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 Time clauses

Exercise 1 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

1 Heat the oil till it (begin) to smoke.

2 I’ll stay here till Tom (get) back.

3 We’ll go out as soon as the shops (open).

4 You drive first, and when you (be) tired, I’ll take over.

5 The sooner we (start), the sooner we’ll get there.

6 We will send you the goods as soon as we (receive) your cheque.

7 I’ll wait as long as you (like).

8 Whip the whites of the eggs till they (be) quite stiff.

9 Shall I jump out when the bus (slow) down at the next corner?

10 No, you’d better wait till it (stop) at the traffic lights.

11 You are too young to understand. I (explain) it to you when you (be) older.

12 Tom: Brown is the best poet in the university.

Ann: Now read Smith’s poems. When you (read) them you’ll say that he is better.

13 Tom: I can’t get used to driving on the left.

Jack: When you (be) here for another week you’ll find it quite easy.

14 The room doesn’t look particularly attractive now but when I (clean) and (paint) it, it will look quite different.

15 Pour boiling water on the coffee grounds, wait till the grounds (settle), then strain the coffee into a jug.

16 As soon as they (see) the river the children will want to bathe.

17 When we (see) the cathedral we’ll go to the museum.

18 What will you do when you (finish) painting the bridge?

19 Oh, this bridge is so long that by the time we (reach) the other end it will be time to start again at this end.

20 Serve the meal and wash up. When you (do) the washing up you can go home.

21 The plane won’t take off till the fog (lift).

22 Tom will start as soon as his visa (arrive).

23 I’m glad you’re learning French. When you (know) French I (give) you a job.

24 Shall I boil the baby’s milk?

- Yes, but don’t give it to him till it (cool).

25 Don’t start smoking till the others (finish) their meal.

26 I don’t want anyone to overhear us, but I (tell) you what happened when we (be) alone.

27 How do you like your new job?

- I’ve only just started so I really can’t say. When I (be) in it for a fortnight I (let) you know.

28 My instructor says that when I (fly) another ten hours, he’ll let me fly solo.

29 They say that when the 100 k.p.h. speed limit (be) in operation for a year, they will be able to judge whether it is effective or not.

30 Sculptor’s friend: I suppose that when I (come) back next year you will still be working on this horse.

31 Sculptor: Oh no, I (finish) it long before I (see) you again, but as soon as I (finish) one thing I (start) on another, so there’ll be something else for you to look at.

32 All the flats are exactly alike so when you (see) one you’ve seen them all.

33 Advertisement: When you (drive) a Jaguar once, you won’t want to drive another car.

34 He’s asleep now but I (give) him the letter as soon as he (wake) up.

35 She bought beer and made sandwiches because she knew that when they (arrive) they would be hungry and thirsty.

Exercise 2 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

1 When it (get) dark we’ll have to stop. We can’t work in the dark.

2 Go on till you (come) to a square with a statue in the middle; then turn left and you’ll find the theatre on your right.

3 Immediately the train (stop) we’ll jump out.

4 I’ll help you with your homework as soon as I (do) my own.

5 He was determined to keep the two dogs apart because he knew that the moment they (see) one another they’d start barking.

6 I know the coat’s unfashionable but I’m not going to throw it away. I’ll keep it till that style (come) into fashion again.

7 Tourist: Can we get to the top of the tower?

Guide: Yes, but be careful when you (go) up because the steps are very uneven.

8 Tourist (puffing up the steps): I’ll be glad when I (get) to the top! Guide: When you (see) the view you’ll be glad you made the effort.

9 Mother (to child setting out for school): When you (come) to the main road remember to stop and look both ways before you (cross).

10 ‘Give this letter to your teacher as soon as you (arrive) at school,’ said his mother.

‘All right,’ said the boy, running out.

‘I bet it will still be in his pocket when he (get) home tonight,’ said his father.

11 Tom: I’m going to New York by sea. I’m leaving tomorrow.

Jack: I’m going by air. When I (sit) in my comfortable plane I’ll think of you tossing about on a stormy sea.

Tom: When I (walk) about the deck enjoying the fresh air and blue sea I’ll think of you shut up in a flying box and seeing nothing.

12 But there’s someone in the phone box! You can’t rush in and grab the receiver. You’ll have to wait till he (finish).

13 The ladder looks a bit unsteady.

- Yes, but before he (start) working he will tie the top end to the tree.

14 The house won’t be entirely mine until I (pay) off the mortgage.

15 You’ll find that the staff will clock in very punctually but that they / won’t do any work till the boss (arrive).

16 When I (work) here for fifteen years I’ll be entitled to a pension.

17 When you (do) the bedrooms, remember to sweep under the beds.

18 When you (do) all the upstairs rooms, come down and give me a hand with the lunch.

19 Mother to child: I won’t let you watch TV until you (finish) your supper.

20 We’ll talk business when we (have) dinner, but not during dinner. I never talk business at meals.

21 Young man: Weren’t you astonished when she said that?

Old man:When you (be) married as long as I have, you won’t be so easily astonished.

22 When you (read) the book, leave it in the hospital for someone else to read.

23 He said he would give me a ring as soon as he (reach) Paris.

24 Some people say that a man shouldn’t think of marrying till he (save) up enough money to buy a house.

25 You’re an idiot to go into teaching. I’m going into business. In ten years’ time when you (queue) at the bus stop I’ll be driving by in my Bentley.

26 When you are picking fruit in the holidays to eke out your salary I (cruise) round the Greek islands in my private yacht.

27 I visit a new country every year. By the time I (be) sixty I shall have visited all the most interesting countries in the world.

28 When I (see) all there is to see I’ll buy a small island and settle down there.

29 He saves £500 a year. By the time he (retire) he’ll have saved £20,000.

30 By the time he (save) £20,000, the value of the money will have gone down so much that he’ll have to go on working.

31 Ann hoped that it would go on raining. She knew that the moment it (stop) Tom would want to go out.

32 I expected that Jack would be there when the train (arrive), but there was no sign of him.

33 The boys worked slowly for they knew that as soon as they (finish) one exercise the teacher would tell them to do the next.

34 I’ll take the paper with me. I’ll read it while I (wait) for the bus.

35The window-cleaner was in fact one of a gang of safe crackers. He hoped that while he (clean), or (pretend) to clean, windows he would be able to have a look at the safe.

36 He said that he would lend me money whenever I (need) it.

Exercise 3 Use when, whenever or as to fill the gaps in the following.

1 . . (Because) there were no buses we had to take a taxi.

2 . . he grew older his temper improved. (His temper got better every year.)

3 . . he grew older (he reached the age of, say, 40) his temper improved.

4 .. the doors opened the crowd began pouring in. (They didn’t wait for the doors to open fully.)

5 . . it became dark (after dark), he left his hiding place.

6 . . the sun went down, great bars of red covered the western sky.

7 . . he left the house (while he was still in the doorway) he suddenly remembered where he’d seen her before.

8 . . he left the house (after leaving it) he turned right.

9 . .we have a puncture (every time we have one) she just sits in the car while I change the wheel.

10 Don’t exhaust yourself. Sit down . . . you’re tired, (as soon as you’re tired)

11 . . . (Because) we were tired we sat down beside the stream.

12 . . .we approached the town (came gradually nearer to if) we wondered whether there’d be room in the hotel.

13 ... we reached the town (after arriving) we sent Tom to find out about hotels.

14 I’ll have to buy a map . . . (because) I don’t know the area.

15 . . you don’t know a district it is always a good thing to have a map.

16 . . . the manager is out (every time he is out) his assistant signs the letters.

17 A revolver appeared round the edge of the door ... it swung open. (The revolver appeared before the door was fully open.)

18 ... the evening wore on there were fewer and fewer people in the streets.

19 ... he is determined to get something he usually succeeds. (Every time he is determined etc.)

20 He happened to look in at the window ... he walked past, (in the act of walking past)

21 . . she finished her training she got a job. (after she had finished)

22 I’ll write in Spanish . . . (because) he doesn’t understand English.

23 The atmosphere became stuffier . . . more and more people crowded into the carriage. (The more people came in, the stuffier the atmosphere became.)

24 He sang ... he worked, (while)

25 . . the sun rose the fog dispersed, (the more sun, the less fog)

26 .. a kettle boils steam comes out of the spout, (every time)

27 . . you’re ready I’ll bring in the tea. (as soon as)

28 .. he walked along people began to stare and point, (while)

29 .. I didn’t see him I can’t very well describe him. (because)

30 . . I’ve learnt English I’ll go to France and learn French.(as soon as)

31 . . the meat was cooked I took it out of the oven, (as soon as)

32 . . the meat was cooked I took it out of the oven, (because)

33 .. I reached the box office all the tickets had been sold.    

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