I.
Cách dùng các liên từ: When, Until, While, Before, After
Clause of time
When + present simple,
present simple/ future simple
When + simple past, past
perfect
When + simple past, simple
past
When + past continous,
simple past
When + past perfect, simple
past
When + present simple, S +
will + be + V.ing
While + past/ present
continous, past/ present
countinous
Clause of time
After + past perfect, simple
past
After + simple past, simple
present.
After + simple past, simple past
After + simple present/ present
perfect, simple future
Before +simple past, past
perfect
Use
Diễn tả mối quan hệ giữa hành động
và kết quả, hoặc sự việc tron tương lai
Hành động xảy ra trước một hành
động trong quá khứ (hành động ở
mệnh đề when).
Diễn tả hai hành động xảy ra song
song, hoặc liên tiếp trong quá khứ
Diễn tả một hành động đang diễn ra,
một hành động ngắn xen vào.
Hành động xảy ra nối tiếp hành động
trong quá khứ
Hành động đang diễn ra trong tương
lai song song với hành động ở mệnh
đề when
Diễn tả hai hành động xảy ra đồng
thời, song song trong hiện tại hoặc
quá khứ.
Use
Hành động xảy ra sau một hành
động trong quá khứ.
Hành động xảy ra trong quá khứ, để
kết quả ở hiện tại
Hành động xảy ra trong quá khứ, để
lại kết quả trong quá khứ
Sau khi làm việc gì sẽ làm việc gì
tiếp theo
Hành động xảy ra trước một hành
động trong quá khứ
Example
When you receive our letter, you
will know our address.
When I came to her home, she had
gone to work.
I took a rest when the plane took
off.
When we were playing football, the
bell rang.
When the opportunity had passed, I
realized that i had had it.
When you receive my postcard, i
will be welcoming the dawn at
Japan.
While my mother is cooking, my
father is reading newspaper.
Example
After we had finished our test, we
handed in for teacher.
After they quarelled many times,
they decide to divorce.
After we dicussed in a hour, we
soluted our problem.
After she have booked the airline
ticket, she go to Thailand.
Before we went to Mike’s house,
we had contacted to him
 Before + simple present, Before we have a holiday, we
Trước khi làm gì sẽ làm gì
simple future/ simple present will decide destination.

II. Vị trí trong câu chứa When, Until, While, Before, After
Thông thường, các mệnh đề có vị trí linh hoạt trong câu, tùy theo hàm ý nhận mạnh, hay diễn đạt của người sử
dụng. Mệnh đề có chứa liên từ When, While, Before, After là mệnh đề phụ bổ sung ngữ nghĩa cho mệnh đề
chính. Khi được đảo lên đầu câu, mệnh đề chứ When, While, Before, After cần ngăn cách với mệnh đề chính
bằng dấu phẩy.
VD:
 Before going to bed, she had finished her homework. => She had finished her homework before going to
bed.
 Before going to bed, she had finished her homework. => She had finished her homework before going to
bed.

Các mệnh đề chứa liên từ When, While, Before, After hay Until là những mệnh đề phụ bổ sung ý nghĩa hay
là thông báo nền cho mệnh đề chính. Các mệnh đề bỏ những liên từ này có vị trí linh động dưới câu, tùy theo
diễn đạt hay hàm ý nhấn mạnh của người sử dụng. Tuy nhiên, nếu đảo lên đầu câu thì những mệnh đề này cần
được ngăn cách với mệnh đề chính bằng dấu phẩy.
Ví dụ:
 They had finished their assignment before going to the concert. => Before going to the concert, they had
finished their assignment.

III. Lưu ý về When, Until, While, Before, After

 Trong cách dùng WHEN, WHILE, BEFORE và AFTER thì ngoài vai trò liên từ trong các mệnh đề, 
 When, Before còn xuất hiện trong các câu trúc đặc biệt dưới dạng Đảo ngữ:

Hardly/ Scarely + had + S + PII (Past Participle)… when + S + V.ed: Vừa mới…. thì….

Ví dụ:
 Hardly had they went home when it rained heavily
 Scarely mother had cleaned up when the boy messed up.

 Bên cạnh vai trò liên từ, Before, After đều là những giới từ, có thể theo sau bởi danh từ, cụm danh từ.
Ví dụ:
  After graduating from university, she apply for an accountant.

 Before/ After thể hiện thứ tự hành động, còn được biết như một dấu hiệu nhận biết của các thì thể hoàn
thành.
Ví dụ:
After finishing his homework, Tommy went straight to the club
 Ngay sau khi hoàn thành bài tập về nhà, Tommy đi quẩy.
 After là giới từ đi theo sau cụm “finishing his homework”.
IV. “When” kết hợp với “Only” sử dụng trong cấu trúc Đảo ngữ

Only when + Clause (chỉ đến khi) = Not until

Ví dụ:
 Only when he is here does his wife starts speaking Vietnamese.
⇒ Chỉ đến khi anh ấy có mặt ở đây thì vợ anh ấy mới bắt đầu nói tiếng Việt.

TỔNG HỢP BÀI TẬP PHÂN BIỆT WHEN, WHILE, BEFORE VÀ AFTER
I. Complete the sentences with when or while:
1. I was having lunch _________________ James arrived.
2. _________________ I heard the door bell, I went to the door.
3. _________________ Jo was washing her hair, I did my homework.
4. _________________ I buy the bread, you can go to the butcher's.
5. I was at the baker's __________________ I met Jo.
6. The customer was being helped by the salesman ________________ the thief came into the
store.
7. _______________ you saw Keith, was he with Jo?
8. I was in the shop _________________ someone stole my bag.
9. I hurt my back _________________ I tried to lift the piano.
10. _________________ we were standing outside the cinema, someone picked my pocket.
11. _________________ Mrs. Scott came back to her hotel, she called the elevator.
II. Choose the correct answer:
1. ________ he was talking on the phone, I was watching TV.

A. while
B. when

2. He was cancelling his flight ___________________ we called him.

A. while
B. when
3. I was overtaking a truck ________ I heard a loud thump.
A. while
B. when
4. We were watching a movie ________ the screen went blank.
A. while
B. when
5. ________ she was packing the bags, I was looking for our passports.
A. while
B. when
6. We were complaining about the weather ___________________ the sun broke through the
clouds.
A. while
B. when
7. Sandra was washing the dishes __________________ a plate fell off the shelf.
A. while
B. when
8. Do not disturb me ________ I'm listening to music!
A. while
B. when
III. Connect the sentences:
1. While Jake was fishing a. they ate all the chocolate from the box.
2. A terrible accident happened b. he fell out of the boat.
3. Sasha lost her mobile c. when we left the cinema.
4. We were having dinner d. she cut her thumb.
5. When nobody was looking at the kids e. when I was driving to work.
6. I burnt my nose f. while she was getting out of her car.
7. It was heavily raining g. when all of a sudden, some unexpected guests
arrived.
8. While she was making a sandwich h. while I was frying sausages.

IV. Complete the sentences choosing Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. When I (study)__________________hard for the exam, my crowd (pass) ________________ by to visit me.
2. When Claire (do)_________________a language course in France, she (visit)_________________ the
Mont Saint-Michel.
3. Happily, when we (get up) __________________ yesterday, the rain (not, fall) __________________.
4. While Jude (play) _________________ the guitar, his sister (walk) _________________ the dog.
5. While we (jog)________________ in the park, we (see) _________________ the first signs of spring.
6. While it (rain) ________________ in the Alps, the tourists (sit)_________________ round all day in
mountain chalets.
V. Please complete these sentences with the appropriate adverb of time (‘before’,
‘after’, ‘when’, ‘while’, ‘until’ and ‘as soon as’)
1. He cleaned his teeth ___________________ he went to bed.
2. The ambulance arrived at the scene five minutes ___________________ the accident had
happened.
3. ___________________ I am older, I want to start my own business.
4. I went straight to the hospital ___________________ I heard about your accident.
5. They watched the program ___________________ the end even though it was not very
interesting.
6. They took short breaks every half an hour ___________________ they were playing tennis.
7. Rebecca went to bed ___________________ she got home because she was so tired.
8. People should be very careful ___________________ they cross busy roads.
9. We cannot light the barbecue ___________________ the rain stops.
10. Paul found somebody’s wallet on the ground ___________________ he was walking to the bus
stop.
VI. Combine the following sentences using until, till, before or after.
1. He won’t marry ................. he gets a job.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
2. Don’t open the window .................. the rain stops.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
3. I will wait here .................. you finish your work.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
4. Don’t go ..................... I tell you.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
5. We will have to live in this house ................... we find a better one.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
6. He had locked the door ................. he went out.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
7. You must wash your hands ..................... you eat anything.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
8. He will finish his work ............... he goes home.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
9. He had counted the coins ..................... he put them in the box.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
10. He went out to play ....................... he did his homework.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
11. I put on my clothes ........................ I had washed myself.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here
12. We reached the station ten minutes ....................... the train left.
A. until
B. before
C. Either could be used here