TIME

Exercise 1. Choose the correct linking word. Explain your choice.

1. I’ll call you while/ the moment I get home.

2. You can visit me whenever/ till you want to.

3. We went for a walk after/ until we had eaten breakfast.

4. Once/ before he read the manual, he knew how to operate the machine.

5. I was doing the ironing while/during he was washing the car.

6. They didn’t get married until/ by the time they had saved enough money for their honeymoon.

7. I’ll write to you as soon as/ immediately I have the results.

8. We won’t move to a new house before/ since the children leave school.

9. They had fixed the roof until/ by the time John came back.

10. I got to the station just till/ just as the train was pulling in.

11. It was crazy that Dad was home simultaneously/ while his wife was working.

12. She had just crept out while/meanwhile he slept.

13. Someone else fetches the horse whilst/in the meantime the owner is at work.

14. She grinned to herself as/simultaneously she lay awake in the dormitory.

15. As/while he looked at the coin, his whole expression changed.

16. The telephone began to ring as/in the meantime he unlocked the door.

17. "Did you get my letters?" — "I received one just as/meanwhile I was setting out."

18. I'll never forget those soldiers as long as/whilst I live.

19. I will be back with them as soon as I can," he promised. "Whilst/in the meantime, try to get some rest."

20. The government will manage the company until it can be dismantled or sold. Meanwhile/ In the meantime, its 28 offices will remain open.

21. Elizabeth dried her hair and changed her clothes. As long as/ Meanwhile I fiddled with the tape recorder.

22. Saute the onion and celery in a small frying pan. Simultaneously/ Meanwhile melt the margarine in a saucepan.

23. At that moment a vivid bolt of lightning flashed across the cove. While/ Simultaneously a deafening crack split the air.

24. The program uses so little of the computer's processing power that it is possible to do other things as long as/ at the same time.

Exercise 2. Rewrite the following sentences using on the day/ days, at the (very) moment, the first time instead of when.

Example: When Tweed arrived, he was shown into Fairweather's office means: "Tweed arrived and then was shown into Fairweather's office."

1. When they took the baby from me to clean her up, she let out a couple of good screams.

2. He only drank when he was sure of being alone.

3. When he had finished, he turned out the light.

4. Pierre strolled for 5 min. when he heard the girl’s screams.

5. I'll try to explain when I see you.

6. What will you do when you go back?

7. When you have finished, you will be shown to your bedroom.

8. When you have solved this mystery will you return to England?

9. When the phone rang, he was making himself a cheese sandwich. We were driving around outside when unfortunately three old ladies emerged from the hotel and came straight across in front of us.

10. We had just gone to bed when we were startled by a forceful knocking at the door.

11. The murder happened when I left.

12. So do you ever go to the college of an evening when you're working?

13. This came when I got my last bank statement.

14. He arrived when the Civil Service was preparing radical administrative changes.

15. When my husband proposed to me, I said, "Yes, I'll marry you."

16. When I came here, I had the best night's sleep for months.

17. Matty enjoyed talking to Mr Halloran, whom he met when the greengrocer brought his van around.

18. There was a wave of dissatisfaction with President Bush's economic policy when that policy was starting to come right.

Exercise 3. Transform the following time clauses into impersonal ones.

Example: When they were making records in the 1920s, sound engineers often made two recordings for safety's sake  When making records in the 1920s, sound engineers often made two recordings for safety's sake.

1. When they were lifting weights off the floor, bend your knees and keep your back straight and long.

2. After it had been colonized by Spain, Haiti was ceded to France in 1697.

3. It was certainly the best meal I had had since I left home.

4. The people will report to you before they make any major decisions.

5. The 65-year-old accepted his judgement until he heard a radio broadcast in 1988 about a similar case.

6. We decided to maximize our return on each product while we hoped our superior quality would win out.

7. Water is liquid, but when it is heated it becomes vapour and when it is frozen it is solid.

8. A man is guilty until he is proved innocent.

9. Grill for 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally until it is cooked.

10. On the other hand, once you have seen this apartment, who'd have the courage to complain?

11. The full figures, when they are available, will show imports remaining at a high level.

12. We avoided one another, whenever it was possible.

13. Greenwood continued to talk daily with Fennymore while he was in Florida.

14. Once she was inside her apartment she felt an urge to brush her teeth.

15. Cover and put in a cool place until it is ready to serve.

Exercise 4. Rewrite the sentences using the correct structures with the following linkers: no sooner... than, hardly... when and hardly ... before. Comment upon their meaning. Consult the examples.

Examples: No sooner had he closed his eyes than he fell asleep.

We had no sooner sat down than we found it was time to go.

Hardly had he uttered the words when he began laughing.

The local police had hardly finished their examination when the

CID arrived.

1. The moment hе was inside his cabin, the door opened again.

2. She had taken the knife from its hiding place and suddenly dropped it.

3. As soon as the ambassador had begun speaking, he was again interrupted by the president.

4. The moment the meeting had begun a shareholder leapt to his feet.

5. I was called out again immediately I closed my eyes.

6. She left the house. Her mobile phone rang.

7. As soon as Rob set out, the storm broke.

8. Jessica opened the door. The bird flew out of the cage.

9. They returned home and immediately realised that their house had been burgled.

10. Helen set the table. The guests arrived.