TIME CONJUNCTIONS – PAST TENSES

As, while, when As soon as

1) An interruption: a long action interrupted by a short
one 1) Immediately after: the second event happened
immediately after the first
e.g.: As/While/When I was watching a
horror movie, I heard a noise. e.g.: As soon as he had gone outside, it started
raining.
e.g.: It started raining as soon as he had gone
2) Parallel situations: two longer activities happening at outside.
the same time
AS SOON AS + PAST PERFECT
e.g.: As /While/When I was working, my
brother was sitting on the beach.
By the time
When

1) A sequence of events: an instant short action after 1) Before:

another one
e.g.: By the time the police arrived, the robbers
e.g.: When he crossed the finish line, everybody had run away.
cheered. e.g.: The robbers had run away by the time the
police came.

Before, after BY THE TIME + PAST SIMPLE

Once
1) Sequence of events: “before” always goes with the
second action in the sequence. 1) Specific point in time: something has already
happened
e.g.: Before we left, I filled up/had filled up with
petrol. e.g.: Once they got home in the evening, her
e.g.: I filled up/had filled up with petrol before mother had already gone to sleep.
we left.

2) Sequence of events: “after” always goes with the

Until
first action in the sequence.
1) Up to a time in the past: the main clause usually
e.g.: After I filled up/had filled up with petrol, comes first
we left.
e.g.: We left after I filled up/had filled up with e.g.: I’m going to wait until the January sales
petrol. start to buy a new jacket.
e.g.: I thought he was called Damien! Until he
mentioned his name was Doug,