Time clauses provide information about actions in the past, present, and future. When is used to refer to past actions, such as remembering when a class started. When referring to the future in a time clause, simple present tense is used. Other time clauses like until, once, and as soon as are used with different tenses to indicate the timing of actions. While is used to refer to actions that occur simultaneously or during a period of time. Present perfect in a time clause refers to a future situation or event.

1. Time Clauses

2. Time Clauses
• Time clauses provide
information about actions in the
past, present, and the future.

3. WHEN
• I remember when the English course started -I was
very excited!
• When you fly first class, you get more leg room.
• When the English course finishes, Paulina will go
out for lunch with the teacher (if she passes the
course, that is!).

4. Time Clauses
• When referring to the future
tense in a time clause, we use
simple present.

5. UNTIL / ONCE / AS SOON AS
• UNTIL inflation is under control, planning will be
difficult.
• ONCE we finish this semester, we will have a short
break.
• AS SOON AS we finish class today, the teacher will
have lunch with some other teachers.

6. WHILE
(“at the same time as”, “during the time that”)
• I listen to music while I am studying.
• I was working late at the office last night while she
was out socialising.
• While I was in Italy, I ate a lot of gelato and pizza,
and drank lots of cappuccino in the morning.

7. Time Clauses
• Present perfect in a time clause
refers to a future situation:

8. UNTIL / ONCE / AS SOON AS
• We won´t know the results UNTIL we have
received all the sales reports.
• ONCE we finish this semester, we will have a short
break.
• I´ll get back to you AS SOON AS have decided what
to do.