Grammar: Time Clauses

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Being Your Own Boss

Do you have what it takes to be your own boss? In this lesson, students will explore the pros and cons of being self-employed. The lesson features a video discussing self-employment. Students will learn and practice the zero and first conditionals, time clauses, and related phrases and vocabulary. The lesson includes plenty of engaging discussion activities and worksheets, designed specifically for adults and teenagers, ensuring an interactive and informative learning experience.

B1 Intermediate   |   General English, Business English, Speaking Lessons   |   Video   |   Life Choices   |   45 min   | B1-3

Understanding Time Clauses in English

Time clauses are an essential part of English grammar, used to explain when one action occurs in relation to another. These dependent clauses are introduced by time conjunctions such as when, while, before, after, as soon as, until, and since. By adding these clauses to sentences, you can create a clear timeline of events, making your communication more precise and natural.

Time clauses follow specific grammar rules to ensure clarity. For example, although they describe future actions, the verb in the time clause is typically in the present tense rather than the future. Consider the sentence: "I will call you when the meeting ends." Here, the time clause "when the meeting ends" uses the present tense despite referring to a future event. Similarly, time clauses can be positioned at the beginning or end of a sentence, with a comma separating them if they appear at the start.

These clauses are categorized based on when the action takes place. Present time clauses describe ongoing or habitual actions, such as "I feel happy when I exercise." Past time clauses are used for completed events, like "They left before the rain started." Future time clauses discuss upcoming actions, as in "Let’s go out after the movie finishes." This flexibility makes time clauses a versatile tool for connecting ideas.

Mastering time clauses is crucial for anyone learning English. They make sentences more structured and allow for smoother storytelling or explanations. Whether you’re a teacher creating lesson plans or a student building fluency, understanding time clauses will help you express relationships between actions clearly and effectively. Explore our ESL worksheets and lesson plans to practice using time clauses in real-life contexts!