Time Clauses Workshop

Time clauses are introduced by conjunctions such as after, as soon as, before, till, until, when,
whenever, while or time expressions such as the minute, the moment etc. We do not use the
future tense (will) in a time clause to describe future activities (in this respect, it is similar to if
clauses).
Compare:
I'll come back home and I'll do it. x I'll do it when I come back home. (when I come is the time
clause).
You will push this button and the door will open. x As soon as you push this button the door will
open.
Don't stand up. First, I'll tell you. x Don't stand up till (until) I tell you.
You'll need my car. Take it. x Whenever you need my car you can take it.
You'll tidy up the house and I'll do the shopping. x You'll tidy up the house while I do the shopping.
You will drop the bomb and it will explode. x The moment you drop the bomb it will explode.
Similarly, other future forms also change to the present simple tense.
He is going to leave. The room will be empty. x As soon as he leaves the room will be empty.
We are moving next week. Then we'll call you. x When we move next week we'll call you.
If we describe an action that is happening at the same time as another future action (the two
activities are simultaneous), we use the present continuous in time clauses.
We are going to cut the grass. You'll pick the apples. x While we are cutting the grass you'll pick
the apples.
The future perfect simple and continuous become the present perfect simple and continuous.
I'll have finished my grammar exercises in ten minutes. Then I'll go out. x After I have finished my
grammar exercises I'll go out.
They will have repaired our car by the weekend. And we will go for a trip. x As soon as they have
repaired our car we will go for a trip.
Be careful!
If when introduces a noun clause which is the object of a verb, it is followed by a future tense.
• I don't know when she will arrive.
• I can't remember when the race will start.
• You must decide when you will meet them.
In all these sentences the question is: What? not When? (I don't know what, I can't remember
what, you must decide what.)
Time clauses – exercises >
Complete the time clauses with verbs in brackets:

Example:
(come) I'll go to bed when Jane ___ back.
I'll go to bed when Jane comes back.
1. (be) I'll be ready as soon as you ___________.

2. (return) We'll stay here till she ___________.
3. (arrive) Please, call us when you ___________.
4. (leave) I'm going to tell her before she ___________.
5. (start) I'll tell you know when the party ___________.
6. (need) He'll drive you there whenever you ___________.
7. (be) The moment summer ___________ here, the garden will be so beautiful!
8. (study) I am going to take the exam after I ___________ all these books.
9. (be) He will wait for you until you ___________ back.
10. (swim) Don't worry! I'll watch you while you ___________ in the lake.
11. (be) As soon as I ___________ in Mumbai, I'll let you know.
12. (sit) Before he ___________ down, he should wash his hands.
Complete the adverbial clauses of time:

Example:
We will buy it. We will have enough money.

We will buy it as soon as we have enough money.
1. We'll get there. We will send a message.
Soon after we ___________ there, we ___________ a message.
2. I'd like to finish it. It will get dark.
I'd like to finish it before it ___________ dark.

3. We are going to have a rest. We'll be on holiday.
We are going to have a rest while we ___________ on holiday.
4. He will not regret it. She'll move away.
He will not regret it until she ___________ away.
5. Can you water the flowers? We'll leave the house.
Can you water the flowers when we ___________ the house?
6. Get in touch with him. I'm going to write to him.
Get in touch with him as soon as I ___________ to him.
7. Come to see me. You'll feel alone.
Come to see me whenever you ___________ alone.
8. I will find the opener. I will open the bottle.
The moment I ___________ the opener, I ___________ the bottle.
9. We will go to the shop. We will be walking the dog.
We will go to the shop while we ___________ the dog.
10. I'll have finished my lesson by noon. I'll come around.
After I ___________ my lesson by noon, I ___________ around.
Complete the time clauses:

Example:
He is going to leave. The room will be empty.

The moment he leaves, the room will be empty.
1. Jack is seeing the doctor tomorrow. He will be all right.
Soon after Jack ___________ the doctor, he ___________ all right.

2. We are going to get married. We will live in Bristol.
As soon as we ___________ married, we ___________ in Bristol.
3. You'll be hungry. You can take anything from the fridge.
Whenever you ___________ hungry, you can take anything from the fridge.
4. I'm going to change my job. I will tell my boss.
Before I ___________ my job, I ___________ my boss.
5. They will be waiting for me. They will have enough time to prepare it.
While they ___________ for me, they ___________ enough time to prepare it.
6. Peggy will help you. She will come tonight.
Peggy ___________ you as soon as she ___________ tonight.
7. I will arrive at my office at 8 o'clock. I will do it immediately.
The moment I ___________ at my office, I ___________ it.
8. First, I will have something to eat. Then I will start working.
I ___________ working until I ___________ something to eat.
Choose the correct ending of the time clauses in the brackets:

Example:
I'll do it as soon as I (will finish, have finished) my first project.
I have to tidy the room before my mum (appears, will appear).
1. He is going to stay in our flat while we (are, will be) in Scotland.
2. I'll ring you up after they (repaired, have repaired) my telephone.
3. You'll find some job when you (read, are reading) advertisements.
4. She won't sleep till you (have read, read) her a fairy-tale.
5. I'll be with you while you (are waiting, will be waiting) for the train.
6. Please, eat your meal before it (gets, has got) cold.
7. Are they going to visit Rome while they (are, will be) in Italy?
8. Will you help me as soon as you (have finished, will have finished) your work?
9. Will you recognize him the moment you (see, will see) him?
10. Do you know when the shop (has opened, will open)?

Time Clauses Workshop

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Time Clauses Workshop

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Time Clauses Workshop

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Time clauses are introduced by conjunctions such as after, as soon as, before, till, until, when,

Complete the time clauses with verbs in brackets:

1. (be) I'll be ready as soon as you ___________.

Complete the adverbial clauses of time:

We will buy it. We will have enough money.

1. We'll get there. We will send a message.

Soon after we ___________ there, we ___________ a message.

2. I'd like to finish it. It will get dark.

I'd like to finish it before it ___________ dark.

We are going to have a rest while we ___________ on holiday.

4. He will not regret it. She'll move away.

He will not regret it until she ___________ away.

5. Can you water the flowers? We'll leave the house.

Can you water the flowers when we ___________ the house?

6. Get in touch with him. I'm going to write to him.

Get in touch with him as soon as I ___________ to him.

7. Come to see me. You'll feel alone.

Come to see me whenever you ___________ alone.

8. I will find the opener. I will open the bottle.

The moment I ___________ the opener, I ___________ the bottle.

9. We will go to the shop. We will be walking the dog.

We will go to the shop while we ___________ the dog.

10. I'll have finished my lesson by noon. I'll come around.

After I ___________ my lesson by noon, I ___________ around.

Complete the time clauses:

He is going to leave. The room will be empty.

Soon after Jack ___________ the doctor, he ___________ all right.

As soon as we ___________ married, we ___________ in Bristol.

3. You'll be hungry. You can take anything from the fridge.

4. I'm going to change my job. I will tell my boss.

Before I ___________ my job, I ___________ my boss.

6. Peggy will help you. She will come tonight.

Peggy ___________ you as soon as she ___________ tonight.

7. I will arrive at my office at 8 o'clock. I will do it immediately.

The moment I ___________ at my office, I ___________ it.

8. First, I will have something to eat. Then I will start working.

I ___________ working until I ___________ something to eat.

Choose the correct ending of the time clauses in the brackets:

I'll do it as soon as I (will finish, have finished) my first project.

I have to tidy the room before my mum (appears, will appear).

1. He is going to stay in our flat while we (are, will be) in Scotland.

2. I'll ring you up after they (repaired, have repaired) my telephone.

6. Please, eat your meal before it (gets, has got) cold.

You might also like

Soon after we _ there, we _ a message.

The moment I _ the opener, I _ the bottle.

After I _ my lesson by noon, I _ around.

Soon after Jack _ the doctor, he _ all right.

As soon as we _ married, we _ in Bristol.

Before I _ my job, I _ my boss.

Peggy _ you as soon as she _ tonight.

The moment I _ at my office, I _ it.

I _ working until I _ something to eat.