Time clauses
Indicates when the main action happens,
happened or will happen.
Time
Main clause conjunction Time clause
Present tense - Present tense
Past tense - Past tense
Future tense - Present simple tense
to talk about the future
after/as soon as/before
Main clause + when/by the time/till/until, + subj.- pred.
(Future simple) the moment (present
simple)
I will call you the moment Tom gets home.
to talk about simultaneous actions
as/
Main clause + when/while/ + subj.- pred.
just (usually1
continuous)
(2 short simultaneous actions)
1
She was sleeping while the lecturer gave his speech.
to talk about actions that happen one after the other
as soon as/
Main clause + after/before/ + subj.- pred.
when
She started to cry when she heard the bad news.
to talk about actions that happen upto the time when
Main clause + until / till + subj.- pred.
Stay put until I call you.
to talk about when an action started
It’s + period of time + since + past simple
It’s two hours since I had coffee.
to talk about an action that happens immediately after another
+ subject- predicate
Main clause + after + noun
+ ing (only if the 2 sentences have the same subject)
After she graduated, she worked as a waitress.
After graduating, she worked as a waitress.
After her graduation, she worked as a waitress.
to talk about an action that happens at an earlier time
+ subject- predicate
Main clause + before + noun
+ ing (only if the 2 sentences have the same
subject)
Before she graduated, she worked as a waitress.
Before graduating, she worked as a waitress.
Before her graduation, she worked as a waitress.
to talk about an action that happens a very short time after another
main clause + as soon as + subject- predicate
She does her homework as soon as she gets home.
to talk about an action that happens in a particular circumstance or
immediately after another
main clause + when + subject- predicate
When I feel depressed, I eat chocolate.
to talk about an action that started at a particular time
main clause + since + subject- predicate
(present perfect) (past simple)
He hasn’t worked since he won the lottery.
to emphasise that the action of the time clause will be totally
completed before the main action begins
as soon as,
Main clause + after, when, + subj.- pred.
until / till
present/future/past present/ past perfect
When the mother came in, the dog had eaten the dinner .
