TIME SEQUENCES

On their second date they went to a restaurant.

After that they started meeting every day.

On Wednesday I had an argument with my boss.

The next day I decided to look for a new job.

We sat down to talk. Two minutes later my phone rang.

When I came out of the museum, he was waiting for me.

The accident happened when I was looking at the phone.

• We use time sequencers to say when or in what order things happen.
• We use when as a time sequencer and also to join two actions: “I was watching TV when the phone rang.” (two verbs joined by when)

Then, after that

The most common way of linking consecutive actions is with then or after that, but NOT after, e.g. I got up and got dressed. Then / After that I made a cup of tea. NOT After I made a cup of tea.

CONNECTORS

He was driving fast because he was in a hurry. (we use BECAUSE to express a REASON)

He was in a hurry, so he was driving fast. (we use SO to express a RESULT)

They tried to stop the truck but it hit the man.

Although they tried to stop the car, it hit the man.

She was very tired, but she couldn’t sleep.

She couldn’t sleep although she was very tired.

We use BUT and ALTHOUGH to show a CONTRAST. ALTHOUGH can go at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.