Grammar: B1 - ✨ Grammar Essentials: 🧩 Parts of Speech & 🏗️ Sentence Structure - Lesson 7: Conjunctions of Time (when, while, before, after, as soon as, until)

Grammar: Conjunctions of Time

B1 Lesson 18: Connecting Events with 'When', 'While', 'After' etc.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to connect clauses using common time conjunctions and correctly apply the comma rule based on clause order.

Connecting Actions in Time

Time conjunctions are powerful words that connect two actions (clauses) in a sentence. They act like signposts, telling your listener when something happens in relation to another event.

🔵 Sequencing Events

Use before and after to show a clear order.

Example: Eat breakfast before you go to work.

Example: We went for coffee after we visited the museum.

🔵 Simultaneous Events

Use while for two actions happening at the same time.

Example: I listened to a podcast while I was on the bus.

🔵 Specific Moments

Use when for an action at a specific moment, and as soon as for something that happens immediately.

Example: He was happy when he saw the temple.

Example: Call me as soon as you arrive.

The Grammar Rule: Using Commas 📖

The Comma Rule for Time Clauses

The punctuation changes depending on the order of the clauses.

Rule: When the time clause (the part with 'when', 'after', etc.) comes first in the sentence, you must use a comma after it.

After we visited the temple, we were tired.

We were tired after we visited the temple. (No comma)

While I was waiting, I read a book.

I read a book while I was waiting. (No comma)

Practice Your Grammar 🎯

Exercise: Choose the Best Conjunction

Choose the best time conjunction from the list to complete the sentences: (before, after, while, as soon as, until)

1. Please wash your hands ______ you eat.
   → before
2. The tour will start ______ everyone arrives.
   → as soon as
3. She was reading a book ______ he was watching TV.
   → while
4. I'm going to explore the city ______ I finish my work.
   → after
5. We can't leave ______ our tour guide gets here.
   → until

Your Grammar Mission ⭐

Join the Sentences

Combine the two clauses using the conjunction in parentheses. Remember to use a comma if the time clause comes first!

Example: I will call you. I get home. (when) → I will call you when I get home.

1. He finished his homework. He went to bed. (after)
2. The phone rang. I was taking a shower. (while)
3. We arrived at the airport. We checked in our bags. (as soon as)

Show Answers

1. After he finished his homework, he went to bed.

2. The phone rang while I was taking a shower.

3. As soon as we arrived at the airport, we checked in our bags.

Key Vocabulary

• Conjunction of Time (Noun Phrase) | ឈ្នាប់នៃពេលវេលា
  A word that connects two clauses and shows a time relationship (e.g., when, while, before).
• Clause (Noun) | ឃ្លា
  A group of words with a subject and a verb that is part of a sentence.
• Simultaneously (Adverb) | ក្នុងពេលដំណាលគ្នា
  Happening at the exact same time.