TimeLinkers
when, while, as soon as, after, before
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Tell your partner your morning using FIRST, THEN, AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS, FINALLY.
Name one thing you ALWAYS do before bed and one thing you do as soon as you wake up.
'I knew something was wrong as soon as…' — finish in pairs.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minTime linkers: sequencing the past
Time linkers connect clauses to show order or simultaneity.
→ As soon as I got the email, I replied.
→ After we had dinner, we watched a film.
→ I waited until the rain stopped.
→ While she was driving, he was checking the map.
More detail
WHEN = at the moment (when I arrived…). WHILE = during a longer action (while I was cooking…). AS SOON AS = immediately after (as soon as I heard the news…). AFTER / BEFORE = order in time (after I finished, I left). UNTIL = up to a point (I waited until she arrived). Linkers can begin or join the sentence: 'As soon as I got home, I called.' = 'I called as soon as I got home.' Use a comma when the linker comes first.
Question 1.____ I finished my homework, I went out.
Question 2.She called me ____ ____ she heard the news.
Question 3.We stayed ____ the concert ended.
Question 4.____ I was walking home, it started to rain.
Question 5.Brush your teeth ____ you go to bed.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
the moment (that)
exactly when
"The moment I saw her, I knew."
Finish: 'The moment I…'
by the time
before something happened
"By the time we arrived, the show had started."
Finish: 'By the time I got home…'
meanwhile
at the same time, elsewhere
"I cooked dinner. Meanwhile, he set the table."
Tell two parallel actions using meanwhile.
later on
after a while
"We chatted, and later on we went for coffee."
What did you do later on yesterday?
first thing
very early / at the start
"I check my email first thing in the morning."
What do you do first thing?
in the end
after a long process
"We argued, but in the end we agreed."
Finish: 'In the end, I decided…'
straight away
immediately
"I knew straight away it was a mistake."
What do you do straight away when you wake up?
eventually
finally, after some time
"He eventually called me back."
Tell a story ending with 'eventually'.
Discuss with a partner
- →Tell your partner your weekend in 90 seconds using meanwhile, later on, eventually and in the end.
- →Describe the moment a decision became obvious.
Finish the sentence about you
- By the time I… …
- First thing in the morning, I… …
- In the end, we… …
60-second write
Write 4 sentences about yesterday using a different time linker in each.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minPausing after fronted linkers
- • As soon as I heard the news, / I called Mum.
- • By the time we arrived, / the film had started.
- • While she was driving, / he checked the map.
- • After we finished, / we went for a coffee.
How to say it
When a linker comes first, native speakers pause briefly — written as a comma. 'As soon as I got home, (pause) I called.' Without the pause, sentences sound rushed and listeners get lost. Practise a tiny breath after the linker clause.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minHow I finally moved out
I had been planning to move out for years, but life kept getting in the way. The moment I got my new job offer, I knew it was time. As soon as I signed the contract, I started looking at flats. By the time I found one I liked, three weeks had passed. Meanwhile, my parents were quietly packing boxes for me — they were ready before I was. After I moved in, the place felt strange for a few days. Later on, I painted the walls, bought a plant, and eventually it started to feel like home. In the end, the hardest part wasn't moving; it was admitting I'd needed to do it for years.
Question 1.What triggered the move?
Question 2.What were the parents doing?
Question 3.What was the hardest part?
Q1.The writer found a flat quickly.
Q2.The parents helped pack.
Q3.The writer painted the walls before moving in.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minTalking about a stressful week
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Joe:How was your week?
Lin:Chaotic. First thing Monday, my laptop died.
Joe:Oh no. Did you fix it straight away?
Lin:I tried, but by the time the repair shop opened, I had two deadlines.
Joe:So what happened?
Lin:Meanwhile, my flatmate lent me her old laptop. Eventually I caught up.
Joe:And in the end?
Lin:In the end, I delivered everything on time. But I haven't slept properly since Sunday.
Question 1.What broke first thing Monday?
Question 2.Who helped Lin?
Question 3.Did Lin meet her deadlines?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Writing Part 2 (article / story)
Task
Write a 100-word account of a busy day using at least 4 different time linkers.
Strategy
Plan a 3-stage structure: opening (first thing / the moment), middle (meanwhile / while / by the time), end (in the end / eventually). Vary your linkers — repeating 'and then' three times loses marks. Always use a comma after a fronted linker.
Example
First thing on Saturday, I went for a run. As soon as I got home, I started cleaning the flat. Meanwhile, my brother was making breakfast. By the time we finished, it was already noon. Later on, friends came over and we cooked together. In the end, what felt like a packed day turned into one of the best of the month.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.____ ____ ____ I got home, I called Mum.
Question 2.I stayed at work ____ the report was done.
Question 3.____ I was eating, the phone rang.
Question 4.I'll call you ____ ____ I arrive.
Question 5.____ the time we got there, it was closed.
Q1.Connect: 'I heard the news. I called her.' (as soon as) →
Q2.Connect with 'while': 'cook dinner / listen to music' →
Q3.Connect with 'by the time': 'arrive / film start' →
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 120-word email to a friend describing a busy or memorable day. Use at least 5 different time linkers from today's lesson.
Show model answer
Hi Sam! You won't believe my Tuesday. First thing, my alarm didn't go off, so by the time I woke up I had ten minutes to leave. As soon as I got to the office, my boss asked for a report I'd forgotten. Meanwhile, my phone kept buzzing with messages. While I was writing, I drank three coffees. Eventually I finished, and the moment I sent it, I felt fifty kilos lighter. Later on, my colleagues took me for lunch to celebrate. In the end, what started as the worst day became actually quite a good one. How's your week going?
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
MY 24 HOURS · Pairs. Tell each other your last 24 hours in 90 seconds — but you must use at least 5 different time linkers. Partner counts them on fingers. Swap. Teacher monitors for fronted linkers + comma intonation.
Useful phrases
- • First thing in the morning…
- • As soon as I…
- • Meanwhile, my…
- • By the time I…
- • Later on,…
- • In the end,…
- AWhen did you realise you'd lost your phone?
- B_______________
- ADid you find it?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Train sequencing, not single-clause sentences. ~30 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write 6 sentences about your week — one for each linker: when, while, as soon as, after, before, until.
Record a 90-second voice note narrating yesterday with 4+ linkers.
Read a short news story; highlight every time linker.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- When = at the moment. While = during a longer action.
- As soon as / the moment = immediately after.
- After / before = order. Until = up to a point.
- Meanwhile = same time, elsewhere. Eventually / in the end = finally.
- Fronted linker → comma → main clause.