Conjunctions of time

 

Conjunctions are English words that connect words or phrases. Sometimes we want to show a more complicated relationship between the ideas, like a relationship involving time. Some common time conjunctions are: when, after, before, until, since, while, once, as and as soon as.

• I like to have the radio on while I study.

 

In these cases, we use subordinating conjunctions.  Subordinating conjunctions link an independent clause/main clause with a dependent clause.

 

Conjunction	Use	Example
before	The main clause happens earlier in time.	She made her bed before she left the house.
after	The main clause happens later in time.	After I ate dinner, I went to bed.
until/till	The main clause happens up to the time when the dependent clause happens.	I’m not leaving until you say sorry.
as soon as once	The main clause happens immediately after the dependent clause.	Romeo fell in love as soon as he saw Juliet. Once your grandpa gets here, we’re leaving for dinner.
while	The main clause happens at the same time as the dependent clause.	While Steve cut the onions, Jean peeled the potatoes.
when	The main clause happens after the dependent clause, or at the same time.	When he saw her, he smiled. When I lived in Norway, I lived with a local family.
since	The main clause began at the moment the dependent clause happened.	We’ve been friends since the second grade.
as	The main clause happens while the dependent clause is in progress.	We got to the party as everyone was leaving.
during	The main clause happens at the same time as the dependent clause.	During the Alaskan winter, the sun is hardly ever seen.
whenever	The main clause always happens as a result of the dependent clause.	Whenever I see her, I smile.