Clauses Review
A clause is a grammatical unit. It is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb.
Independent Clauses:
An independent clause is a complete idea that can form a complete sentence.
Watch! (verb in imperative, implied subject)
I watch movies. (subject + verb + object)
I watch movies in my house. (subject + verb + object + prepositional phrase)
I watch movies with my friends every weekend. (subject + verb + object + prepositional phrase + time)
These sentences express whole ideas. While you are able to add more information, it isn't grammatically necessary.
Dependent Clauses:
As the name suggests, a dependent clause requires additional information. It cannot be used without the support of another clause.
When I watch movies
After I watch movies
Although I watch movies
Because I watch movies
All of these clauses leave the listener with the expectation of more information. Those initial subordinating conjunctions (italicized) create a connection between ideas.
When I watch movies, I eat popcorn.
After I watch movies, I turn off the TV.
Although I watch movies, I do not want to be an actor.
Because I watch movies, my English pronunciation is improving.
Time Clause
Time clauses are also referred to as adverb clauses of time (there are other types of adverb clauses too). These are a type of dependent clauses and are introduced by a subordinating conjunction. They can be written at the beginning or end of the sentence, but punctuation changes with their placement, so remember to use a comma if the time clause comes first. Time clauses are used to express time relationships between events, so the subordinator you choose will depend on the relationship between the two clauses.
There are many different words that are used to introduce time clauses, so we will look at them in two different lessons. For this lesson, we will focus on before, after, and since.
Before
Use before when talking about something that happens earlier in time. It is important to note that the clause using before is the second event (dependent clause), and the independent clause is the first event.
Before we took the test, we reviewed the information.
What happens first?
Independent clause (first) = we reviewed the information
Dependent clause (second) = we took the test
*This is important to remember when thinking about how the events are related.
John checked the flight information before he bought his ticket.
After
Use after when talking about something that happens later in time. When using after, the dependent clause is the first event, and the independent clause is the second event, which is the opposite of what happened with before.
After David had prepared the chicken, he put it in the smoker for hours.
What happens first?
Dependent clause (first) = David had prepared the chicken
Independent clause (second) = he put it in the smoker for hours
My daughters get to watch TV after they clean up their room.
Since
Use since when talking about something that happens after a time in the past. Since signals the beginning of the action that is introduced in the independent clause. Usually, present perfect is used in the independent clause, and simple past is used in the dependent clause.
Leilani has worked hard since she got hired.
Since I was a child, I have loved the sound of the violin.
Exercise 1: Listen & Speak
Here is a video about Frances Oldham Kelsey. Listen to the video for examples of before, after, or since.
After graduating from high school at age 15, she enrolled at McGill University in Montreal and earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees in pharmacology.
Nonetheless, Merrell continued trying to get it approved in the US for several months before withdrawing their sixth and final application.
After the thalidomide scare, Congress passed laws that expanded the FDA’s authority and toughened requirements for new drug applications.
Her visibility may have dimmed since, but her legacy endures.
- Explain the story of Frances Oldham Kelsey using time clauses with before, after, and since.