You might know that an adverb clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb in a sentence. There are different kinds of adverb clauses in English; in addition, the subordinators can distinguish the different types of adverb clauses. In this lesson, you will learn how to use an adverb clause of time.

Adverb Clause of Time

The adverb clause connectors, such as after, before, when, while/as, by the time, since, until/till, as soon as/once, as long as/so long as, and whenever can be used to form adverb clauses of time.
Examples:

• After I am done with my homework, I will study the adverb clause of time.
• As soon as we finish Step 4, we will start the TOEFL iBT preparation program.
• As long as some troublemakers exist around here, you will not be able to improve your business.

Related Articles:

• Adverb Clause Of Contrast/ Concession 
• Adverb Clause Of Purpose
• How To Use Adverb Clause Of Reason/ Cause?

Exercise 1:

Directions: Complete the following. Pay special attention to verb tenses.

1. Last night, I went to bed after I ______________________________my homework.
2. Tonight, I will go to bed after I _________________________my homework.
3. Ever since I was a child, I ____________________________________ afraid of dogs.
4. Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she _____________________basketball.
5. Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you _________________ it in to the teacher tomorrow.
6. By the time, I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier __________________________ the mail.
7. I have known my best friend since her _____________________________ ten years old.
8. A black cat ran across the road as I ____________________________my car to work this morning.
9. By the time I leave this city, I _______________________________ here for four months.
10. Whenever Mike __________________________________ angry, his nose gets red.
11. I ____________________________ to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I do not have time to do that because I have to study.
12. We will have a big party when __________________________________.
13. The next time I ______________________________to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
14. I had fried chicken the last time I ____________________________ at that restaurant.

Exercise 2:

Directions: Make sentences with until from the given situations.

1. I can’t pay my bills. I haven’t gotten my paycheck yet.

       I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.

2. We can’t leave yet. We have to wait for Carmen.
3. Tell me the truth, or I am not going to leave this room.
4. Finally, he arrived. Before that, it had been a dull party.
5. Dinner won’t be ready for a while. I think we should just sit here by the fire.
6. When I go to bed at night, I like to read. After a while, I get sleepy.

Exercise 3:

Directions: Combine the ideas by using either as soon as or once. (As soon as and once basically have the same meaning. but as soon as is more immediate. Often, just is used with as soon as to emphasize the idea of “immediately”:

• I’ll call him just as soon as I get home.

1. The taxi will get here in five minutes or so. Then we can leave for the airport.

      As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.

2. The rice will be done in about ten minutes. Immediately after that, we can eat.
3. First, I have to graduate. Then I can return home.
4. Spring will come and the weather will be nice again. Then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
5. My roommate walked into the room. Immediately, I knew that something was wrong.
6. Your English will get better. Then you will begin to feel more comfortable living in the United States.
7. Immediately after the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
8. I’m watching a baseball game on TV, but it will be over in a few minutes. Then I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4:

Directions: Using the given information, make a sentence in which you use just after, just before, or just as. Notice that just adds the idea of “immediately.”

1. I got to the airport at 8:15. My plane left ten minutes later. I got to the airport just before my plane left.
2. You shouldn’t eat a heavy meal and then go to bed immediately afterward.
3. I went to bed at 11:00. The phone rang at 11:05.
4. We were sitting down to eat. At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
5. I was getting on the bus. At that moment, I remembered that I had left my briefcase at home.
6. I got up to give my speech. Immediately before that, I got butterflies in my stomach.
7. The guests will come at 7:00. At 6:55, I’ll light the candles.
8. I was bending over to pick up my pencil. My pants split.

Answers:

Exercise 1.

1. Last night, I went to bed after I did my homework.
2. Tonight, I will go to bed after I do my homework.
3. Ever since I was a child, I was afraid of dogs.
4. Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she was playing
5. Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you give it to the teacher tomorrow.
6. By the time I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier had sent the mail.
7. I have known my best friend since she was ten years old.
8. A black cat ran across the road as I was driving my car to work this morning.
9. By the time I leave this city, I will be here for four months.
10. Whenever Mike is angry, his nose gets red.
11. I was going to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I don’t have time to do that because I have to study.
12. We will have a big party when you come.
13. The next time I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
14. I had fried chicken the last time I was at that restaurant.

Exercise 2.

1. I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.
2. We can’t leave yet until Carmen come.
3. Tell me the truth, until I leave this room.
4. Finally, he arrived until it had been a dull party.
5. Dinner won’t be ready for a while until we sit here by the fire.
6. When I go to bed at night, I like to read until I get sleepy.

Exercise 3.

1. As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.
2. As soon as the rice is done, after that, we can eat.
3. As soon as I graduate, I can return home.
4. One the spring comes the weather will be nice again and then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
5. Once my roommate walked into the room immediately, then I knew that something was wrong.
6. Once your English gets better, then you will feel more comfortable living in the United States.
7. As soon as the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
8. I am watching a baseball game on TV, but as soon as it’s over, I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4.

1. I got to the airport just before my plane left.
2. You shouldn’t go to the bed just after eating a heavy meal.
3. I went to the bed just before the phone rang.
4. Just as we sat down to eat, someone knocked on the door.
5. Just as I got on the bus, I remember that I had left my briefcase at home.
6. I got butterflies in my stomach just before I got up to give my speech.
7. I will light the candles just before the guests come.
8. My pants split just as I bent myself to pick up my pencil.

Conclusion:

Attempt the adverb clause of time exercises, then compare your answers with the given answers above. In addition, please feel free to write your feedback about the article (adverb clause of time) using the comment section below.