisa when he came
to visit her in Italy. (once, or on a
regular basis)
They had a great time seeing the sights
when they went to New York.
After, When, Before Quiz
Conjugate the verbs in brackets based on the
time context in the sentences below.
1. She __________(take) the subway when
she __________ (go) into town every
week.
take... go did take... went
will take... will takes... goes
go
Correct
2. I __________ (prepare) dinner before
my friend __________ (arrive) yesterday
evening.
prepared... prepared... had
arrived arrived
have will prepare...
prepared... arrives
arrived
Correct
3. We __________ (go) out for drinks after
we __________ (get) to the hotel next
Tuesday.
went... got will go... get
are going... got going... get
Correct
4. Before I __________ (answer) his
question, he __________ (tell) me his
secret.
answer... will tell
answered... told
had answered... told
All these answers are correct.
Correct
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5. Bob usually __________ (use) a bilingual
dictionary when he __________ (read) a
book in German.
used... read has used... read
will use... read uses... reads
Correct
6. When he __________ (arrive) next
week, we __________ (play) a round of
golf.
will arrive... is arriving... are
will play playing
arrives... will arrived...
play played
Correct
7. She __________ (order) a hamburger
when she __________ (go) to a restaurant
with me last week.
order... did go had ordered...
went
ordered... went is ordering...
goes
Correct
8. After I __________ (Xnish) the report, I
__________ (hand) in my homework to the
teacher tomorrow.
Xnish... will Xnished...
hand handed
have Xnished... am Xnishing...
am handing will hand
Wrong
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Correct Use of the Time Expressions After,
Before, and When
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