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When, While, Till etc, expressing time.

Temporal clauses enable us to focus on the moment when an event is happening in relation to the tense of the main clause:

                                                          1

 Temporal subordinate clauses are built with the help of many temporal subordinate conjunctions. The main ones are:

AS , AS SOON AS , AFTER (+ clause), AS LONG AS,  BEFORE (+ clause), ONCE (+ clause),  SINCE (+ clause),       TILL/UNTIL, WHEN, WHENEVER, WHILE;

  A VERY IMPORTANT REMARK:

In a sentence in the future, temporal subordinate conjunctions ARE NEVER FOLLOWED BY A FUTURE. (a simple present must be used). Following the sequence of tenses, a preterite will be used in the subordinate clause, if the 'conditional' ('modal would' ) was in the main clause.

ex: He'll open the door after he finds the key... It's hidden! 

ex: Once the firemen arrive, they'll save these victims.

ex: I won't go as long as he hasn't arrived! 

ex: His parents knew that he'd (would) join the Navy as soon as he was 18 ! 

 It may be important to determine the temporal relationship there is between the event of the main clause and that of the subordinate:                                                                                     

1) If the action of the main clause is taking place before that of the subordinate: = anteriority or precedence (before, till, until, not until, when).

ex: He spoke fluent English before he arrived in Oxford! 

2) If the action of the main clause is happening simultaneously (at the same time as) that of the subordinate= simultaneity or syncronicity (as, since, as soon as, while)

  meanwhile,  in the meantime (= adverbs)

ex: He was doing his maths exercise while his sister was watching TV.

3) If the action of the main clause is taking place after that of the subordinate = posteriority or subsequence. (after , once, when)

  (after + clause = a temporal conjunction) (after + Noun  or Gerund =  a preposition)

ex: After he broke his leg, he never played rugby again.

Time for the test, now ! Good luck ! 

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'Sleep at weekends!'
Lily and her Mom often come to spend the weekend in the country house where the family gathers.
They arrived last night, exhausted. Lily went to bed early, but when she wakeswhen she wokedwhen she'll wakewhen wokingI don't know up, it will be, as usual, a real hullabaloo in the whole house. That, I knew! It happened yesterday morning for real! As soon asTillUntilMeanwhileAs long asI don't know she opened her eyes, she decided that she would go and see Granny.
MeanwhileWhenUntilLonger thanI don't know Lily could, she tickled Granny awake. She laughed, giggled, and decided it was time everyone got up.
UntilWhileIn the meantimeAs soon asI don't know Gran was making her coffee, Mom was preparing Lily's milk. As soon asWhileIn the meantimeWheneverI don't know, Lily was peeling a banana to add to Mom's cereals. Then,she started thinking about a 'first one' for her. UntilWhileAs long asAsI don't know she saw a sharp knife on the table, she seized it and literally dipped it into the butter to spread it on her Gran's bread... MeantimeUntilTillWheneverI don't know she dipped the knife, she got out a huge chunk of butter... Mom scolded her, took the knife away, and explained that little girls should NEVER play with knives,as soon asuntilasas long asI don't know they're much older... WhileTillUntilMeanwhileI don't know Lily was crying softly, Mom went on explaining : you know 'you can do it as long asuntilwhileas soonI don't know you use this cute round-tipped knife!' Lily smiled broadly...
WhileUntillSinceWhenI don't know then, Lily has buttered Granny 's bread every Sunday morning ! Tell me when you havewhen you'll haveuntil you haveas long as you'll haveI don't know enough' Lily, and I'll do it for Gran !