Adverbs in Mixed Time Frames - before, after, when, as long as

Adverbs in Mixed Time Frames

Contrasting the Onset Time of Activities

Most adverbs that compare time frames have only one meaning. "When" has two! Contextual cues help the listener tell the difference.

When

WHEN: TWO EVENTS — SAME TIME	WHEN: TWO EVENTS — TWO TIME FRAMES
SAME TIME	1ST EVENT	SECOND EVENT
When I call the dog, she comes.	When the dog comes in,	(then) I will close the door.

Adverbs that Contrast Mixed Time Frames

ADVERB	1ST EVENT	SECOND EVENT	NOTE
AFTER	After you [will] arrive, After you arrived,	we will watch a movie. (future) we watched a movie.	Introduces a later event. Uses the present tense after the adverb in a future tense sentence.
BEFORE	We will make popcorn We made popcorn	before you [will] arrive. before you arrived.	Introduces an ealier event. Uses the present tense after the adverb in a future tense sentence.
WHEN	When [will] you arrive, When you arrived, When you arrived,	we'll start the movie. we started the movie. we had already started the movie .	Introduces a same-time event
WHILE / AS	While I was making the popcorn, As I was making popcorn,	he was singing. he was annoying me.	Introduces a same-time event
BY THE TIME	By the time you [will] come, By the time you came,	we will be ready to watch the movie. we had already finished the popcorn.	Introduces the time when an event will happen. X will happen no later than Y happens. Uses "perfect tenses".
SINCE	I haven't seen Casa Blanca	since I was little.	Introduces a time period of past time until present. Do not confuse with "since" meaning "because".
UNTIL	Until the movie ends, [will]	we will be here.	Introduces the ending time of an activity. It means "to that time and no longer".
AS SOON AS ONCE	As soon as the movie ends, Once the movie ends,	we will go out to dinner. we will go out to dinner.	Introduces the starting time of an activity. It means beginning at this time.
AS LONG AS	As long as I can remember,	we have been friends.	Introduces a same-time event or activity. Use for "during all that time"
WHENEVER ANYTIME	Whenever we get together, Anytime we get together,	we have fun. we have fun.	Introduces a customary activity or event – "everytime"
THE FIRST TIME THE SECOND THE NEXT THE LAST	The first time we had a "movie night",	we watched 4 movies.	Introduces ordinal occurences of activities.

Practice

Adverb and Tense Agreement

Choose the correct form of the verb.
Then, check your answer. * indicates an incorrect answer.

#	RESPONSE	OPTIONS
1	As soon as Jack saw the accident, he the police.	was telephoning telephoned had telephoned telephones
2.	Before I entered college, I a lot of writing practice.	haven't had didn't have wasn't having hadn't had
3.	Every time he thinks of his mother's cooking, he homesick.	will have felt felt feels is feeling
4.	Since he left his country six years ago, he to visit his friends several times.	return will have returned am returning has returned
5.	While I was doing my math homework, I a shortcut to solving the problems.	discovered was discovering is discovering has discovered
6.	Yesterday, while we were studying, my roommate a pie.	was baking had been baking has baked bakes
7.	Bob to live in a big city until he lived in San Francisco. After he lived there for a while, he decided that he loved living there.	didn't want hadn't wanted wasn't wanting hasn't wanted
8.	After spending a year in the city, he said, " I in another big city as long as I live!"	never live have never lived will never live don't live
9.	The next time we to the city, we will visit the MoMA. (Museum of Modern Art)	will go go have gone will have gone
10.	By the time we finish this semester, we all of the verb tenses.	will review will have reviewed am reviewing review

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