اللغة الإنجليزية فصل ثاني

Unit 8

Lesson 2

SB page 65

                                    GRAMMAR

Time expressions: when, by the time (that), before, while

● We use time expressions in dependent clauses to give extra information about when events (in the main clause) took place.

● We use when to describe an event that took place at the same time as the main action.

When we sat down to eat, the phone rang.

It can also be used with the Past Perfect to talk about an event that finished before the event in the main clause.

When we had finished eating, the phone rang.

● We use by the time to show that one activity was finished before the other one. We use it with the Past Simple in the dependent clause, and the Past Perfect in the main clause.

By the time that I arrived at the station, the train had left.

● We use before to say that one action happened before another. We can use the Past Simple in the main clause if we know when the action happened.

Before I went to bed, I read a chapter of my book.

● We use the Past Perfect if the action in the main clause happened at an unspecified time before the action in the dependent clause.

Before I met my pen friend, I had never met an Australian.

● We use while to link two events that happened at the same time.

While I was reading my book, my brother was watching television.

While I was taking a bath, the doorbell rang.