After / Before
Adverbs used in mixed time frames
These adverbs function as subordinating conjunctions by joining a dependent clause to an independent clause. The adverbial clause (adverb + dependent clause) indicates when the action in the main clause occurs.
Present & Future Tense Time Frames
| MAIN CLAUSE | ADVERBIAL CLAUSE |
|---|---|
Use future tense to introduce a planned event or future activity. |
Use an adverb clause to introduce a second event and relate the timing of it: earlier, later, or same time. Use present tense in the adverb clause. |
FUTURE TENSE We will watch a movie |
PRESENT TENSE after you arrive. (later than the your arrival time.) |
We will make popcorn |
before you arrive. (earlier than your arrival time.) |
We will be making popcorn |
while you are driving here. (in the same time – duration – as your trip.) |
|
as you are driving here. |
We will sit down |
when you arrive. (at the same time – short duration – as your arrival. ) |
We can/ will sit here |
as long as we want. (for all the time we want.) |
We will go out to dinner |
as soon as the movie ends. (a new activity starts exactly after the first one ends.) |
|
when the movie ends. |
|
once the movie ends. |
We won't start the movie (negative) |
until you arrive. (not before your arrival time.) |
We will have made the popcorn (future perfect) |
by the time you arrive. (in the time before your arrival.) |
PRESENT TENSE We watch a movie |
PRESENT TENSE whenever we get together. (at the same-time, a frequent habit) |
|
anytime we get together. |
When Has Two Meanings!
| ONE TIME FRAME | TWO TIME FRAMES |
|---|---|
SAME TIME |
IMMEDIATELY AFTER |
The dog comes when I call. |
I will close the door when the dog comes in. |
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
I'll make some popcorn. After we'll eat it |
I'll make some popcorn. Afterward, we'll eat it. |
I'll call you before I will get there. |
I'll call you before I get there. Use present tense in the adverb clause. |
I'll lock the door before I leave. |
I'll lock the door after I leave. After introduces the 2nd event. |
Adverbs in Mixed Time Frames
Past Tense
Past Tense Time Frames
| MAIN CLAUSE | ADVERBIAL CLAUSE |
|---|---|
Use future tense to introduce a planned event or future activity. |
Use an adverb clause to introduce a second event and relate the timing of it: earlier, later, or same time. Use present tense in the adverb clause. |
PAST TENSE We watched a movie |
PAST TENSE after you arrived. (later than the your arrival time.) |
We made popcorn |
before you arrived. (earlier than your arrival time.) |
We were making popcorn |
while you were driving here. (in the same time – duration – as your trip.) |
|
as you were driving here. |
We sat down |
when you arrived. (at the same time – short duration – as your arrival. ) |
We sat there |
as long as we wanted. (for all the time we want.) |
We went out to dinner |
as soon as the movie ended. (a new activity starts exactly after the first one ends.) |
|
when the movie ended. |
|
once the movie ended. |
We didn't start the movie (negative) |
until you arrived. (not before your arrival time.) |
We had made the popcorn |
by the time you arrived. (in the time before your arrival.) |
PRESENT TENSE We watched a movie |
PRESENT TENSE whenever we got together. (at the same time, a frequent past habit. ) anytime we got together. |
Commas
Clause Order
Adverb Clause Position
| INITIAL POSITION | FINAL POSITION |
|---|---|
Use a comma after the adverb clause when occurs first. |
Use no comma when the adverb clause occurs after the main clause. |
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 hurts. |
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. |
Practice
Adverb and Tense Agreement
- Choose the correct form of the verb.
- Then, check your answer. * indicates an incorrect answer.