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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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