Past Future

Present

Using Adverb Clauses to Show

Time Relations
By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar http://www.kau.edu.sa/SBANJER
http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 1

Adverb clause or Main Clause or
Dependent clause Adverb
Independent clause
Clauses
PAST

PAST PAST PROGRESSIVE and

PAST PERFECT

PAST PERFECT PAST

PRESENT PRESENT Tense

FUTURE s
FUTURE PRESENT

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 2

 AFTER
 ✔✔✔✔✔
After she graduates,
 A present tense,
tense is
used in this
she will get a job.
adverb clause of
time.
 XXXXXX
 Future tense is not
used in this adverb
clause.
Adverb clause or Main Clause or
Dependent clause Independent clause
PRESENT FUTURE

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 3

 WHEN = At that time

 When I arrived, he was talking on the phone.

 When I got there, he had already left.

Adverb clause Main Clause or

or Dependent Independent
clause clause
PAST PAST
PROGRESSIVE
PRESENT PAST
PERFECT

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 4

 WHEN = At that time

 When it began to rain, I stood under a tree.

 When I see him tomorrow, I will ask him.

Adverb clause Main Clause or

or Dependent Independent
clause clause

PAST PAST
PRESENT FUTURE
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 5
 WHILE, AS = During that time.

• While I was walking home, it began to rain.

• As I was walking home, it began to rain.
Past progressive,
progressive
is used in this
adverb clause of
time.

Adverb clause or Main Clause or

Dependent clause Independent clause
PAST
PAST
PROGRESSIVE

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 6

 BY THE TIME
 By the time he arrived,
arrived she had already left.
left
 By the time he comes,
comes she will have already left.
left

Adverb clause Main Clause or

or Dependent Independent
clause clause

PAST PAST
PERFECT
PRESENT FUTURE

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 7

 SINCE

 Since = From that time to the present

 The present perfect is used in the
main clause.

• I haven’t seen him since he left this morning.

• I’ve known her ever since I was a child.
Adverb clause Main Clause or
or Dependent Independent
clause clause

PAST PRESENT
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar PERFECT 8
 UNTIL,
TILL

 We stayed there until we finished our lesson.

 We stayed there till we finished our lesson.

Adverb clause Main Clause or

or Dependent Independent
clause clause

PAST PAST

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 9

 AS SOON AS, ONCE
 As soon as it starts raining, we will leave.
leave
 Once I have a chance, I will throw you an ice ball.

Adverb clause or Main Clause or

Dependent clause Independent clause
PRESENT FUTURE

Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 10

 Whenever = Every time

 Whenever I see her, I say hello.

 Every time I see her, I say hello.

Adverb clause or Main Clause or

Dependent clause Independent clause
PRESENT PRESENT
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 11
 THE FIRST TIME,…. etc.,
THE LAST TIME… etc.,
THE NEXT TIME,…. etc.
 The first time that I went to
New York, I went to an opera.
 I saw two plays the last time
(that) I went to New York.
 The next time (that) I go to
New York, I’m going to see a
ballet.

Adverb clause Main Clause or

or Dependent Independent
clause clause

PAST PAST
PRESENT FUTURE
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 12
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 13