PRESENT TENSE

TIME CLAUSES :
After, Before, When, While
FIRST REMEMBER ‘PRESENT
TENSES’
Present Simple
Habitual Actions or permanent states
He goes swimming every day./She works in a bank.
Laws of nature/scientific facts and instructions:
Ice melts when we heat it.
First you chop the meat, then you fry it.
Arranged future actions (timetables, programmes, etc.):
The match begins at 8:30 next Monday evening.
In narrations:
The prince rides his horse and reaches an unknown place…

Time expressions:
usually, often, always, every day, in the morning, on Mondays, etc.
Present Continuous
Actions in progress/temporary actions:
Shhhh! He is sleeping at the moment.
They’re looking for a flat nowadays.

Repeated actions with always, forever, constantly often to show

annoyance:
You’re always listening to loud music. I hate that! Don’t do that again!
Fixed arrangements for the near future:
They are going on a picnic tomorrow. They bought the drinks and the food
yesterday. They are ready now.

Current trends and developments:

Oil prices are rising at present.

Time expressions: now, at the moment, these days, still, today, tonight,
nowadays, etc.
 Read the text message and pay attention to the use of
‘when, while, after & before’.

Hi Susan,

Thank you for your kind invitation for your party tonight, but I cannot join you because I have a plan tonight.
It’s almost 6 p.m. and my best friend Jack is getting ready to leave his office while I am writing this message
to you. Every Saturday night, Jack and I get together after he finishes work around 6.30 p.m. . That’s our
regular plan for Saturday nights. He calls me when he leaves work. I prepare some snacks before he arrives.
We select a movie when he gets here. After we watch the movie, we generally chat about the books in our
book club, eat some snacks and then leave for a walk. As you see, I’m busy tonight. Next time, Jack and I
may come to one of your parties. Take care.

Laura
TIME CLAUSES
We can add a time-related activity to a main clause with ‘before,
after, when, or while’. The verb in the main clause is always present
tense, and the verb in the time clause is present tense, too.

Jack and I get together after he finishes work.

MAIN CLAUSES TIME CLAUSES
1. We get together after he finishes work. (later than)

2. He calls me when he leaves work. (at the moment or soon after)

3. I prepare some snacks before he arrives. (earlier than)

4. Jack is getting ready to leave his office while I am writing this message to you. (ongoing-
same time activities)
More Examples:
After I drink coffee, my headache (generally) stops. Coffee has a magical effect
on me.
(OR ‘My headache (generally) stops after I drink coffee.’)

She takes the train when she travels to London because it is cheaper.

When I get up, I (always) take a shower. Taking a shower is the best activity to
start a day for me.
AFTER
What always happens after something else occurs.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple

•Our teacher gives us homework after she finishes the lesson. Every day she
does that. We are very luck.
•I revise all the grammar subjects after I finish my homework every night. I
am a very responsible student.
BEFORE
What happens before something else occurs on a regular basis.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple

•I (sometimes) take a shower before I go to school.

•Tom exercises every evening before he eats dinner.
•Brush your teeth before you go to bed!
•We tell stories to each other before everyone goes to bed.
WHEN
What always happens when something else occurs.
Time clause: present simple
Main clause: present simple

•We always discuss problems of our country when I get together

with my friends or family members.
•My sister plays golf when she has time. This is her hobby.
 WHILE
*Two actions are happening at the same time.
1.We are lying on the beach while they are playing volleyball. (OR ‘While they are
playing volleyball, we are lying on the beach.’)
2.While he is watching television, she is reading a book (now).
3.While the teacher is teaching grammar rules for ‘Time Clauses’, the students are
listening to her carefully and taking notes.
***Also, we can say:
*I can clean the house while you are doing the shopping.
*I hope to see you while I’m on holiday. (during that time)
*While you are studying, try to focus on your subject and do not spend time on the
internet.
LET’S PRACTICE
1. She always__________ (order) a hamburger when she __________ (go) to a restaurant with
me.
•order... went
•orders... goes
•ordered... go
•is ordering... goes
2.Bob usually __________ (use) a bilingual dictionary when he __________ (read) a book in
German.
•uses... read
•used... reads
•is using... read
•uses... reads
3.We __________ (go) out for drinks after we __________ (get) home.
•go... get
•went... get
•are going... got
•go... gets
4.I sometimes __________ (prepare) dinner before my best friend __________ (arrive).
•prepare... arrived
•prepare... arrive
•prepared... are arriving
•prepare... arrives
5.She __________(take) the subway when she __________ (go) into town every week.
•take... go
•took... went
•takes... is going
•takes... goes
Put the verbs in brackets into appropriate present tense.
1. While my brother ____________(help)
is helping my mother in the kitchen, I am
helping my father in the garden.
has
2. When Nick ________(have) time, he always visits his grandfather in
summer.
leaves
3. Before Tom ___________(leave ) the house, he always locks all the
doors.
4. While Tom _______________(drive),
is driving his wife is singing a song in the
car.
finish
5. After I ____________(finish) my homework, I always revise all the
grammar subjects of the week.