TIME CLAUSESbefore, after, when

Katie Mitchell

COMBINE TWO SENTENCES WITH

BEFORE, AFTER, AND WHEN. These words give us information

about what happened first.

Combine Sentences

First, I went to the store.

Second, I bought a cake.

After I went to the store, I bought a cake.

AFTER I WENT TO THE STORE, I BOUGHT A

CAKE. Notice that each clause or part of the

sentence has both a subject and a verb.

AFTER I WENT TO THE STORE, I BOUGHT A

CAKE. When we talk about the past or

present, both parts of the sentence are also usually in the

same tense. In the example above, both parts are in simple

past.

After: After I did the first thing,

I did the second thing. The first action is in the time clause with after, and the second action is in the main clause.

•After we ate dinner, I did the dishes.•After I finished my homework, I watched TV.

•I go to bed after I brush my teeth.

The order doesn’t change the meaning. Just add a comma after the time clause if it’s the first thing in the sentence.

After we got to coffee shop, we talked for hours. We talked for hours after we got to coffee shop.

Combine Sentences

First, I brushed my teeth. Second, I went to school.

After I brushed my teeth, I went to school.

Combine Sentences

First, she cooked dinner. Second, she ate.

After she cooked dinner, she ate.

Combine Sentences

First, they got coffee. Second, they chatted.

They chatted after they got coffee.

Before: Before I did the second

thing, I did the first thing.The first action happened before the action described in the time clause with before.• Before I cooked dinner, I went to the grocery store.

•Before I became an engineer, I went to college.

•I studied before I took the test.

Combine Sentences

First, he put on his jacket. Second, he went outside.

Before he went outside, he put on his jacket.

Combine Sentences

First, they ate salad. Second, they ate dessert.

Before they ate dessert, they ate salad.

Combine Sentences

First, we got popcorn. Second, we watched the movie.

We got popcorn before we watched the movie.

When: When I did one thing,

another thing happened.The action described in the when clause happened just before the main clause. •When I was in the United States, I took classes at the International English Center.

•When I get coffee, I also get a cookie.•They went to an art museum when they were in Denver.

Combine Sentences

First, we went to the store. Second, we saw Paul.

When we went to the store, we saw Paul.

Combine Sentences

First, my sister got sick. Second, we went to the doctor’s.

When my sister got sick, we went to the doctor’s.

Combine Sentences

First, I moved to the U.S. Second, I studied English.

I studied English when I moved to the U.S.