Conjunctions of Time
Conjunctions of time connect two clauses while stating the time. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
What Are Conjunctions of Time?
Conjunctions of time are words that connect clauses by indicating time relationships between them. These conjunctions are used to show a chronological sequence of events or to link two actions that occur at the same time.
Common Conjunctions of Time
Here are the most common conjunctions of time:
Conjunctions of Time: Uses
Subordinating conjunctions of time are used to introduce a subordinate clause that provides time-related information to the main clause. Either clause can be used as the first clause of the sentence, depending on the emphasis that is desired.
I have been in China
'After' and 'Before' as Conjunctions of Time
The conjunctions 'after ' and 'before' are used to indicate the order in which events occur. 'Before' is used to indicate that one event happened earlier in time than another event, while 'after' is used to indicate that one event happened later in time than another event.
When 'before' is used at the beginning of a sentence, it sets up the context for the subsequent clause to describe an event that occurs later in time. In contrast, when 'after' is used at the beginning of a sentence, it sets up the context for the subsequent clause to describe an event that occurs earlier in time.
I graduated
'Before' is used at the beginning of the sentence, indicating that her marriage happened later than working in a bank.
'When' as a Conjunction of Time
The conjunction 'when' is used to indicate the time at which two events occur, often when they happen simultaneously or in close proximity to each other. It can also be used to indicate that one event occurs immediately after another event. Here are the examples:
I was watching TV
I got happy
'While' as a Conjunction of Time
When used as a conjunction, 'while' indicates that two events are happening at the same time. It is often used to show a contrast or a comparison between the two events. Here are the examples:
I kissed her on the cheeks
'Until' and 'By the Time' as Conjunctions of Time
'Until' and 'by the time' are used to indicate the time up to which an action or event occurs.
'Until' is used to indicate the point in time up to which an action or event occurs. 'By the time' is used to indicate the point in time at which an action or event is expected to be completed. Here are the examples:
I was happy
Everything will be ready
'Since' as a Conjunction of Time
'Since' is used to refer to a point in time in the past from which an action or event began and continues to the present. It can also be used to indicate that an action or event started at the same time as another event. Here are a few examples:
I was afraid of clowns
I feel better
'As' as a Conjunction of Time
'As' is used to indicate that two events occur simultaneously. It is often used to show a comparison or a contrast between the two events. Here are the examples:
They stopped talking
I couldn't run
'As Long as' as a Conjunction of Time
As long as is used to indicate the duration of time that an action or event occurs. Check out the examples for more clarification:
We are strong
They want to stay
Punctuation Rules
When conjunctions of time are used to introduce a subordinate clause at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is typically used to separate it from the main clause. However, when the subordinate clause follows the main clause, no comma is needed between the clauses. Here are the examples:
I will answer the phone calls
Warning
Do not use 'during' as an alternative for 'while' because they are different parts of speech. 'During' is a preposition, but 'while' is a conjunction.
Review
Conjunctions of time are used to show the time relations between two events. Here are the most common conjunctions of time:
- Before/after
- When
- As long as
- While/as
- Until/by the time
- Since