Collins Cobuild English Grammar (146 page)

Non-finite clauses
, when they begin with a subordinating conjunction, are dealt with in the sections dealing with adverbial clauses. Non-finite clauses that do not begin with a subordinating conjunction are dealt with separately in paragraphs
8.129
to
8.145
. Other structures that function like non-finite clauses are described in paragraphs
8.146
to
8.148
.

position of adverbial clause

8.7
      The usual position for an adverbial clause is just after the main clause.

I couldn’t think of a single thing to say
after he’d replied like that
.
The performances were cancelled
because the leading man was ill
.

However, most types of adverbial clause can be put in front of a main clause.

When the city is dark
, we can move around easily.
Although crocodiles are inactive for long periods
, on occasion they can run very fast indeed.

Occasionally, you can put an adverbial clause in the middle of another clause.

They make allegations which,
when you analyse them
, do not have too many facts behind them.

There are a few types of adverbial clause that always go after a main clause; other types always go in front of one. This is explained in the sections dealing with the different types of clause.

Time clauses:
When I was young
, …

8.8
      
Time clauses
are used for saying when something happens, by referring to a period of time or to another event.

Her father died
when she was young
.
Stocks of food cannot be brought in
before the rains start
.
He was detained last Monday
after he returned from a business trip overseas
.
When I first arrived
I didn’t know anyone.

Time clauses can be used after
time adverbials
.

We’ll give him his presents
tomorrow, before he goes to school
.
I want to see you for a few minutes
at twelve o’clock, when you go to lunch
.

Time adverbials
are explained in
Chapter 4
.

tenses in time clauses

8.9
      When you are talking about the past or the present, the verb in a time clause has the same tense that it would have in a main clause or in a simple sentence.

I was standing by the window when I
heard
her speak.
I look after the children while she
goes
to Denver.

However, if the time clause refers to something that will happen or exist in the future, you use the
present simple
, not the future.

For example, you say
When he comes, I will show him the book
, not
When he will come, I will show him the book
.

As soon as we
get
the tickets, we’ll send them to you.
He wants to see you before he
dies
.
Let me stay here till Jeannie
comes
home.

If you mention an event in a time clause that will happen before an event referred to in the main clause, you use the
present perfect
in the time clause, not the future perfect.

For example, you say
When you have had your supper, come and see me
, not
When you will have had your supper, come and see me
.

We won’t be getting married until we’
ve saved
enough money.
Come and tell me when you
have finished
.

8.10
     The most common conjunction in time clauses is
when
.
When
is used to say that something happened, happens, or will happen on a particular occasion.

When
the telegram came and I read of his death, I couldn’t believe it.
He didn’t know how to behave
when
they next met.

8.11
     You can mention the circumstances in which something happens or happened by using
when
,
while
, or
as
.

The train has automatic doors that only open
when
the train is stationary.
While
he was still in the stable, there was a loud knock at the front door.
He would swim beside me
as
I rowed in the little dinghy.

Whilst
is a more formal form of
while
.

We chatted
whilst
the children played in the crèche.

    
Whilst
is not used in modern American English.

USAGE NOTE

8.12
     If you want to emphasize that something happened at a particular time, you can use
It was
followed by an expression such as
six o’clock
or
three hours later
, followed by a
when
-clause.

For example, instead of saying
I left at six o’clock
, you say
It was six o’clock when I left
.

It was about half past eight
when
he arrived at Gatwick.
It was late
when
he returned.

This is an example of a
split sentence
. Split sentences are explained in paragraphs
9.25
to
9.30
.

repeated events

8.13
     If you want to say that something always happened or happens in particular circumstances, you use
when
,
whenever
,
every time
, or
each time
.

When
he talks about Ireland, he does sound like an outsider.
Whenever
she had a cold, she ate only fruit.
Every time
I go to that class I panic.
He looked away
each time
she spoke to him.

8.14
     You use an expression such as
the first time
,
the next time
, or
the third time
to say that something happened during one occurrence of an event.

The last time
we talked he said he needed another two days.
The next time
I come here, I’m going to be better.

events in sequence

8.15
     You can also use
when
,
after
, or
once
to talk about one event happening immediately after another.

When
his wife left him he suffered terribly.
Stop me
when
you’ve had enough.
The turtle returns to the sea
after
it has laid its eggs.
Once
the damage is done, it takes many years for the system to recover.

If you want to say how long one event happened after another, you put a noun phrase such as
two days
or
three years
in front of
after
.

Exactly six weeks after
she had arrived, she sent a cable to her husband and caught the plane back to New York.

As soon as
,
directly
,
immediately
,
the moment
,
the minute
, and
the instant
are all used to talk about one event happening a very short time after another.

They heard voices
as soon as
they pushed open the door.
The minute
someone left the room, the others started talking about them.
Immediately
the meal was over, it was time for prayer.

     The words
directly
and
immediately
are not used as conjunctions in American English.

8.16
     When you want to say that something happened, happens, or will happen at an earlier time than something else, you use
before
.

It was necessary for them to find a home
before
the cold weather arrived.
Before
they moved to the city she had never seen a car.

If you want to say how long one event happened before another, you put a noun phrase such as
three weeks
or
a short time
in front of
before
.

He had a review with the second organiser,
about a month before
the report was written.
Long before
you return she will have forgotten you.

8.17
     When you are telling a story, you sometimes want to say what was happening when a particular event occurred. You first say what was happening, then add a clause beginning with
when
in which you mention the event.