Conjunctions of Time

Conjunctions of Time

Conjunctions of time are words that connect two or more clauses or phrases in time. They tell us when an event happens in relation to another event.

Some common conjunctions of time include:

• before
• after
• while
• until
• since
• when
• as soon as
• once
• as
  
  

The various types of conjunctions of time and their functions:

• Subordinating Conjunctions:Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and establish a relationship with the main clause. They include:
  • When: Used to indicate a specific point in time.
    • Example: “I will call you when I reach home.”
  • While: Denotes two actions happening simultaneously.
    • Example: “I was cooking dinner while she was watching TV.”
  • Before: Shows the order of events.
    • Example: “Please finish your homework before you go out.”
  • After: Indicates the sequence of actions.
    • Example: “He went to the store after he finished work.”
  • Until: Implies that an action continues until a particular point in time.
    • Example: “They played outside until it started raining.”
      
      
• Coordinating Conjunctions:Coordinating conjunctions connect two independent clauses of equal importance. They include:
  • And: Used to combine actions or events.
    • Example: “She woke up early, and she had breakfast.”
  • But: Introduces a contrast between two actions.
    • Example: “He wanted to go to the party, but he was feeling unwell.”
  • So: Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.
    • Example: “It was raining, so they stayed indoors.”
  • Yet: Denotes a contrast or contradiction.
    • Example: “She is busy, yet she always finds time to read.”
      
      

Uses of Conjunctions of Time

Conjunctions of time can be used in a variety of ways, including:

• To sequence events: Conjunctions of time can be used to show the order in which events happen. 
  
  For example: I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and then went to school.

• To express duration: Conjunctions of time can be used to show how long something lasts. 
  
  For example: I worked on my project for three hours.

• To express frequency: Conjunctions of time can be used to show how often something happens. 
  
  For example: I go to the gym every day.

• To express contingency: Conjunctions of time can be used to show that something depends on something else happening. 
  
  For example:I will go to the party if you go with me.
  
  

Examples in Everyday Communication:

• When: “I’ll meet you at the café when I finish work.”
• While: “She studied while her friend played the guitar.”
• Before: “Please check your email before you leave for the meeting.”
• After: “After the movie ended, we went for dinner.”
• Until: “I’ll wait for you until 5:00 PM.”
• And: “I love both coffee and tea.”
• But: “She wanted to travel, but her passport had expired.”
• So: “The weather was hot, so we decided to go to the beach.”
• Yet: “He is busy, yet he always manages to find time for his family.”
  
  

Tips for Using Conjunctions of Time

Here are a few tips for using conjunctions of time correctly:

• Make sure that the conjunction you use is appropriate for the context. For example, you would use “until” to show that something will continue to happen until something else happens, but you would use “while” to show that two events are happening at the same time.
• Be careful not to overuse conjunctions of time. Too many conjunctions can make your writing sound cluttered and difficult to read.
• Make sure that the clauses or phrases you are connecting are parallel. This means that they should have the same grammatical structure. For example:

Correct: I ate breakfast and then went to school.

Incorrect: I ate breakfast and then I went to school.

200+ Example sentences of Conjunctions of Time

Subordinating Conjunctions:

• When:
  • I’ll call you when I arrive.
  • She smiled when she saw the surprise.
  • When the sun sets, it gets cooler.
• While:
  • I can cook while you set the table.
  • She sang while doing her homework.
  • While I was reading, he was napping.
• Before:
  • Finish your homework before going out.
  • I need to finish this report before the meeting.
  • Before the concert, there’s a short presentation.
• After:
  • We’ll go for a walk after dinner.
  • After the rain stopped, we went outside.
  • I’ll call you after I leave the office.
• Until:
  • Stay here until I come back.
  • We played games until midnight.
  • I’ll wait for you until the movie starts.

Coordinating Conjunctions:

• And:
  • She likes coffee and tea.
  • He can sing and dance.
  • We can go to the park and the zoo.
• But:
  • I want to go, but I have to work.
  • It’s raining, but we can still go out.
  • She’s tired, but she won’t stop.
• So:
  • It’s getting late, so we should leave.
  • I love this book, so I bought the sequel.
  • The traffic was bad, so I arrived late.
• Yet:
  • It’s early, yet they’re already here.
  • I studied a lot, yet I didn’t pass.
  • He’s rich, yet he’s not happy.
• Or:
  • We can have pizza or pasta for dinner.
  • You can choose tea or coffee.
  • Is it a cat or a dog?
• Nor:
  • She neither called nor texted.
  • He neither likes nor dislikes the movie.
  • We neither accepted nor rejected the offer.
• For:
  • I waited for an hour.
  • She practiced for the concert.
  • We studied for the exam.
• Since:
  • I’ve known her since childhood.
  • They’ve been married since 2005.
  • I haven’t seen him since last week.
• As:
  • We’ll leave early, as the traffic might be heavy.
  • As I opened the door, the cat ran in.
  • Do as I say, not as I do.
• As soon as:
  • I’ll call you as soon as I arrive.
  • Finish your homework as soon as possible.
  • As soon as he saw her, he smiled.
• Whenever:
  • Call me whenever you need help.
  • I eat chocolate whenever I feel sad.
  • Whenever it rains, he stays indoors.
• Before long:
  • Before long, they became good friends.
  • She’ll finish the project before long.
  • Before long, the sun will set.
• Now that:
  • Now that the rain has stopped, we can go out.
  • Now that you’re here, let’s start the meeting.
  • Now that I have the recipe, I can cook.
• Since then:
  • I haven’t seen her since then.
  • Since then, a lot has changed.
  • We’ve been friends since then.
• Once:
  • Once you finish your chores, you can play.
  • I’ll call you once I reach the airport.
  • Once the movie starts, no one can enter.
• By the time:
  • By the time you get home, dinner will be ready.
  • By the time we reached the station, the train had left.
  • Finish your work by the time I return.
• In case:
  • Take an umbrella in case it rains.
  • Bring your charger in case your phone dies.
  • I’ll leave early, just in case there’s traffic.
• As long as:
  • You can stay as long as you want.
  • I’ll help you as long as you need.
  • As long as it’s not too late, we can go.
• As far as:
  • As far as I know, the meeting is at 3.
  • As far as I can see, everything is fine.
  • She’s as far as London right now.
• Now when:
  • Now when I think about it, it makes sense.
  • I’ll visit them now when they’re in town.
  • Now when the weather is good, we can go hiking.
• Meanwhile:
  • I’ll prepare lunch; meanwhile, you can finish your work.
  • Meanwhile, she’ll complete her assignment.
  • We can discuss the plan; meanwhile, let’s have coffee.
• Just as:
  • Just as I was leaving, she arrived.
  • Finish your work just as we discussed.
  • Just as I expected, he didn’t show up.
• So that:
  • Study hard so that you can pass the exam.
  • I’ll speak slowly so that everyone can understand.
  • Save money so that you can travel.
• In the meantime:
  • I’ll finish this report; in the meantime, you can make the calls.
  • In the meantime, she’ll research the topic.
  • We’ll clean the house; in the meantime, they can decorate.
• Just after:
  • Just after I left, it started raining.
  • I’ll call you just after I reach the hotel.
  • Just after the show, we can have dinner.
• At the same time:
  • We can meet at the same time next week.
  • I’ll submit my report, and at the same time, you can present your findings.
  • We both arrived at the same time.
• Beforehand:
  • Let me know beforehand if you can make it.
  • Plan everything beforehand to avoid last-minute issues.
  • I’ll decide beforehand which movie to watch.
• Henceforth:
  • Henceforth, we’ll follow a new procedure.
  • I’ll be more careful henceforth.
  • Henceforth, all meetings will start at 10 AM.
• Later on:
  • I’ll explain the details later on.
  • Later on, we can go for a walk.
  • She’ll join us later on.
• At the moment:
  • I’m busy at the moment; can I call you back?
  • At the moment, she’s in a meeting.
  • I’m not available at the moment.
• Shortly after:
  • Shortly after I left, he arrived.
  • We’ll meet you shortly after you finish your work.
  • Shortly after the call, she sent an email.
• Only if:
  • I’ll attend the party only if you come too.
  • I’ll accept the offer only if the terms are favorable.
  • I’ll agree to the plan only if everyone is on board.
• Whereas:
  • I love summer, whereas my sister prefers winter.
  • I like tea, whereas he prefers coffee.
  • She’s outgoing, whereas her brother is shy.
• The moment that:
  • The moment that I saw her, I knew she was the one.
  • I’ll leave the office the moment that I finish my work.
  • The moment that the concert ended, we left.
• Provided that:
  • I’ll help you, provided that you ask nicely.
  • I’ll lend you my car, provided that you return it on time.
  • I’ll support your decision, provided that it’s well-thought-out.
• Ever since:
  • I’ve been a fan ever since they started the band.
  • Ever since she moved, we’ve been pen pals.
  • We’ve been friends ever since kindergarten.
• In the event that:
  • In the event that I’m not home, leave the package at the doorstep.
  • Call me in the event that you need assistance.
  • In the event that it rains, we’ll move the party indoors.
• At the beginning:
  • At the beginning of the movie, everyone was quiet.
  • I joined the class at the beginning of the semester.
  • At the beginning of the year, I set new goals.
• At the end:
  • At the end of the day, we’ll meet at the park.
  • I found the answer at the end of the book.
  • At the end of the movie, there was a surprising twist.
• In the end:
  • In the end, everything worked out well.
  • I decided to apologize in the end.
  • In the end, they chose a different approach.
• Once in a while:
  • We can have a picnic once in a while.
  • I treat myself to chocolate once in a while.
  • Once in a while, we should take a break.
• Now that:
  • Now that you’re here, we can start the meeting.
  • Now that the rain has stopped, we can go out.
  • Now that she has the recipe, she can bake the cake.
• In the next moment:
  • In the next moment, he realized his mistake.
  • I’ll call you in the next moment that I’m free.
  • In the next moment, the phone rang.
• Before now:
  • I had never seen that movie before now.
  • Before now, I didn’t know about this place.
  • We’ve never faced a problem like this before now.
• Up until now:
  • Up until now, I thought he was reliable.
  • We’ve had smooth sailing up until now.
  • Up until now, everything has been going well.
• Right after:
  • Right after the meeting, we can discuss the plan.
  • I’ll call you right after I finish this task.
  • Right after the ceremony, there will be a reception.
• Since the beginning:
  • Since the beginning, I knew we would succeed.
  • I’ve supported this project since the beginning.
  • Since the beginning of the game, they dominated.
• Since the start:
  • I’ve been part of this team since the start.
  • We’ve been friends since the start of high school.
  • Since the start of the concert, the audience was captivated.
• By this time:
  • By this time, the food should be ready.
  • I’ll reach the airport by this time tomorrow.
  • By this time, they should have completed the project.
• From this moment on:
  • From this moment on, things will be different.
  • I’ll change my habits from this moment on.
  • From this moment on, we’ll work as a team.
• From then on:
  • From then on, we communicated regularly.
  • I started exercising from then on.
  • From then on, I prioritized my health.
• Before the deadline:
  • Finish your work before the deadline.
  • I’ll submit the report before the deadline.
  • We need to complete the project before the deadline.
• In a while:
  • I’ll be back in a while.
  • We can start the meeting in a while.
  • I’ll join you in a while.
• Just in time:
  • We arrived just in time for the show.
  • I finished my work just in time.
  • The pizza arrived just in time for the party.
• Before long:
  • Before long, they became good friends.
  • She’ll finish the project before long.
  • Before long, the sun will set.
• By now:
  • By now, he should have received the email.
  • We expected a response by now.
  • By now, they must have reached the destination.
• Shortly before:
  • I received the news shortly before the meeting.
  • She completed the assignment shortly before the deadline.
  • We left the house shortly before it started raining.
• Shortly after:
  • Shortly after I left, he arrived.
  • We’ll meet you shortly after you finish your work.
  • Shortly after the call, she sent an email.
• Until now:
  • I didn’t know about it until now.
  • They kept it a secret until now.
  • Until now, I believed it was true.
• So far:
  • So far, everything has gone according to plan.
  • I’ve enjoyed the trip so far.
  • So far, we haven’t faced any issues.
• Since then:
  • I haven’t seen her since then.
  • Since then, a lot has changed.
  • We’ve been friends since then.
• From then on:
  • From then on, we were inseparable.
  • I started learning from then on.
  • From then on, I embraced a healthier lifestyle.
• As of now:
  • As of now, the results haven’t been announced.
  • I’m not aware of any changes as of now.
  • As of now, everything is under control.
• For now:
  • I’ll accept the current situation for now.
  • Let’s stick to the plan for now.
  • For now, we’ll focus on the basics.
• Presently:
  • Presently, I’m working on a new project.
  • I can’t join you presently; I have a meeting.
  • Presently, I’m exploring new opportunities.
• At present:
  • At present, I’m not available.
  • The issue is unresolved at present.
  • At present, we are conducting research.
    
    

Conjunctions of time are an important part of the English language. They can be used to sequence events, express duration and frequency, and express contingency. By using conjunctions of time correctly, you can improve the clarity and conciseness of your writing.

Download Word Coach Application