ENGLISH

5-18 BEFORE AND AFTER IN TIME CLAUSES
(a)
S v
I ate breakfast. = a main clause
A clause is a group of words that has a subject
and a verb.
(b)
S v
bqforo I went to class = a time clause
(c) I I ate breakfast I I b4fore I went to class. I
main clause time clause
S
v
(dl I B4fore I went lo class, I I I ate breakfast. [
time clause
main clauae
S
v
A main clause is a complete sentence. Example
(a) is a complete sentence. Example @) is an
incomplete sentence. It must be connected to a
main clause, as in (c) and (d).
A time clause can begin with before or qffor:
befare+s+v=atimeclause
qPer + s + v = a time clause
(e) I We took a walk I I qPsr wefinished our work. I
main clause
time clause
( f) I &%r wefinished our work, I I we took a walk. I
time clause
main clause
(g) We took a walk I afer the movie. I
prep. phrase
(h)
I had a cup of coffee I before class. I
prep, phrase
A time clause can follow a main dause, as in
(c) and (e). A time clause &I come in front of
a main clause, as in (d) and (0. There is no
difference in meaning between (c) and (d) or
between (e) and (0.
Before and qfler don't always introduce a
time clause. They are also used as prepositions
followed by a noun object, as in (g) and (h).
See Charts 1-7 and 4-1 for information about
prepositional phrases.
EXERCISE 5 1 : Find the main clauses and the time clauses.
1. Before I ate the banana, I peeled it.
+ main clause = Ipeeled it
+ time clause = before I ate the banana
2. We arrived at the airport before the plane landed.
3. 1 went to a movie after I finished my homework.
4. After the children got home from school, they watchedTV.*
5. Before I moved to this city, I lived at home with my parents.
*NOTE: When a time clause comes before the main clause, a comma is used between the two clauses. A
comma is not used when the time clause comes after the main clause.