A. When / As soon as
The meaning of these two time expressions is almost the same, but as soon as suggests
something more immediate or important.
I’ll phone my uncle when / as soon as I get home.
As soon as / When you’ve finished this exercise, you can go home.
Common mistakes
I’ll see you when I get there. (NOT I’ll see you when I will get there.)
We don’t use a future form after when / as soon as.
B. Two things happening at the same time
Violet got ready while I cooked the dinner. [two long actions]
The accident happened while I was on my way to work. [a longer action ‘on my way to work’ and a short action ‘the accident’; we can also use when or as here.]
I saw him (just) as I came out of the office. [two short actions happening at the same time; we can also use when here]
C. One thing after another
We met the others in the café, and then / after that / afterwards we went to the match.
I talked to Joe, and afterwards [at a later time but usually the same day] I came home.
I was in Caracas for three months, and then / after that I went to Colombia.
After my visit to New York, I decided to have a rest.
We had something to eat before going out.
Common mistakes
After seeing the film, we went home. (NOT After see the film, we went home.)
D. A sequence* of actions
We had a really nice holiday. First of all / First we spent a few days in St Moritz. After that / Then we drove down the coast and stayed in Portofino for a week. Finally, we went back to Switzerland to stay with my uncle. (Finally is used here to introduce the last thing in a list.)
* one action after another, and so on
E. At first … eventually
To begin with, the two girls got on very well when they shared the flat. But after a while [a period of time], they started arguing about various things, and eventually [finally, after a long time or a lot of problems] Lauren walked out and found a new place.
At first I enjoyed the classes, but after a while it got a bit boring, and in the end [finally, after a period of time or thought] I left.
F. A list of reasons
We can use firstly / for one thing / for a start to introduce a first reason for something, and then secondly/ besides/ anyway to add a further reason.
A: What’s wrong with her new dress?
B: Firstly, it’s a horrible colour, and secondly, I don’t think it suits her.
A: Why can’t we go out tonight?
B: Well, for one thing / for a start, I’ve got a lot of work – and besides/anyway, I can’t afford it.
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