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

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Adverbs in Mixed Time Frames

Contrasting the Onset Time of Activities

Adverbs that Contrast Mixed Time Frames

ADVERB	1ST EVENT	SECOND EVENT	NOTE
AFTER	After you arrive, (omit will) 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 arrive. (omit will) before you arrived.	Introduces an ealier event. Uses the present tense after the adverb in a future tense sentence.
WHEN	When you arrive, (omit will) 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
THE NEXT TIME	The next time you visit, (omit will) The next time you visited,	we'll go to the movies. we went to the movies.	Introduces a same-time or immediately after 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 come, (omit will) 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, (omit 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.

Future Statments – when, before, after, until & by the time

FUTURE	FUTURE PERFECT
The adverbs below are followed by present tense verb forms in future statements (predictions).	The adverbs below are followed by present tense verb forms in future statements (predictions). The perfect tense indicates one event will be completed before the other.
When we arrive, you will eat . (eating – same-time or immediately starting)	—
Before we arrive, you will eat. (eating – an earlier event)	Before/ By the time we arrive, we will have eaten . (eating – to be completed)
After we arrive, you will eat. (eating – a later event)	Five years after I get my green card, I will have been here long enough to apply for citizenship. (waiting time for citizenship – to be completed)
Until we arrive, you will sit quietly. (sitting quietly – an up to the moment activity)	—
—	By the time we arrive, you will have eaten . (eating – to be completed) See By the time

Dog coming in door

When Has Two Meanings!

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

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.
2.	Before I entered college, I a lot of writing practice.
3.	Every time he thinks of his mother's cooking, he homesick.
4.	Since he left his country six years ago, he to visit his friends several times.
5.	While I was doing my math homework, I a shortcut to solving the problems.
6.	Yesterday, while we were studying, my roommate a pie.
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.
8.	After spending a year in the city, he said, " I in another big city as long as I live!" as long as I live = expression meaning forever
9.	The next time we to the city, we will visit the MoMA. (Museum of Modern Art)
10.	By the time we finish this semester, we all of the verb tenses.

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