Warm-up

Let's warm up — no notes, and don't worry about small mistakes.

You already know and, but, because and so. Complete this sentence:

"I didn't go for a run it was raining."

SPEAK

Have a go out loud: say two sentences about your morning, using because or so.

Listen in on this conversation

Sam: Are you coming to the gym later?

Jo: Yeah — I'll meet you there as soon as I finish work. I always shower before I leave the house, though, so give me twenty minutes after that.

Jo uses three little time words to organise the whole plan. Can you spot them? Say them out loud before you check.

Check your idea CLICK

as soon as, before, after. These words show the order things happen in — what's first, what's next. Today we also meet when, while, and a word for surprises: although.

Today: when, while, before, after and as soon as to put events in order — and although / though to show a surprising contrast — so you can tell stories, describe your routines, and talk about plans without mixing up the order.

Putting Events in Order

For stories and routines — what happened first, what happened next.

Spot the pattern

Three moments from someone's day:

"When the taxi arrived, I was still in the shower."
"I locked the door before I left for the airport."
"While I was cooking dinner, my sister called."

Before you check: which sentence has two things happening AT THE SAME TIME, not one after another?

Check the pattern CLICK

The while sentence: cooking dinner was already happening (was cooking) when the phone call interrupted it. When and before show one event, then another — while shows something already in progress.

when / before / after + subject + past simple, + subject + past simple
while + subject + was/were + verb-ing, + subject + past simple

Same two events, different order of the words

"First I finished work. Then I went for a coffee."

→

"I went for a coffee after I finished work."

You can also say it the other way round: "Before I went for a coffee, I finished work." Same order of events, different starting point.

Your turn

1. Every night: I brush my teeth. Then I go to bed.

"I brush my teeth I go to bed every night."

2. The moment the film finished, everyone clapped.

the film finished, everyone clapped.

3. Combine using while: "I was doing the shopping. It started to rain."

SPEAK

Tell a short story: three things that happened this week, in order. Use before, after or as soon as at least once.

Talking About the Future

For plans and promises — but there's a trap most learners fall into.

Spot the pattern

Three promises about later:

"I'll call you when I arrive."
"We'll leave as soon as the taxi gets here."
"I'll make dinner before you get back."

Look closely: after when/as soon as/before, is the verb "will arrive", "will get" or something simpler? Say it before you check.

Check the pattern CLICK

arrive, gets, get — plain present simple, never "will arrive". Even though the whole sentence is about the future, after a time word like when/before/after/as soon as, English uses the present. Only the first part ("I'll call", "we'll leave") shows the future.

will + verb ... when / before / after / as soon as + present simple (NOT will)

    This is one of the easiest mistakes to make — even confident learners write "when I will arrive" from habit. After a time word, the future hides inside the present.
  

Your turn

1. Text a friend: promise to message the moment you land.

"I'll message you as soon as I ."

2. Plan: dinner once the match is over.

"We'll have dinner after the match ."

3. Fix the mistake: "I'll phone you when I will get home."

SPEAK

Make three promises about later today or this week, starting with "I'll...". Use when, before, after or as soon as in each one — no "will" after the time word.

But Still... (Although / Though)

For surprising contrasts — things that happened anyway.

Spot the pattern

"Although it was raining, we walked to the market."
"We enjoyed the trip, though the hotel was noisy."
"Although I was tired, I finished the report."

None of these sentences also use the word "but". Why not, do you think?

Check the pattern CLICK

Because although and though already do the job of "but" — they join two surprising, contrasting ideas in ONE sentence. Adding "but" as well is a doubling mistake: choose one, never both.

although / though + subject + verb, + main clause
main clause + although / though + subject + verb

    Common mistake: "Although it was raining, but we walked." Although already means "but" — you never need both in the same sentence.
  

Your turn

1. Combine using although: "The coffee was expensive. We bought two cups."

2. Fix the doubling mistake: "Although the shop was closed, but we managed to buy some bread."

3. Combine using though: "The queue was long. We waited patiently."

SPEAK

Think of a time something went wrong but you still had a good time. Say one sentence with although and one with though.

Your Turn to Talk

Time to use all the forms together in one real story — out loud, then in writing.

The situation

Think about your day yesterday, or a trip you remember well.

Tell the story out loud for one minute. Try to answer:

What happened, in order? (before / after / when)
Was anything happening at the same time as something else? (while)
Did anything go wrong, but you still had a good day? (although / though)

01:00

Now put it in writing

Write a short message (3–5 sentences) to a friend about your day, or a plan for later. Use time words to put things in order, and although/though if anything surprising happened. The checker will tell you which forms it finds.

Mix It Up

Real life doesn't tell you which word to use. Here everything is mixed — you decide.

Fix the mistakes

Each sentence has one mistake. Rewrite the whole sentence correctly.

1. "I'll text you when I will finish this course."

2. "Although the bus was late, but we arrived on time."

3. Real life: the alarm goes off, THEN you get out of bed. Someone wrote it backwards — fix it: "I turned off my alarm after I got out of bed."

4. "While I watched TV, the doorbell rang."

Which word fits?

5. "I lock the front door ___ I go to bed every night."

6. "___ it was really expensive, she bought the dress anyway."

7. "I'll send you the photos ___ I get home."

SPEAK

One-minute challenge: describe your typical Saturday from morning to night. Use at least one of when/while/before/after/as soon as, and one although or though if something usually goes wrong.

What Do You Remember?

First, from earlier lessons

1. A word you knew before today — complete it: "I was hungry, I made a sandwich."

2. Say it out loud: what are the four basic connecting words you learned before today? Give one example sentence with one of them.

Compare with a possible answer CLICK

and, but, because, so. One possible example: "I was tired, so I went to bed early."

Now, today's grammar — fresh sentences, no looking back

3. Text a friend during a meeting: "I'll call you I finish this meeting."

4. Your daily routine: "I always check the oven I leave the house."

5. " the flight was delayed, we still made it to the wedding on time."

Think back

Which practice helped you most today — fixing the mistakes, choosing the right word, or the speaking tasks? Say why you think that one worked for you.

Can you now...?

At the start we said: time words to put events in order, and although/though for surprises. Tick what's true:

I can put events in order with when, before, after — "I locked the door before I left."
I can use while for two things happening at the same time — "While I was cooking, the phone rang."
I can talk about the future after a time word without "will" — "I'll call you when I arrive."
I can show a surprising contrast with although or though — "Although it was raining, we walked."

    Anything you didn't tick — go back to that tab and try the exercises once more. They'll still check your answers.
  