Interactive Activities – Time connectors (one action before the other)

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Time connectors (one action before the other)
	Activity SmartMemo	Activity SmartMemo

Here we are going to practise how to express actions that happen one before the other. First action is marked 1 and second action 2, join them with the right connector.

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Instructions

1- Look at the sentences and think of how to say that in English (or write it down) 2- Move your mouse over the black button to check your answer. 3- If you were right, click on the green button, if wrong, click on the red.

TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF TWO ACTIONS

BEFORE (c.) (f.c.) (p.)
      Wake me up before you go (c.)
      Enter the house, but before, you have to disconnect the alarm system (f.c.)
      Don’t just open the door. Before that, ask who is knocking (f.c.)
      I met Charles before lunch (p.)

WHEN (c.)
      When I opened the door, the dog looked at me and went out (First I open the door, then, the dog goes out)

If we want to emphasise that the second actions happens immediately after the first one:

AS SOON AS (c.)
THE MOMENT (c.)
      Phone me as soon as you see her
      The moment I saw her, I lost control

TO INTRODUCE THE SECOND OF TWO ACTIONS

AFTER (c.) (p.)
After the bomb exploded, everything was quiet
I went out after work

AFTERWARDS (f.c.)
THEN (f.c.)
LATER (f.c.)

Later suggests an interval of time between both actions. Afterwards and then can be used when there is an interval of time or when the second action takes place immediately after the first one.

There was an explosion. Afterwards/Then, everything was quiet
She had a shower. Later/Afterwards/Then, she went for a walk

If we want to show that the second action happens quickly and unexpectedly we use:

SUDDENLY (f.c.)
I saw her. Suddenly, I lost control

TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF ACTIONS (2 or more)

FIRST (f.c.) often used with "then" or also with "second", "third", etc.
First, go into the house, then, go upstairs and wait for me
First, switch it on. Second, search for the channel, and last, adjust the volume

abbreviations: (c.)= conjunction (f.c.)= free connector (p.)= preposition (see the important difference here: Kinds of Connectors)

For Spanish Speakers

BEFORE (c.) (f.c.) = antes de que / antes,
WHEN (c.) = cuando
AS SOON AS (c.) = tan pronto como
THE MOMENT = nada más + inf. , en cuanto
AFTER (c.)= después de que
AFTERWARDS (f.c.) = después,
THEN (f.c.) = entonces (después)
LATER (f.c.) = luego, más tarde
SUDDENLY (f.c.) = de repente
FIRST (f.c.) = primero, (often used with "then")

Items

Item	Match	Comments
Al principio es muy aburrida, pero luego se pone interesante	At the beginning it's quite boring, but afterwards, it gets interesting
Antes de que ella me viera, la abracé	Before she saw me, I hugged her
Antes de salir come algo	Before going out, have something to eat
Antes de venir, llámame	Before coming, call me
Antes del verano tienes que acabar	You must finish before the summer
Cené temprano y después me fui al cine	I had dinner early and, afterwards, I went to the cinema
Despiértame antes de irte	Wake me up before you go
Después de que explotara la bomba, todo quedó en silencio	After the bomb exploded, everything was quiet
Después de que nos marchamos llegó más gente	After we left, some more people arrived
Después de subir al piso de arriba se acordó de que la puerta estaba abierta	After going upstairs, he remembered the door was open
Después solo estaba yo, pero al principio también estaba John	Afterwards, it was just me, but in the beginning John was there too
Ella se pegó una ducha. Luego se fue de paseo.	She had a shower. Later, she went for a walk.
Entra en la casa, pero antes tienes que desconectar el sistema de alarma	Enter the house, but before, you have to disconnect the alarm system
Era azul. Después cambió a rojo.	It was blue. Then it changed to red.
Es difícil al principio. Después es mucho más fácil.	It's difficult at first. Afterwards, it's much easier.
Él estuvo allí después	He was there afterwards
Hubo una explosión. Después, todo quedó en silencio.	There was an explosion. Afterwards, everything was quiet.
Hubo una explosión. Entonces todo quedó en silencio.	There was an explosion. Then, everything was quiet.
Hubo una explosión. Luego, todo quedó en silencio.	There was an explosion. Later, everything was quiet.
Intenta acabar antes de la cena	Try to finish before dinner
Introduce dos monedas y luego pulsa el botón. Entonces puedes coger la lata.	Insert two coins and then press the button. Then you can take the can.
Le vi en Navidad. Después de eso no le he vuelto a ver.	I saw him on Christmas. After that, I have never seen him again.	also: ...I haven't seen him again.
Léete esto. Luego sabrás por qué.	Read this. Then you'll know why.
Luego, todo cambió	Later, everything changed
No abras la puerta. Antes de eso, pregunta quién es	Don't open the door. Before that, ask who it is
No estaba allí a las nueve. Fue más tarde, después del concierto.	He wasn't there at 9. He went later, after the concert.
No me gustó al principio. Después estuvo bien.	I didn't like it at first. Afterwards, it was ok.
No, no lo sabía. Lo supe más tarde.	No, I didn't know it. I knew it later.
Nos peleamos, pero después de eso fuimos amigos otra vez	We had a fight, but after that, we were friends again
Nunca lo he hecho antes	I've never done it before
Piénsalo antes de que sea demasiado tarde	Think about it before it's too late
Primero acaba los deberes. Entonces podrás salir con tus amigos.	First, finish your homework. Then, you can go out with your friends.
Primero pidió té. Después se bebió un vaso de leche.	First, he asked for tea. Afterwards, he drank a glass of milk.
Salió después de la cena	He went out after dinner
Se fué a visitarla después de que yo se lo pidiera	He went to visit her after I asked him
Vimos la tele después de que los nińos se acostaran	We watched TV after the children went to bed
Visité China. Luego fui a Japón y entonces volví aquí.	I visited China. Then, I went to Japan, and then I came back here.
Yo estaba bien, pero después dolía un montón	I was ok, but afterwards it hurt a lot
żFue antes o después de que me marchara?	Was it before or after I left?
żFue antes? - No, fue después.	Was it before? - No, it was afterwards.

Total number of items: 40