6. Grammar Focus Conjunctions

A.

These words show the connection in time; answer the question When? as The lorry hit us as we were running the corner. when I’ll tell her when I see her. while They arrived while we were trying to phone them! since Where have you been living since you came to England? till/until Could you keep an eye on things until I get back, please? before I hope he gets here before the train leaves. after I’ll see you here after I’ve been to the bank. as soon as Phone us as soon as your plane gets in. The difference between when and while is that while emphasises the fact that the two actions happened at the same time: The band played while the ship went down. When I came into the room, she left. Since has two meanings: Time – I haven’t smoked since I was ill in 1986. Reason – Since you’re going into town, could you get me some stamps? Usually the since clause comes first in sentences where it gives the reason.

B. How many people caught the train?

Sue arrived at the station as the train left.

Steve arrived at the station when the train left.

Alex arrived at the station before the train left.

John arrived at the station after the train left.

Answer: _____________________________________________________________

C. Complete these sentences with one of these words or phrases:

as when while until before after as soon as

You will need to use each one once. There is only one way to complete all the sentences so that they all make sense.

1. I’ll ring you ____________ I get home.

2. We can do anything ____________ the doctor arrives.

3. I rang you ____________ I heard because I knew it was urgent.

4. Have you settled down ____________ you retired?

5. He walked in ____________ the clock struck ten; it was perfectly timed.

6. We might as well have a cup of tea ____________ we are waiting.

7. I’ll give you a lift if I get home____________ you set off.

8. We arrived ____________ everyone else had left. It was deserted.

D. Fill in the spaces using these conjunctions. ***

in case as if whoever once even though wherever suppose whether...or not

____________ you are, ____________ you live, you must be interested in the future of this planet.

____________ you are a conservationist ____________, you have no choice. Man is acting ____________ this beautiful and wonderful world we live in had an endless supply of energy, fuel, oxygen, food, and all the other things we need to survive.

____________ that were the case, it would still be no reason to waste and pollute the way we are doing at the present. ____________ the world has huge amounts of everything we need, people are still dying of hunger all over the world. Only a small proportion of the world’s population has clean water to drink. ____________ you think I am joking, whole forests are disappearing in South America and thousands of trees are dying in Western Europe. ____________ you wake up to this problem, you will become a conservationist.