2. TIME AND SEQUENCE
A. When and as soon as
I’ll call you when I get home
As soon as I get home. I’ll call you
When you’ve finished, you can leave
You can leave as soon as you’ve finished
Note:
The meaning is the same, but as soon as
suggests it is more immediate. Note also that
both items can be followed by the present
tense or the present perfect (but not will)
3. Two things happening at the same time
• Ibnu wrote some letters while I cooked the dinner.
(two actions in the same period of time)
• The accident happened while I was on my way to
work. (Here there is a longer action ‘on my way
to work’ and a shorter action ‘the accident’. We
can also use when or as here)
• I saw him (just) as I came out of office. (For two
very short actions we use as (not while), and we
often use just as to emphasize that these two short
actions happened as exactly the same moment: He
opened the door just as I touched the handle.)
4. One thing after another
• We met them at the café, and
then/afterward/afterwards we went to the concert.
• After we visit to New York, I decided to relax for a
few days.
• We had something to eat before we went out
Note: We can also follow before and after with an –
ing form.
5. A sequence of actions
• We had a great vacation. First (of all), we went
to Surabaya. Then/ After that/ Afterward (s),
we drove to Malang. Finally, we went to
Gresik
Note:
If something happened after a lot of time
and/or problems, you can use eventually or in
the end, e.g., I made several wrong turns, but
eventually I got there.
6. A sequence of reasons
Son : Why can’t we go away this weekend?
Dad : First(ly) because I’m busy this weekend. Second(ly)
you’ve got a lot of school work to do. And third(ly)
we’re planning to go away next weekend.
Note:
a. We can also start with the phrases to begin with/ to
start with.
b. In spoken English we can start with for one thing
followed by and for another (thing).
c. For the second or final reason, we sometimes use
(and) besides or anyway (infml)
We can’t go to that club because it’s too far. And
besides, I’m not a member.
7. In addition, furthermore, and
• The food is excellent and the prices are
reasonable.
• The food is excellent. Furthermore/What’s
more, the prices are reasonable.
• The fixed price menu is $10, which is very
reasonable. In addition, you get a free beverage.
• The restaurant has a reputation for excellent food.
The prices are also reasonable.
• The food is excellent in that restaurant. The prices
are reasonable as well/too.
8. Although, in spite of, etc
When you want to contrast two pieces of
information in a single sentence and say that
second fact is surprising after the first, you can
use these link words:
• She still won the game although, even though/
though she had a bad knee.
• They still went for a walk in spite of the fact that
it was raining hard/ in spite of the rain.
• He still failed the exam despite the fact that he’d
studied hard/despite studying hard.
Note:
1. It is common to use still in these sentences to
emphasize the surprise
9. Whereas
• This word is used to connect a fact or opinion
about a person, place or thing, with something
different about another person, place or thing
(you can also use whilst). In other words, the
second fact is a contrast with the first, but not
always a surprise .
• Ahmad is very careful, whereas Joko makes
lots of mistakes.
• The south is hot and dry, whereas the north
gets quite a lot of rain.
10. However
You can use however or on the other hand to
contrast two ideas in two sentences. However
is more appropriate when the second sentence
is surprising after the first.
• I don’t agree with all of her methods.
However, she is a good teacher.
• We didn’t like the hotel at all. However, we
still enjoyed ourselves.
• Sam liked the movie a lot. Jane, however/on
the other hand, thought it was stupid.
11. Exception
• It snowed everywhere except on the west coast.
• The two girls are very similar except that Lilik
has slightly longer hair.
• The museum is open every day except (for)/ apart
from Sunday.
• Everyone heard the fire alarm except (for)/ apart
from the two boys in room 7.
Note:
Except can be followed by different words
(nouns, prepositions, etc.), but except for and
apart from are followed by nouns and noun
phrases.
12. • I went home because/as/since I was feeling a
bit tired
• Due to/owing to the power cut last night, I
missed the late film last night.
due to/owing to are used in sentences which
explain the reason for problem
13. She was extremely hard-working and therefore
deserve the promotion
I forgot to send the letter. Consequently/as the
result, therefore, some people didn’t know
about the meeting.
I forgot to send the letter, so some people didn’t
know about the meeting.
