before / after / when

Connecting Events in Time

Level 3

Before, after and when connect events in Singlish: After you finish, call me. Interpret the surrounding event and aspect markers rather than demanding the same tense on both verbs.

How It Works

Before and after put events in order, while when places one event in relation to another. After you finish, call me makes finishing the condition in time before the call. The event relationship can be clear without identical tense endings.

Follow the actual sequence rather than turning every bare verb into present time. Yesterday, after we eat, we went home is a past account in its setting. Full forms such as after we ate are also available. A future-time clause with when does not say the event has already happened; it sets up when the other action should occur.

Examples (4)

  1. After you finish, call me.

    Call me after you finish.

  2. Before we leave, check the door.

    Check the door before we leave.

  3. When she reaches, tell me.

    Tell me when she arrives.

  4. Yesterday, after we eat, we went home.

    Yesterday, we went home after eating.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

before / after / whenLevel 3Connecting Events in Time

Learn This First

Follow reference time before ordering two events with before, after or when.