Page 199 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

A d v e r b i a l c l a u s e s o fof t i m e ( 2 ) : a s , w h e n a n d
time
and
Adverbial
(2):
as,
when
clauses
w h i l e
while
time
the
as,
that...',
when
to
mean
‘during
use
while
We
to
that
about
is
something
We cancan use as, when oror while to mean 'during the time that...', to talk about something that is
talk
was
place:
when
else
oror was happening when something else tooktook place:
happening
something
or
As/When/While Dave was eating, the doorbell rang,
• ¢ As/When/While Dave was eating, the doorbell rang. or
• ¢ The doorbell rang, as/when/while Dave was eating.
eating.
was
The
Dave
as/when/while
doorbell
rang,
The word whilst can also be used in this way, butbut is today considered rather literary.
word
also
rather
whilst
way,
considered
The
literary.
be
used
can
in
this
is
today
We use when (not as or while):
or
We
while):
when
as
use
(not
• * to talk about an event that takes place at the same time as some longer action or event
place
that
takes
or
about
event
longer
same
event
time
as
an
to
at
action
talk
the
some
(described in the main clause):
clause):
in
main
the
(described
the
were
in
2 • ¢ They were playing in the garden when they heard a scream.
playing
heard
a
they
They
when
scream.
garden
• « Dave was eating when the doorbell rang, (compare A)
A)
when
rang.
(compare
was
eating
Dave
the
doorbell
• * to talk about one event happening immediately afterafter another:
one
to
event
happening
immediately
talk
another:
about
• ¢ When the lights went out, I lit some candles.
the
out,
lights
When
candles.
some
went
lit
I
• ¢ I knew there hadhad beenbeen an accident when the police arrived.
arrived.
an
police
the
when
accident
knew
there
I
• * to talk about periods of lives or periods of time past:
of
or
past:
time
periods
lives
to talk about periods of ourour
• ¢ His mother called him Robbie when he was a baby.
baby.
Robbie
a
called
was
he
mother
when
him
His
• * to meanmean 'every time':
to
time':
'every
• ¢ I still feel tired when I wake up in the morning.
morning.
I
the
feel
up
still
when
wake
tired
in
I
• ¢ When I turn on the TV, smoke comes out the back.
the
comes
When
back.
smoke
turn
TV,
on
I
out
the
We use eithereither as oror when (not while):
(not
while):
as
use
We
when
• * to talk about two short events that happen at the same moment, or if we want to emphasise
emphasise
want
events
if
we
or
moment,
talk
that
to
happen
same
to
at
the
about
two
short
one
other
happen
that two events that inin fact occur one after the other happen almost at exactly the same time,
occur
that
at
the
the
time,
events
exactly
almost
same
fact
after
that
two
particularly if one causes the other:
causes
one
other:
particularly
if
the
• ¢ You'll see my house on the right as/when you cross the bridge.
see
the
my
cross
bridge.
you
as/when
house
on
the
right
You'll
• ¢ As/When the can is opened, the contents heat automatically.
the
is
As/When
contents
the
opened,
heat
can
automatically.
• * when we want to say that when one thing changes, another thing changes at the same time.
one
changes,
same
the
when
want
say
to
that
changes
thing
time.
when
we
another
at
thing
However, we prefer as to express this meaning:
to
this
meaning:
we
as
However,
prefer
express
its flavour improves,
(rather than When the cheese matures...)
As the cheese matures,
• ¢ As the cheese matures, its flavour improves. (rather than When the cheese matures...)
Her eyesight worsened as she grew older,
...when she grew older.)
(rather than
• * Her eyesight worsened as she grew older. (rather than ...when she grew older.)
We prefer while oror as (rather(rather than when):
prefer
We
as
than
when):
while
time:
same
the
to
at
two
on
about
longer
actions
go
talk
that
»•»™ to talk about two longer actions that go on at the same time:
» @ • «+ I went shopping while/as Linda cleaned the house.
cleaned
while/as
Linda
the
shopping
house.
went
I
We use while (or when) rather than as if 'as' could also 'because':
than
also meanmean
as
'as’
while
rather
We
use
'because’:
(or
if
when)
could
• ¢ While you were playing golf, I went to the cinema. ('As you were playing golf...' couldcould mean
('As
you
were
you
mean
were
playing
golf,
While
I
the
playing
golf...’
went
cinema.
to
'Because you were playing golf...') we cancan oftenoften leave out same subject: in clauses withwith
"Because
golf...')
you
playing
were
Adverbal found on holiday while Spain when consult the news. are (= when he was told) in doubt)
+ be
and writing,
formal
formal
leave
and
speechspeech
writing,
inin
+
in
ParticularlyParticularly
clauses
be
out
subjectsubject
we
clause
to the
main
if the
while
subordinate
main
when
when andand
the
subordinate
referrefer
while
andand
the
subject:
clause
same
to
if
The President was on holiday in Spain when told the news.
•
(=
he
when
President
told
was
The
told)
¢
was
in
(= when you are in doubt)
•
When in doubt about taking the medicine, consult your doctor.
your
the
(=
When
when
doctor.
are
about
in
medicine,
¢
you
doubt
taking
digging)
Mr Thomas found the coins while digging in his back garden.
•
(= while he was
digging)
he
was
his
coins
back
Mr
digging
¢
in
garden.
(=
while
the
Thomas
While on the boat, always wear a
•
lifejacket.
(= while you are on the boat)
While
the
boat,
always
wear
on
you
while
the
boat)
on
¢
lifejacket.
a
(=

As: giving reasons =
me
Adverbial time clauses (1) =(1)=> QEEEZJ = As: givingreesons =>
clauses