Handout 8 – Linking: Time clauses

Match the examples and their explanations appropriately:

1.   After checking / Having checked / When / After / Once I had checked my change again

very carefully, I went back into the supermarket.

After making / Having made / When / After / Once he had made sure all the current was switched off, he carefully checked the wiring.

 

2.   Putting on his dressing gown, he went downstairs.

      Going into every room, he had a good look round, but could see nothing unusual.

 

3.   On putting the key in the lock, she found it did not fit very well. / When she put the key in

      the lock, she….

On touching the handle of the fridge, she got an electric shock. / When she touched the handle of the fridge, … .

 

4.   As soon as / Immediately she saw there was blood on his shirt, she knew she had to do

      something.

     As soon as / Immediately she had phoned reception she returned to the injured man’s side.

 

5.   She phoned reception, telling them what had happened.

     ‘Eureka!’ he shouted into the phone, waving his passport in the air.

 

6.   While she was waiting for someone to come up, the man suddenly gave a groan.

     While (he was) waiting for her reply, he happened to feel his hip pocket.

 

7.   While / As she stood staring at him, he slowly opened his eyes and stared back.

 

A)   The first event is an introduction to the second, into which it changes without a break. In this kind of relationship between events, the subjects of the verbs are normally the same, and the appropriate time link is introductory –ing.

B)   The first event is followed urgently by the second. We use the past tense when there is overlapping, but the past perfect tense when the first event is completed before the second begins.

C)   If the subject of both verbs in the sentence is the same, we normally link with –ing;

when may be used instead of after, but with when the past perfect tense must be used where, with after, there is a choice of tenses; this is to make clear that the first event is completed before the second begins.

Once can replace after or when, because here someone regards the completion of the first event as a necessary condition for passing on to the second:

Once she had made sure no one was waiting for her, she collected her key.

D)   The second event takes place only as part of the first event; in this relationship the subjects are normally the same, and we can use –ing; but now it is in second, not introductory, position.

E)   The two events are of approximately of equal duration and in progress at the same time. The tense forms are accordingly the same, whether simple or progressive:

While she was staring at him, he was staring at her.

There is often little difference between as and while, although as rather than while can give the idea of gradual, simultaneous change:

As she quietly approached him, he slowly opened his eyes.

F)   The first event is not completed before the second begins, but overlaps it, so that the two events occur partly at the same time. Note that when is used here with the past, not past perfect!

G)   The first event is longer than the second, being in progress when the second occurs. The tense forms are accordingly different (progressive against simple). Just as or when commonly replace while if the first event, although longer than the second, is of short duration:

Just as / When she was picking up the phone, she saw the man move.

Both while and when, but not as, can be used directly with –ing when subjects are the same:

She fell when/while going downstairs.