Languages › English as a Second Language Correct Use of the Time Expressions After, Before, and When Share Flipboard Email Veronica Grech / Getty Images English as a Second Language Vocabulary Basic Conversations for English Language Learners Pronunciation & Conversation Writing Skills Reading Comprehension Grammar Business English Resources for Teachers By Kenneth Beare Kenneth Beare English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert TESOL Diploma, Trinity College London M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on October 26, 2020 The time expressions after, before and when are used to indicate when something happens in the past, present, or future. Each is a subordinating conjunction which introduces a dependent clause and can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.I went to school after I had finished my homework.She takes the train when she travels to London.Mary finished the report before she made the presentation. orAfter we have discussed the issue, we can make a decision. When we get up, we take a shower. Before we left, we visited our friends in Seattle. After, before and when introduce a full clause and require a subject and verb. Therefore, the time expressions after, before, and when introduce adverb clauses.AfterThe action in the main clause occurs after what occurs in the time clause. Notice the use of tenses:Future: What will happen after something occurs.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: futureWe'll discuss the plans after he gives the presentation.Jack is going to propose to Jane after they have dinner on Friday!Present: What always happens after something else occurs.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: present simpleAlison checks her mail after she gets home.David plays golf after he mows the lawn on Saturdays.Past: What happened after something (had) occurred.Time clause: past simple or past perfectMain clause: past simpleThey ordered 100 units after Tom (had) approved the estimate.Mary purchased a new car after she (had) researched all her options.BeforeThe action in the main clause happens before the action described in the time clause. Notice the use of tenses:Future: What will happen before something else occurs in the future.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: futureBefore he completes the report, he will check all the facts.Jennifer will speak with Jack before she makes a decision.Present: What happens before something else occurs on a regular basis.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: present simpleI take a shower before I go to work.Doug exercises every evening before he eats dinner.Past: What (had) happened before something else occurred at a point of time in the past.Time clause: past simple Main clause: past simple or past perfectShe had already eaten before he arrived for the meeting.They finished the discussion before he changed his mind.WhenThe action in the main clause happens when something else occurs. Notice that "when" can indicate different times depending on the tenses used. However, "when" generally indicates that something happens after, as soon as, upon something else occurring. In other words, it happens just after something else occurs. Notice the use of tenses:Future: What happens when something else occurs in the future.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: futureWe'll go out to lunch when he comes to visit me. (general time)Francis will give me a call when he gets the confirmation. (after in a general sense—it could be immediately, or later)Present: What always happens when something else occurs.Time clause: present simpleMain clause: present simpleWe discuss the bookkeeping when she comes every month.Susan plays golf when her friend Mary is in town.Past: What happened when something else (had) occurred. The past tense of "when" can indicate that something happened regularly or one specific time in the past.Time clause: past simple Main clause: past simpleShe took the train to Pisa when he came to visit her in Italy. (once, or on a regular basis)They had a great time seeing the sights when they went to New York.After, When, Before QuizConjugate the verbs in brackets based on the time context in the sentences below. 1. She __________(take) the subway when she __________ (go) into town every week. take... go did take... went will take... will go takes... goes Correct Wrong 2. I __________ (prepare) dinner before my friend __________ (arrive) yesterday evening. prepared... arrived prepared... had arrived have prepared... arrived will prepare... arrives Correct Wrong 3. We __________ (go) out for drinks after we __________ (get) to the hotel next Tuesday. went... got will go... get are going... got going... get Correct Wrong 4. Before I __________ (answer) his question, he __________ (tell) me his secret. answer... will tell answered... told had answered... told All these answers are correct. Correct Wrong 5. Bob usually __________ (use) a bilingual dictionary when he __________ (read) a book in German. used... read has used... read will use... read uses... reads Correct Wrong 6. When he __________ (arrive) next week, we __________ (play) a round of golf. will arrive... will play is arriving... are playing arrives... will play arrived... played Correct Wrong 7. She __________ (order) a hamburger when she __________ (go) to a restaurant with me last week. order... did go had ordered... went ordered... went is ordering... goes Correct Wrong 8. After I __________ (finish) the report, I __________ (hand) in my homework to the teacher tomorrow. finish... will hand finished... handed have finished... am handing am finishing... will hand Correct Wrong Correct Use of the Time Expressions After, Before, and When You got: % Correct. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email Correct Use of the Time Expressions After, Before, and When You got: % Correct. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email Correct Use of the Time Expressions After, Before, and When You got: % Correct. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email