TIME LINKERS
 We can use while, as and when to show that two actions happen at the same time (= two simultaneous actions).
He was reading a letter while / as / when she was watching TV.
While / As / When she was watching TV, he was reading a letter.
Whenever there’s a problem, you can call me.
We discussed the new company policy during dinner.
 We can use the moment, as soon as and when to show that one action happens immediately after another one.
The child fell asleep the moment / as soon as / when he climbed onto the sofa.
The moment / As soon as / When the child climbed onto the sofa, he fell asleep.
I’ve lived here ever since I was born.
He said he saw a strange round object just before it disappeared at great speed in the sky.
 We can use by the time, before, after and until to show that one action has happened before another. These often
require the use of Past Perfect.
The party had finished by the time we arrived.
By the time the police arrived at the crime scene, dozens of people had arrived.
Before he went to bed, he had answered the mail.
After he had answered the mail, he went to bed.
I didn’t know he’d married, until I his sister told me.
They were at the cocktail party until 11 pm.
EXERCISES:
I. Join the two sentences in one using:
as soon as, by the time, (ever)since, (just) as, (just) before, until, when, while, whenever
1. Finish your homework. Then you can go out. --- You cannot go out ……………………………………………………………………….…
2. Finish your homework. Then you can go out. --- You can go out ………………………………………………………………………………
3. He said goodbye to his children. Then he left. --- He said goodbye ………………………………………………………………………….
4. We arrived late. Most of our friends had left. --- Most of our friends ……………………………………………………………………….
5. I left school. I came to work in this bank. --- I’ve worked in this bank ………………………………………………………………………
6. Maria was cooking the dinner. We watched television. --- We watched television …………………………………………………….
7. We started to eat. The telephone rang. --- The telephone rang ………………………………………………………………………………..
8. Cigarettes used to cost sixpence a packet. I can remember that. --- I can remember ……………………………………………….
9. If I want to sit here. I will sit here. --- I’ll sit ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
II. Use and appropriate time linker to complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible.
1. I had dinner, I called Sally. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. I called Sally, I had dinner. _______________________________________________________________________________
3. I'd had dinner, I called Sally. ______________________________________________________________________________
4. I was having dinner I called Sally. __________________________________________________________________________
5. I picked up the phone, it stopped ringing. ___________________________________________________________________
6. I did the ironing, Tom tidied up the flat. _____________________________________________________________________
7. I was leaving the house, the post came. ____________________________________________________________________
8. I'd done the ironing, Tom tidied up the flat. __________________________________________________________________
9. dinner we talked about Sally's news. _______________________________________________________________________
10. I'd done the ironing, I was exhausted. _____________________________________________________________________
11. I was doing the ironing, Tom arrived. ______________________________________________________________________
12. the morning a parcel arrived. ____________________________________________________________________________
13. I'd had dinner, it was too late to call Sally. _________________________________________________________________
14. I left the house, the post came. __________________________________________________________________________
III. BY or UNTIL
1. I didn’t have my keys, so I couldn’t get in ………. Peter arrived.
2. You can’t legally drive a car ………… you’re 18.
3. Tom needs his CD-player next weekend, so I’ll give it back to him ………. Friday.
4. We went on walking ……………. the night had fallen.
5. If we don’t pay all the bills we owe to the electricity board ………. the end of this month, our power supply will be cut
off.
ANSWERS
I.
1. You cannot go out until you finish your homework.
2. You can go out as soon as you finish your exercises.
3. He said goodbye just before he left.
4. Most of our friends had left by the time we arrived.
5. I’ve worked in this bank since I left school.
6. We watched television while she was cooking the dinner.
7. The telephone rang just as we started to eat.
8. I can remember when cigarettes used to cost sixpence a packet.
9. I’ll sit whenever I want to.
II.
Note: other combinations will sometimes be heard. However, the following are in common use.
After / before
I had dinner, I called Sally.
(sequence / reverse sequence)
After / when
I'd had dinner, I called Sally.
(sequence)
While / when
I was having dinner I called Sally.
(interrupted past)
Before / after / during
dinner we talked about Sally's news.
(preposition + noun / noun
phrase)
After / when
I'd done the ironing, Tom tidied up the flat.
(sequence)
While / after / before
I did the ironing, Tom tidied up the flat.
(simultaneous action /
sequence / reverse sequence)
When / By the time / after
I'd done the ironing, I was exhausted.
(sequence)
While / when
I was doing the ironing, Tom arrived.
(interrupted past)
When / as
I picked up the phone, it stopped ringing.
(sequence / simultaneous
action)
During
the morning a parcel arrived.
(preposition+ noun / noun
phrase)
When / by the time / after
I'd had dinner, it was too late to call Sally.
(sequence)
As / while
I was leaving the house, the post came.
(interrupted past)
When / as / after / before
I left the house, the post came.
(sequence / simultaneous
action)
III.
1. until 2. until 3. by
4. until 5. by