Time-Relation Link
Before, after, during, or while what?
Signification
A relation that orders two events relative to each other in time.
Comment le repérer
Ask which event happens before, after, while, until, or since another.
Exemples
before|after|while|until|since
before dinner|after I arrived|while waiting
Call me before you leave.
Visual guide
time-relation frame [event A] timed by [event B] Call me before you leave call < leave (< means earlier)
A = main event, B = anchor before B: A < B after B: B < A while B: A overlaps B until B: A lasts to B since B: A starts at B
Vue par langue
Dans votre langue maternelle
Time relations use quand, lorsque, avant que, après que, pendant que, and tense sequencing.
Quand elle est arrivée, nous avons commencé.
When she arrived, we started.
Dans votre langue d’apprentissage
En anglais, before, after, while, when, until, since et once servent à relier deux événements dans le temps.
Call me before you leave.
before you leave = relation temporelle : l’appel doit avoir lieu avant le départ
Les apprenants choisissent parfois le mauvais connecteur ou emploient un temps inapproprié dans la proposition de temps.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.