Time Conjunctions: Before, After, When

Join clauses to show order of events.

Examples

• Wash your hands before you eat.
• After he left, I slept.

Key rules

• Before, after and when join two clauses to show order
• Before: the action in the before-clause happens later
• After: the action in the after-clause happens first
• When means at the time that, and a comma follows a first clause

Common mistakes

• After he will leave, I sleep → After he leaves, I sleep
• Before you eating → Before you eat