Time-Related Events
Relative time of two planned events
Time-Related Clauses
| MAIN CLAUSE | TIME-RELATED CLAUSE |
|---|---|
When we wish to place importance on the time frames of two scheduled or planned activities, we introduce the first activity and then join the second activity using a time-relative conjunction. Use the modal will in this clause. |
Join the second clause with a time-relative conjunction (after, before, while, when, as long as, as soon as, until, or by the time) indicating "earlier", "later", or "same time". Use the simple present tense in this clause. |
FIRST ACTIVITY I will make tea |
SECOND ACTIVITY before we watch TV. (earlier than the TV start time) |
I will have made tea |
by the time he arrives. (possibly before but no later than when he arrives)
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SAME-TIME ACTIVITY I will be making tea |
SAME-TIME ACTIVITY while we watch TV. (during TV time) |
I will make tea |
when we watch TV. (at TV time) |
We will be drinking tea |
as long as we are watching TV. (throughout the TV time)
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SECOND ACTIVITY I will make tea |
FIRST ACTIVITY after we watch TV. (later than the TV start time) |
I will make tea |
as soon as we watch TV. (at the TV starting time) |
I won't make tea (negative) |
until we watch TV. (at the TV starting time)
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Also see After / Before, By the time
Time Related-Events
A Later Event
After vs. Afterwards
| AFTER | AFTERWARDS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
After introduces the first activity clause when two time-related activities are mentioned in paired clauses. |
Afterward(s) is used to introduce a second activity (not after). The -s is more commonly used in British English. |
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SECOND ACTIVITY I will teach at a university |
FIRST ACTIVITY after I get my master's degree. |
FIRST ACTIVITY I'll get my master's degree. |
SECOND ACTIVITY After, I'll teach at a university. (not used) |
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Afterwards, I'll teach at a university. |
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Shortly after, I'll teach at a university. |
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Not long after, I'll teach at a university. |
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A few weeks after, I'll teach at a university. |
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I will get my master's degree |
before I teach at a university. |
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Punctuation
Comma Use
Initial vs. Final Clause Position
| INITIAL POSITION | FINAL POSITION |
|---|---|
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USE A COMMA As soon as you get here, we'll leave. |
USE NO COMMA We'll leave as soon as you get here. |
Before I drink coffee, my head aches. |
My head hurts before I drink coffee. |
After I drink coffee, my headache stops. |
My headache stops after I drink coffee. |
When you give me the keys, I'll start driving. |
I'll start driving when you give me the keys. |
A time-related conjunction and its clause can also be moved to the beginning of the sentence. If the clause is in initial sentence position, place a comma after it.
Use 
Common Mistakes
| ERRORS | FIX |
|---|---|
After I will make a telephone call, we can leave. |
After I make a telephone call, we can leave. (omit will) |
We went to dinner, and after, went dancing. |
We went to dinner, and then, went dancing. (After is seldom used alone.) |
Resources
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. "The Form of Temporal Location Expressions." The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. (7.3, 696)
Swan, Michael. "After: adverb" Practical English Usage. 3rd ed. 2009: Oxford University Press. Print. (29.1-1)
Practice 1
Travel
Enter the correct tense and subject-verb agreement.
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Practice 2
Time-relative Events
- Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.