MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH

Before doing this activity you may need to read the text you will find at the end


  Fill in the Gaps
Time connectors (one action before the other)
Focus Grammar
Description 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.
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.
 
Gapped text
1- Have something to eat + 2- Go out = ________________________________, have something to eat. (don't use "you")
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- It was only me + 2- More people arrived = ____________________, more people arrived, but in the beginning it was only me.
Afterwards / The moment / Before / When / After / As soon as
1- Come here + 2- It's 10 o'clock = Come here ____________ it's 10 o'clock.
1- I was at home + 2- She arrived = ____________________ she arrived, I was at home.
as soon as / When / later / then / after / suddenly / afterwards
1- Finish your homework + 2- Go out with your friends = ____________________, finish your homework, ____________________ have a shower, and ____________________ you can go out with your friends
before / last / first / the moment / then / when / suddenly / after
1- Phone me + 2- Come = __________________________, phone me. (don't use "you")
1- Ask who is knocking + 2- Open the door = Don't open the door. ____________ that, ask who is knocking.
1- I didn't like it + 2- It was ok = I didn't like it at first. ____________________, it was ok.
Afterwards / Before / As soon as / The moment / When / After
1- The bomb exploded + 2 Everything was quiet = After ______________________________________________________________________________.
1- The children went to bed + 2- We watched TV = We watched TV __________ the children went to bed.
1- We left + 2- Some people arrived = ________________ left, some people arrived.
1- I kissed her + 2- She saw me = __________________________________, I kissed her.
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explosion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
Then / The moment / Before / As soon as / After / When
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- Close the windows + 2- You go = ____________ you go, don't forget to close the windows.
1- It was beautiful + 2- Everything changed = It was beautiful. ____________________, everything changed.
Before / The moment / When / After / Later / As soon as
1- Disconnect the alarm system + 2- Enter the house = Enter the house, but ____________, you have to disconnect the alarm system.
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 / then / after / after / suddenly / before / then / when
1- She had a shower + 2- She went for a walk = She had a shower. ____________________, she went for a walk.
The moment / When / After / Later / Before / As soon as
1- Read this + 2- You'll understand = Read this. ____________________ you'll understand.
Then / When / As soon as / The moment / Before / After
1- I asked him to visit her + 2- He went to visit her = He went to visit her ____________________ I asked him.
afterwards / before / then / later / suddenly / after
1- Wake me up + 2- You go = Wake me up ____________ you go.
1- We had a fight + 2- We were friends again = We had a fight, but __________ that, we were friends again.
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.
When / The moment / later / after / As soon as / After / Before
1- He went upstairs + 2- He remembered the door was open= ______________________________________________________________ going upstairs, ______________________________________________________________.
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.
when / before / the moment / then / as soon as / then / first / suddenly
1- It was ok + 2- It hurt a lot = It was ok, but ____________________ it hurt a lot.
when / afterwards / as soon as / before / after / the moment
1- You must finish + 2- (date=) Monday = __________________________, you must finish.
1- It's quite boring + 2- It gets interesting = At the beginning it's quite boring, but ____________________, it gets interesting.
The moment / After / When / As soon as / Before / afterwards
1- It's difficult + 2- It's much easier = It's difficult at first. ____________________, it's much easier.
Afterwards / As soon as / After / When / The moment / Before
1- Think about it + 2- It's too late = Think about it ____________ it's too late.
1- I was there + 2 He arrived = I was there first. ____________________, he arrived.
As soon as / Before / When / After / The moment / Afterwards
1- I thought about it + 2- I decided to go = ______________________________________________, I decided to go. (don't use "I" in the first part)
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explotion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
After / The moment / Before / Afterwards / When / As soon as
1- He asked for tea + 2- He called me again for sugar = He asked for tea. ____________________, he called me again for sugar.
Before / When / The moment / As soon as / Afterwards / After
1- I didn't know it + 2- I knew it = I didn't know it, I knew it ____________________.
later / When / After / As soon as / Before / The moment
1- I said hello + 2- She smiled = She smiled ____________________ I said hello.
later / afterwards / when / suddenly / before / / then
1- There was an explosion + 2- Everything was quiet = There was an explosion. ____________________, everything was quiet.
Before / After / When / Later / The moment / As soon as
1- He had dinner + 2- He went out = He went out __________ dinner.
Total number of items: 40
This is an activity from Multimedia-English www.multimedia-english.com
 

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)