ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
PART A: STRUCTURES
Punctuation
When an adverb clause begins the sentence use a comma to separate the two clauses.
Example: As soon as he arrives, we will have some lunch. .
When the adverb clause finishes the sentence there is no need for a comma.
Example: He gave me a call when he arrived in town.
The time in the sentence is future but we use a present tense.
Ex: wait here until I come back. (not until I will come back)
We can also use the present perfect tense after: when/after/as soon as/until or till
Can I borrow that book when you have finished it?
It is often possible to use the present tense or the present perfect tense
Ex: I will come as soon as I finish. Or I will come as soon as I have finished.
Adverbial Clauses of Time
When
He was talking on the phone when I arrived.
When she called, he had already eaten lunch.
I washed the dishes when my daughter fell asleep.
We'll go to lunch when you come to visit.
'When' means 'at that moment, at that time, etc. ‘Notice the different tenses used in
relationship to the clause beginning with when. It is important to remember that 'when' takes
either the simple past OR the present.
Punctuation
When an adverb clause begins the sentence use a comma to separate the two clauses. Example:
As soon as he arrives, we will have some lunch. . When the adverb clause finishes the sentence
there is no need for a comma. Example: He gave me a call when he arrived in town.
Before
We will finish before he arrives.
She (had) left before I telephoned.
'Before' means 'before that moment'. It is important to remember that 'before' takes either the
simple past OR the present.
After
We will finish after he comes.
She ate after I (had) left.
'After' means 'after that moment'. It is important to remember that 'after' takes the present for
future events and the past OR past perfect for past events.
While, as
She began cooking while I was finishing my homework.
As I was finishing my homework, she began cooking.
'While' and 'as' mean 'during that time'. 'While' and 'as' are both usually used with the past
continuous because the meaning of 'during that time' which indicates an action in progress.
By the time
By the time he finished, I had cooked dinner.
We will have finished our homework by the time they arrive.
By Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
'By the time' expresses the idea that one event has been completed before another. It is
important to notice the use of the past perfect for past events and future perfect for future
events in the main clause. This is because of the idea of something happening up to another
point in time.
Until, till
We waited until he finished his homework.
I'll wait till you finish.
'Until' and 'till' express 'up to that time'. We use either the simple present or simple past with
'until' and 'till'. 'Till' is usually only used in spoken English.
Since
I have played tennis since I was a young boy.
They have worked here since 1987.
'Since' means 'from that time'. We use the present perfect (continuous) with 'since'. 'Since' can
also be used with a specific point in time.
As soon as/ Once
He will let us know as soon as he decides (or as soon as he has decided).
As soon as I hear from Tom, I will give you a telephone call.
Once I have a chance, I will throw you an ice ball.
'As soon as' means 'when something happens - immediately afterwards'. 'As soon as' is very
similar to 'when' it emphasizes that the event will occur immediately after the other. We
usually use the simple present for future events, although present perfect can also be used.
NOTE: No sooner … than … or hardly/scarcely/barely …when. . is used in the meaning of
As soon as…but when the sentence starts with them, that part is used in “inversion” like the
question form and in the past perfect tense.
Examples:
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed her.
No sooner had I entered the room than I noticed her.
Hardly had I entered the room when I noticed her.
As soon as he approached the house, the policeman stopped him.
No sooner had he approached the house than the policeman stopped him.
Hardly had he approached the house when the policeman stopped him.
23. ______ he arrived at the bus stop when the bus came.
A. Hardly had B. No sooner had C. No longer has D. Not until had
(TRÍCH ĐỀ THI DẠI HỌC NĂM 2009) Mã Đề 469
Whenever, every time
Whenever he comes, we go to have lunch at "Dick's".
We take a hike every time he visits.
Whenever/Every time Susan feels nervous, she chews her nails.
'Whenever' and 'every time' mean 'each time something happens'. We use the simple present
(or the simple past in the past) because 'whenever' and 'every time' express habitual action.
The first, second, third, fourth etc., next, last time
The first time I went to New York, I was intimidated by the city.
By Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
I saw Jack the last time I went to San Francisco.
The second time I played tennis, I began to have fun.
The first, second, third, fourth etc., next, last time means 'that specific time'. We can use these
forms to be more specific about which time of a number of times something happened.
PART B: EXERCISES
A. CHOOSE THE BEST CHOICE:
1. Lan has learnt English since she_________ a small girl.
A. is B. was C. has been D. had been
2. Don’t go anywhere until I_________ back.
A. come B. came C. will come D. am coming
3. Before cars_________, people_________ horses and bicycles.
A. were discovered/ had used B. discovering/ had used
C. had discovered/ used D. discovered/ had used
4. I am going to speak with the boss when the meeting _______.
A. will end B. ends C. is ending D. would end
5. When we_________ him tomorrow, we will remind him of that.
A. will see B. see C. am seeing D. saw.
6. When he comes, I_________ her the news.
A. tell B. will tell C. would tell D. would have
told
7. When the police came, they _________.
A. are fighting B. fought C. would be fighting D. were
fighting
8. Before she came to England, she _________ English.
A. studied B. will study C. had studied D was
studying
9. I have lost touch with him _________ He left for London.
A. as soon as B. after C. before D. since
10. My mother is washing the dishes _________ my father is watching television.
A. when B. while C. as D. since
11. _______, I will give him the report.
A. When he will return B. When he returns
C. Until he will return D. No sooner he returns
12. _______ the firemen arrived to help, we had already put out the fire.
A. Until B. No sooner C. By the time D. After
13. I have earned my own living _______ I was seven.
A. since B. when C. while D. as soon as
14. We saw many beautiful birds _______ in the lake.
A when we are fishing B. while fishing
C. while fished D. fishing
15. _______, Peter came to see me.
A. While having dinner B. While I was having dinner
C. When having dinner D. When lam having dinner
By Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
16. _______ my homework, I went to bed.
A. After I had finished B. After finished
C. Finished D. After had finished
17. _______ the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
A. Before left B. Before he leaves C. Before leaving D. Before he
will leave
18. Jones _______ after everyone _______.
A. speaks / will eat B. will speak / has eaten
C. is speaking / eats D. has spoken / will have eaten
19. _______, Joe stays in bed and reads magazines.
A. Whenever raining B. As it will be raining C. When it will rain D.
Whenever it rains
20. _______ in Rome than he was kidnapped.
A. No sooner he arrived B. Had he no sooner arrived
C. No sooner had he arrived D. No sooner he had arrived
21. _______ Peter gets here, we will congratulate him.
A. As soon as B. After C. No sooner D. Since
22. Mrs. Pike _______ the door before the customers arrived.
A. had opened B. will open C. would open D. has open
23. After Mariana _______ her exam, I _______ her out to eat.
A. was finishing / would take B. finished / had taken
C. will finish / have taken D. has finished / will take
24. Mary will have finished all her work _______.
A. as soon as her boss returned B. until her boss will return
C. by the time her boss returns D. when he-r boss will return
25. She went on crying, with her head sunk into a pillow, and cried and cried _______ the
pillow was wet through.
A. before B. after C. until D. while
26. _________ you finish typing that report make five copies of it and give it to aloof the
officers.
A. While B. When C. But D. Although
27. When the passenger ________, will you please give him this package?
A. will arrive B. arrives C. would arrives D. arriving
28. They were playing in the garden when_______.
A. they have heard a scream B. they were hearing a scream
C. they heard a scream D. they had heard a scream
29. He cleaned his shoes_______ they shone.
A. when B. after C. while D. until
30. I had no sooner lit the barbecue _______ it started to rain.
A. as B. while C. than D. that
31. When the paint_______ it'll change from a light to a deep red.
A. dry B. dries C. dried D. will dry
32. When_______ older I'd love to be an artist.
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ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
A. I'm B. I'll be C. was D. have been
33. By the time he retires, he_______ $20,000.
A. will save B. has saved C. had saved D. will have
saved
34. When I_______ here for fifteen years I'll be entitled to a pension.
A. work B. am working C. have worked D. had
worked
B. Rewrite using the words in brackets:
1. As soon as he went into the bank, one of the robbers attacked him. (No sooner…than. . .)
2. She fell asleep as soon as she lay down. (Hardly . . . when. . .)
3. As soon as he stepped into the bathroom, the cell phone rang. (No sooner …than. . .)
4. He read the reading passage first. Immediately after that he answered the questions.
(Hardly/when)
5. As soon as he saw her, he recognised her. (No sooner… than…)
Answers:
1. No sooner had he gone into the bank than one of the robbers attacked him.
2. Hardly had she lain down when she fell asleep.
3. No sooner has she stepped into the bathroom than the cell phone rang.
4. Hardly had he read the reading passage when he answered the questions.
5. No sooner had he seen her than he recognised her.
C. Put the verbs in brackets into correct tense
1. How long do you want me to heat the oil? –heat it till it (begin) to smoke. (begins)
2. How long are you going to stay here? - I’m going to stay here until my brother (finish) his
exams. (has finished/ finishes)
3. When I (get) to the cinema, the film (start). (got / had started)
4. By the time you (read) this book, your meal will get cold. (read)
5. Please tell me how to get to the hospital? - Go till you (come) to a square with a statue in
the middle; then turn left and you (find) it on your right. (come/ will find)
6. I (read) book while my sister (do) her homework. (was reading / was doing)
7. When he (come), I (watch) a football match on TV. (came/ was watching)
8. When I (walk) down the street, I (see) her. (was walking / saw)
9. We will go with him as soon as we (finish) the task. (have finished)
10. I (learn) English since I (be) six years old. (have learned / was)
11. When we (see) them last night, they (sing). They (say) they (sing) since 6 o'clock.
12. I hope it (not rain) when the bride (leave) the church tomorrow.
13. In a few minutes' time, when the clock (strike) six, I (wait) here for 3 hours.
14. John (do) the test again at the moment because he (not pass) it the first time.
15. I wish I (listen) to your advice last night. When I (be) able to leave hospital, doctor?
By Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME & EXERCISES
16. I will stay with you until your mother (come) home.
17. After he had got the money, he (leave) home immediately.
18. When he (arrive), he will tell us the truth.
19. Mary was dancing while John (sing).
20. The train left as we (arrive).
ANSWERS
11. When we saw them last night, they were singing. They said they had sung since 6 o'clock.
12. I hope it won't rain when the bride leaves the church tomorrow.
13. In a few minutes' time, when the clock strikes six, I will be waiting here for 3 hours.
14. John is doing the test again at the moment because he didn't pass it the first time.
15. I wish I had listened to your advice last night. When I was able to leave hospital, doctor?
16. I will stay with you until your mother comes home.
17. After he had got the money, he left home immediately.
18. When he arrives, he will tell us the truth.
19. Mary was dancing while John was singing.
20. The train left as we arrived.
------THE END------
By Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72
