This document discusses time clauses and how to combine sentences using before, after, and when. It provides examples of sentences combined with each time clause word, explaining that after is used when one action occurs after another, before indicates that one action happened before the other, and when describes two simultaneous actions or one action leading to another. Sample sentences are given for each conjunction to model their use in combining two clauses.

1. TIME CLAUSES
before, after, when
Katie Mitchell

2. COMBINETWO SENTENCES
WITH
BEFORE, AFTER, AND WHEN.
These words give us information about
what happened first.

3. Combine Sentences
First, I went to the store. Second, I bought a cake.
After I went to the store, I bought a cake.

4. AFTER I WENTTOTHE
STORE, I BOUGHT A CAKE.
Notice that each clause or part of the
sentence has both a subject and a verb.

5. AFTER I WENTTOTHE
STORE, I BOUGHT A CAKE.
When we talk about the past or present,
both parts of the sentence are also
usually in the same tense. In the example
above, both parts are in simple past.

6. After: After I did the first thing,
I did the second thing.
The first action is in the time clause with after,
and the second action is in the main clause.
•After we ate dinner, I did the dishes.
•After I finished my homework, I watchedTV.
•I go to bed after I brush my teeth.

7. The order doesn’t change the meaning. Just
add a comma after the time clause if it’s the
first thing in the sentence.
After we got to coffee shop, we talked for hours.
We talked for hours after we got to coffee shop.

8. Combine Sentences
First, I brushed my teeth. Second, I went to school.
After I brushed my teeth, I went to school.

9. Combine Sentences
First, she cooked dinner. Second, she ate.
After she cooked dinner, she ate.

10. Combine Sentences
First, they got coffee. Second, they chatted.
They chatted after they got coffee.

11. Before: Before I did the second
thing, I did the first thing.
The first action happened before the action
described in the time clause with before.
• Before I cooked dinner, I went to the grocery
store.
•Before I became an engineer, I went to college.
•I studied before I took the test.

12. Combine Sentences
First, he put on his jacket. Second, he went outside.
Before he went outside, he put on his jacket.

13. Combine Sentences
First, they ate salad. Second, they ate dessert.
Before they ate dessert, they ate salad.

14. Combine Sentences
First, we got popcorn. Second, we watched the movie.
We got popcorn before we watched the
movie.

15. When: When I did one thing,
another thing happened.
The action described in the when clause happened
just before the main clause.
•When I was in the United States, I took classes at
the International English Center.
•When I get coffee, I also get a cookie.
•They went to an art museum when they were in
Denver.

16. Combine Sentences
First, we went to the store. Second, we saw Paul.
When we went to the store, we saw Paul.

17. Combine Sentences
First, my sister got sick. Second, we went to the doctor’s.
When my sister got sick, we went to the doctor’s.

18. Combine Sentences
First, I moved to the U.S. Second, I studied English.
I studied English when I moved to the U.S.