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Time connectors (one action before the other)

Time connectors (one action before the other)
Activity Fill in the Gaps
Activity Fill in the Gaps
Here we are going to practise how to express that actions happen one before the other. First action is marked 1 and second action 2, join them with the right connector.
 

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Instructions

Write the suitable word/s inside the gaps to complete the sentence. Use the -TAB- key on your computer keyboard to move from one box to the next.
 

TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF TWO ACTIONS

BEFORE (c.) (f.c.) (p.)
      Wake me up before you go (c.)
      Enter the house, but before, you have to disconnect the alarm system (f.c.)
      Don’t just open the door. Before that, ask who is knocking (f.c.)
      I met Charles before lunch (p.)

WHEN (c.)
      When I opened the door, the dog looked at me and went out  (First I open the door, then, the dog goes out)
 
If we want to emphasise that the second actions happens immediately after the first one:
 
AS SOON AS (c.)
THE MOMENT (c.)
      Phone me as soon as you see her
      The moment I saw her, I lost control


 

TO INTRODUCE THE SECOND OF TWO ACTIONS

AFTER (c.) (p.)
       After the bomb exploded, everything was quiet
       I went out after work
 
AFTERWARDS (f.c.)
THEN (f.c.)
LATER (f.c.)

Later suggests an interval of time between both actions. Afterwards and then can be used when there is an interval of time or when the second action takes place immediately after the first one.

      There was an explosion. Afterwards/Then, everything was quiet
      She had a shower. Later/Afterwards/Then, she went for a walk

If we want to show that the second action happens quickly and unexpectedly we use:
 
SUDDENLY (f.c.)
      I saw her. Suddenly, I lost control


 

  TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF ACTIONS (2 or more)

FIRST (f.c.) often used with "then" or also with "second", "third", etc.
      First, go into the house, then, go upstairs and wait for me
      First, switch it on. Second, search for the channel, and last, adjust the volume

 


abbreviations:  (c.)= conjunction   (f.c.)= free connector  (p.)= preposition    (see the important difference here: Kinds of Connectors)


Items

Gapped text
1- He went upstairs + 2- He remembered the door was open= ______________________________________________________________ going upstairs, ______________________________________________________________.
1- The bomb exploded + 2 Everything was quiet = After ______________________________________________________________________________.
1- I thought about it + 2- I decided to go = ______________________________________________, I decided to go. (don't use "I" in the first part)
1- We left + 2- Some people arrived = ________________ left, some people arrived.
1- It was only me + 2- More people arrived = ____________________, more people arrived, but in the beginning it was only me.
Before / As soon as / After / Afterwards / When / The moment
1- It's quite boring + 2- It gets interesting = At the beginning it's quite boring, but ____________________, it gets interesting.
Before / afterwards / As soon as / When / The moment / After
1- Phone me + 2- Come = __________________________, phone me. (don't use "you")
1- Have something to eat + 2- Go out = ________________________________, have something to eat. (don't use "you")
1- I kissed her + 2- She saw me = __________________________________, I kissed her.
1- You must finish + 2- (date=) Monday = __________________________, you must finish.
1- Ask who is knocking + 2- Open the door = Don't open the door. ____________ that, ask who is knocking.
1- Disconnect the alarm system + 2- Enter the house = Enter the house, but ____________, you have to disconnect the alarm system.
1- Finish your homework + 2- Go out with your friends = ____________________, finish your homework, ____________________ have a shower, and ____________________ you can go out with your friends
last / the moment / after / when / then / first / suddenly / before
1- He asked for tea + 2- He called me again for sugar = He asked for tea. ____________________, he called me again for sugar.
The moment / As soon as / After / Afterwards / When / Before
1- I was there + 2 He arrived = I was there first. ____________________, he arrived.
When / After / As soon as / The moment / Before / Afterwards
1- it was 9 o'clock + 2- He was at a concert + 3- He went there = He wasn't there at 9. He arrived ____________________, ____________________ the concert.
After / later / Before / As soon as / The moment / When / after
1- He had dinner + 2- He went out = He went out __________ dinner.
1- I asked him to visit her + 2- He went to visit her = He went to visit her ____________________ I asked him.
suddenly / after / afterwards / before / later / then
1- I didn't like it + 2- It was ok = I didn't like it at first. ____________________, it was ok.
When / The moment / Before / As soon as / After / Afterwards
1- I saw him on Christmas Day + 2- I have never seen him again = I saw him on Christmas Day. __________ that, I have never seen him again.
1- I visited China + 2- I visited Japan + 3- I came back here = ____________________ I visited China, ____________________ I went to Japan, and ____________________ I came back here.
then / when / then / first / as soon as / suddenly / the moment / before
1- It was ok + 2- It hurt a lot = It was ok, but ____________________ it hurt a lot.
when / after / the moment / before / as soon as / afterwards
1- Insert two coins + 2- Press the button + 3- You'll get the can = Insert two coins, ________________ press the button. ________________, you'll get the can.
when / before / suddenly / when / after / then / then / after
1- I was at home + 2- She arrived = ____________________ she arrived, I was at home.
then / after / later / suddenly / When / as soon as / afterwards
1- It's difficult + 2- It's much easier = It's difficult at first. ____________________, it's much easier.
When / After / The moment / As soon as / Afterwards / Before
1- You phone me + 2- You go to the cinema = If you want to go to the cinema, phone me ____________, and we can go together.
1- It was beautiful + 2- Everything changed = It was beautiful. ____________________, everything changed.
Before / The moment / As soon as / When / Later / After
1- I didn't know it + 2- I knew it = I didn't know it, I knew it ____________________.
Before / As soon as / later / After / When / The moment
1- Read this + 2- You'll understand = Read this. ____________________ you'll understand.
As soon as / When / Before / Then / The moment / After
1- She had a shower + 2- She went for a walk = She had a shower. ____________________, she went for a walk.
After / The moment / When / Later / As soon as / Before
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explotion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
Afterwards / Before / As soon as / The moment / When / After
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explosion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
As soon as / Before / The moment / When / Later / After
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explosion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
Then / Before / After / As soon as / The moment / When
1- Think about it + 2- It's too late = Think about it ____________ it's too late.
1- I said hello + 2- She smiled = She smiled ____________________ I said hello.
suddenly / when / / before / then / afterwards / later
1- Wake me up + 2- You go = Wake me up ____________ you go.
1- Close the windows + 2- You go = ____________ you go, don't forget to close the windows.
1- We had a fight + 2- We were friends again = We had a fight, but __________ that, we were friends again.
1- The children went to bed + 2- We watched TV = We watched TV __________ the children went to bed.
1- Come here + 2- It's 10 o'clock = Come here ____________ it's 10 o'clock.
Total number of items: 40
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