When a person wants to express something, he/she has done, he/she uses time

clauses. These clauses are used to express when that action happened. Every sentence
needs a main clause, this main clause is independent, and the time clause simply states
the relationship of the actions to the activities in the main clause.
Read the following grammar focus: Time Clauses by Jack Richards, Jonathan Hull and
Susan Proctor.

Time Clauses
By the time I was in high school, I had gotten my first job.
The moment I got my first job, I felt like a different person.
Before I had my first job, I was really immature.
Once you have a job, you learn to be more independent.
After I finished high school, I realized that I still had a lot to learn.
As soon as I graduated, I started to be more sensible.
Until you graduate, you don’t understand that life is just beginning.
Now, analyze the following structures:
Dependent sentence Time clause
Independent sentence
I traveled to China several got married after
times

She got promoted made an excellent as soon as

presentation

I became a virtual student develop more skills once

I started master studies in got a scholarship to study by the time

language teaching in England

I started working in a I could buy a car and a until

public school house

My mother retired She had more quality time the moment

for me

Before I got married, I traveled to China several times.

As soon as she made an excellent presentation, she got promoted.
Once I became a virtual student, I develop more skills.
By the time I started master studies in language teaching, I got a scholarship to study
in England.
Until I started working in a public school, I could buy a car and a house.
The moment my mother retired, she had more quality time for me.

As you can see, clauses can be used to refer to two different ideas in one single
sentence. Now that you have seen how to use time clauses, have some practice
matching column A with appropriate information from column B.
A
 By the time I was 15, ______

 Until I started working part time, _______

 The moment I got my first paycheck _______
 As soon as I left home, ________
 Once I started sharing an apartment, ________
 After I began a relationship, ________
 Before I traveled abroad, _________
 Until I got really sick, __________
B
 I didn’t appreciate my own country.
 I began to understand the value of money.
 I learned how to communicate better.
 I realized that wasn’t a child anymore.
 I didn’t understand the importance of good health.
 I had learned how to take care of myself.
 I learned how to get along better.
 I never saved any money.
To reinforce your knowledge, think about the following activities and write sentences
using time clauses. Finally, send both exercises.

 Obtaining a B.A. degree ________________________.

 Writing your thesis ____________________________.
 Getting a better job____________________________.
 Getting promoted _____________________________.
 Receiving a scholarship ________________________.
This activity provides with the opportunity to practice time clauses.