Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verbs › Present › Time-Relative Events
Present Tense: Time-Relative Events
Relate the timing of two activities
| EARLIER OR LATER | |
|---|---|
A connective preposition such as before, after, as soon as, until, before, or by may be added to a clause to express that a second activity occurs earlier or later than the activity in the main clause. If the verb in the main clause is present, the verb in clause following the preposition is also present tense. |
|
| ACTIVITY | LATER ACTIVITY |
| CLAUSE (PRESENT ) | CONNECTIVE PREP + CLAUSE |
I usually make a pot of tea |
before we watch TV. (earlier than the TV start time) |
I usually make a pot of tea |
by the time that the show starts. (possibly before but no later than when he arrives) |
| ACTIVITY | EARLIER ACTIVITY |
I usually make a pot of tea |
after we watch TV. (later than the TV start time) |
I usually pour a cup of tea |
as soon as we begin watching TV. (at the TV starting time) |
I don't make tea (negative) |
until we watch TV. (the time we begin watching) |
| SAME TIME | |
|---|---|
Similarly, a preposition such as when, while, as or as long as may be added to a clause to express that a second activity occurs at the same time as the activity in the main clause. If the verb in the main clause is present, the verb in clause following the preposition is also present tense. |
|
| ACTIVITY | SAME-TIME ACTIVITY |
| CLAUSE (PRESENT) | CONNECTIVE PREP + CLAUSE |
I am usually drinking a cup of tea (progressive–focus is given to the ongoing timing of the activity) |
while we are watching TV. (during TV time) |
I usually drink a cup of tea (focus is given to the activity rather than its ongoing timing) |
when we watch TV.
|
We relax |
as long as we are watching TV. (throughout the TV time) |
I do the laundry |
as they watch football. (during TV time) |
I read a book |
during the time that you watch TV. |
focus (N) – something we pay attention to, concentrate on
the moment (NP) – as soon as, when; We have to leave the moment he gets here.
as long as (PP [P]) — may also express a meaning of "if" or "provided that"; As long as he gets here by noon, I'll be here to let him in.
(Azar 17-2) (Huddleston 696) (Swan 29.1-1)
Also see After/ Before/ When | By the time | Connective Preposition (a.k.a. "conjunction") | Grammar Notes (below).
After vs. Afterwards
Express relative timing vs. a time
After vs. Afterwards
| AFTER | |
|---|---|
After relates a clause with an activity that finishes before the activity in the main clause occurs. (when, the moment, as soon as – immediately after) "later than ____". |
|
| ACTIVITY | EARLIER ACTIVITY |
I will teach |
after I get my degree. |
|
when I get my degree. |
|
the moment I get my degree. |
|
as soon as I get my degree. |
|
|
|
|
| AFTERWARD | |
|---|---|
Afterward relates an activity that occurs at a time when the activity in the main clause finishes. "at this later time" (Afterwards is used in US English but more commonly in British English.) |
|
| ACTIVITY | LATER ACTIVITY |
I'll get my degree. |
*After, I'll teach at a university. (not used) |
|
Afterwards, I'll teach at a university. |
|
Shortly after, I'll teach at a university. |
|
Not long after, I'll teach at a university. |
|
After that, I'll teach at a university. |
I will get my degree⇒ |
before I teach at a university. (unlikely!) |
*Instead of after use afterward or after that.
after – (adverbial preposition) requires a complement such as They called after 3 p.m. (NP), They called after arriving. (gerund), They called after they left school. (clause).
afterward – (adverbial preposition) includes its complement "ward" which can express a meaning of "the time", "the place", "the direction". They called afterward. "after the time". Similarly: They moved forward. "ahead to the place". See Adverbs: Object in the Word.
Punctuation
Comma Use
Initial vs. Final Clause Position
| INITIAL POSITION |
|---|
|
| USE A COMMA |
As soon as you get here, we'll leave. |
Before I drink coffee, my head aches. |
After I drink coffee, my headache stops. |
When you give me the keys, I'll start driving. |
A time-relative preposition and its clause can be moved to the beginning of the sentence with a comma placed after it (separating the clauses.)| MID POSITION |
|---|
|
| USE NO COMMA |
We'll leave as soon as you get here. |
My head hurts before I drink coffee. |
My headache stops after I drink coffee. |
I'll start driving when you give me the keys. |
When a time-relative preposition is placed between the two clauses,
Common Mistakes
Errors & Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
*After I will make a telephone call, we can leave. |
*We went to dinner, and after, went dancing. |
~We have to leave at the moment he gets here. (not incorrect, but not used) |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
After I make a telephone call, we can leave. (omit will) |
We went to dinner, and then, went dancing. |
We have to leave the moment he gets here. as soon as, when (The preposition at is usually omitted.) |
Works Cited
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.
Practice 1
Travel
Present or future modal?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Time-relative Events
Read the Context
Mara: Will you remember to email me as soon as you (get)____ there?
Jack: I won't be able to email you until I (have)____ a WiFi connection.
Mara: OK then. When it (be)____ 11:30, I'll check to see if the flight has landed.
Jack: Would you also phone Aunt Carol after the plane (land)____?"
Mara: Yes, she (be)____ waiting in the cell phone lot nearby until she hears from me.
Jack: Great! I'll call you as soon as I (get)____ to her home.
Present, present progressive or future modal?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.
WiFi- data exchange over a wireless Internet network