Tài liệu ôn thi THPT Quốc gia môn Tiếng Anh - Bài 8: Adverbial clauses of time

BÀI 8. ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME 
MỆNH ĐỀ THỜI GIAN 
1. When: “When” means “at that moment, at that time, etc.” Notice the different tenses used 
in relationship to the clause beginning with when. It is important to remember that “when” 
takes either the simple past OR the present. 
“When” được dùng với ý nghĩa “lúc ấy, thời điểm ấy”. “When” cũng được dùng với nhiều thì 
ngữ pháp khác nhau trong mệnh đề thời gian, có thể là quá khứ đơn, quá khứ tiếp diễn, lẫn 
hiện tại đơn. Cụ thể như các ví dụ minh họa sau: 
He was talking on the phone when I arrived. 
When she called, he had already eaten lunch. 
I washed the dishes when my daughter fell asleep. 
We”ll go to lunch when you come to visit. 
When we were playing on the swings, it started to rain. 
2. Before: “Before” means “before that moment”. It is important to remember that “before” 
takes either the simple past OR the present. 
“Before” được dùng với ý nghĩa “trước lúc ấy, trước thời điểm ấy”. “Before” cũng được dùng 
với nhiều thì ngữ pháp khác nhau trong mệnh đề thời gian, có thể là quá khứ đơn, lẫn hiện 
tại đơn. Cụ thể như các ví dụ minh họa sau: 
We will finish before he arrives. 
She (had) left before I telephoned. 
Before you come back, the new hospital will have been built. 
Before we came, they had gone. 
3. After: “After” means “after that moment”. It is important to remember that “after” takes 
the present for future events and the past OR past perfect for past events. 
“After” được dùng với ý nghĩa “sau lúc ấy, sau thời điểm ấy”. “After” cũng được dùng với 
nhiều thì ngữ pháp khác nhau trong mệnh đề thời gian, có thể là quá khứ đơn, quá khứ hoàn 
thành. Cụ thể như các ví dụ minh họa sau: 
We will finish after he comes. 
She ate after I (had) left. 
After he arrives, he will certainly make a speech. 
After we had done all our homework, we played chess. 
4. While, as: “While” and “as” mean “during that time”. “While” and “as” are both usually 
used with the past continuous because the meaning of “during that time” which indicates an 
action in progress. 
“While/ As” được dùng với ý nghĩa “trong lúc, trong khoảng thời gia”. “While/ As” được 
dùng với thì quá khứ tiếp diễn trong mệnh đề thời gian, dùng để diễn tả sự diễn tiến của 
hành động. Cụ thể như các ví dụ minh họa sau: 
She began cooking while I was finishing my homework. 
As I was finishing my homework, she began cooking. 
While I was walking home, I met with my long-lost friend, Nga. 
He had an accident as he was walking on the street. 
5. By the time: “By the time” expresses the idea that one event has been completed before 
another. It is important to notice the use of the past perfect for past events and future 
perfect for future events in the main clause. This is because of the idea of something 
happening up to another point in time. 
“By the time” dùng để diễn đạt một hành động, sự kiện đã hoàn tất trước một sự kiện khác, 
hành động khác. “By the time” dùng với mệnh đề thời gian ở quá khứ (mệnh đề chính ở quá 
khứ hoàn thành) diễn tả một sự kiện trong quá khứ, tuy nhiên “by the time” sẽ diễn tả tương 
lai khi mệnh đề thời gian với “by the time” chia ở hiện tại (mệnh đề chính chia ở tương lai). 
By the time he finished, I had cooked dinner. 
We will have finished our homework by the time they arrive. 
6. Until, till: “Until” and “till” express “up to that time”. We use either the simple present or 
simple past with “until” and “till”. “Till” is usually only used in spoken English. 
“Until/ Till” được dùng để diễn đạt ý nghĩa “đến thời gian đó, đến thời điểm đó”. “Until/ Till” 
cũng được dùng với nhiều thì ngữ pháp khác nhau trong mệnh đề thời gian, có thể là quá 
khứ đơn, quá khứ hoàn thành. “Till” được dùng trong ngôn ngữ nói nhiều hơn. Cụ thể như 
các ví dụ minh họa sau: 
We waited until he finished his homework. 
I didn’t realize who he was until he took off his sunglasses. 
I”ll wait till you finish. 
We will continue to work till it is dark. 
7. Since: “Since” means “from that time”. We use the present perfect (continuous) with 
“since”. “Since” can also be used with a specific point in time. 
“Since” nghĩa là “kể từ thời điểm đó”, hoặc dùng với các mốc thời gian. “Since” được dùng 
với các dạng hoàn thành. Cụ thể minh họa qua các ví dụ sau: 
I have learned English since I was a young boy. 
They have worked here since 1987. 
We have been waiting for him since early this morning. 
8. As soon as/ Once: “As soon as” means “when something happens - immediately 
afterwards”. “As soon as” is very similar to “when” it emphasizes that the event will occur 
immediately after the other. We usually use the simple present for future events, although 
present perfect can also be used. 
“As soon as” diễn tả sự việc diễn ra ngay sau đó có một sự kiện, hành động khác tiếp nối, nó 
có ý nghĩa tương đối giống với”when”, hay “once”. Mệnh đề thời gian với “as soon as” được 
chi ở hiện tại để diễn tả tương lai. Ví dụ cụ thể: 
He will let us know as soon as he decides (or as soon as he has decided). 
As soon as I hear from Tom, I will give you a telephone call. 
Once I have a chance, I will throw you an ice ball. 
9. NOTE: No sooner  than  or hardly/scarcely/barely when. . is used in the meaning 
of As soon asbut when the sentence starts with them, that part is used in “inversion” like 
the question form and in the past perfect tense. 
No sooner  than  hay hardly/scarcely/barely when... được dùng với ý nghĩa như “as 
soon as”, nhưng mệnh đề sẽ phải đảo ngữ khi No sooner  than  hay hardly/ scarcely/ 
barely when... được đặt ở đầu mệnh đề. Ví dụ minh họa như dưới đây: 
Examples: 
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed her. 
No sooner had I entered the room than I noticed her. 
Hardly had I entered the room when I noticed her. 
As soon as he approached the house, the policeman stopped him. 
No sooner had he approached the house than the policeman stopped him. 
Hardly had he approached the house when the policeman stopped him. 
10. Whenever, every time: “Whenever” and “every time” mean “each time something 
happens”. We use the simple present (or the simple past in the past) because “whenever” 
and “every time” express habitual action. 
“Whenever” và “every time” được dùng với yas nghĩa “khi/ mỗi khi”, thì hiện tại thường hay 
quá khứ thường được dùng trong mệnh đề chỉ thời gian với “whenever” hay “every time” để 
diễn đạt một hành động mang tính thói quen hay lặp lại. Ví dụ: 
Whenever he comes, we go to have lunch at "Dick”s". 
We take a hike every time he visits. 
Whenever/Every time Susan feels nervous, she chews her nails. 
11. The first, second, third, fourth etc., next, last time: The first, second, third, fourth etc., 
next, last time means “that specific time”. We can use these forms to be more specific about 
which time of a number of times something happened. 
Các cụm từ trên dùng để diễn đạt “thời điểm cụ thể xác định”. Ví dụ: 
The first time I went to New York, I was intimidated by the city. 
I saw Jack the last time I went to San Francisco. 
The second time I played tennis, I began to have fun. 
12. Punctuation: Dấu câu 
When an adverb clause begins the sentence use a comma to separate the two clauses. 
Ta dùng dấu phẩy “,” để tách mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian với mệnh đề chính khi mệnh 
đề chỉ thời gian được đặt ở đầu câu, và bỏ dấu “,” trong trường hợp ngược lại. 
- When an adverb clause begins the sentence use a comma to separate the two clauses. 
e.g. As soon as he arrives, we will have some lunch. 
 When we came, they were playing cards. 
 While he was walking in the park, he met Anh. 
- When the adverb clause finishes the sentence there is no need for a comma. 
e.g. He gave me a call when he arrived in town. 
 We will wait here until she comes back. 
 She has been living in this city since she was born. 
- The time in the sentence is future but we use a present tense. 
e.g. Wait here until I come back. 
 When she arrives, I will tell her to phone you. 
 We will start as soon as the weather turns fine. 
- We can also use the present perfect tense after: when/after/as soon as/until or till 
e.g. Can I borrow that book when you have finished it? 
But it is often possible to use the present tense or the present perfect tense 
e.g. I will come as soon as I finish. Or I will come as soon as I have finished. 
BÀI TẬP THỰC HÀNH 
Exercise 150. Put the verbs in brackets into correct tense. 
1. How long do you want me to heat the oil? –heat it till it (begin) to smoke. (begins) 
2. How long are you going to stay here? - I”m going to stay here until my brother (finish) 
his exams. (has finished/ finishes) 
3. When I (get) to the cinema, the film (start). (got / had started) 
4. By the time you (read) this book, your meal will get cold. (read) 
5. Please tell me how to get to the hospital? - Go till you (come) to a square with a statue in 
the middle; then turn left and you (find) it on your right. (come/ will find) 
6. I (read) book while my sister (do) her homework. (was reading / was doing) 
7. When he (come), I (watch) a football match on TV. (came/ was watching) 
8. When I (walk) down the street, I (see) her. (was walking / saw) 
9. We will go with him as soon as we (finish) the task. (have finished) 
10. I (learn) English since I (be) six years old. (have learned / was) 
11. When we (see) them last night, they (sing). They (say) they (sing) since 6 o’clock. 
12. I hope it (not rain) when the bride (leave) the church tomorrow. 
13. In a few minutes” time, when the clock (strike) six, I (wait) here for 3 hours. 
14. John (do) the test again at the moment because he (not pass) it the first time. 
15. I wish I (listen) to your advice last night. When I (be) able to leave hospital, doctor? 
16. I will stay with you until your mother (come) home. 
17. After he had got the money, he (leave) home immediately. 
18. When he (arrive), he will tell us the truth. 
19. Mary was dancing while John (sing). 
20. The train left as we (arrive). 
Exercise 150. Choose one word or phrase marked A, B, C, or D that best complete the 
preceding sentence. 
1. I am going to speak with the boss when the meeting __________. 
 A. will end B. ends C. is ending D. would end 
2. When we___________ him tomorrow, we will remind him of that. 
 A. will see B. see C. am seeing D. saw. 
3. When he comes, I___________ her the news. 
 A. tell B. will tell C. would tell D. would have told 
4. When the police came, they _________. 
 A. are fighting B. fought C. be fighting D. were fighting 
5. Before she came to England, she _________ English. 
 A. studied B. will study C. had studied D was studying 
6. I have lost touch with him _________ He left for London. 
 A. as soon as B. after C. before D. since 
7. My mother is washing the dishes _________ my father is watching television. 
 A. when B. while C. as D. since 
8. Lan has learnt English since she_________ a small girl. 
 A. is B. was C. has been D. had been 
9. Don”t go anywhere until I_________ back. 
 A. come B. came C. will come D. am coming 
10. Before cars_________, people_________ horses and bicycles. 
 A. were discovered/ had used B. discovering/ had used 
 C. had discovered/ used D. discovered/ had used 
11. __________, I will give him the report. 
 A. When he will return B. When he returns 
 C. Until he will return D. No sooner he returns 
12. __________ the firemen arrived to help, we had already put out the fire. 
 A. Until B. No sooner C. By the time D. After 
13. I have earned my own living__________ I was seven. 
 A. since B. when C. while D. as soon as 
14. __________ the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend. 
 A. Before left B. Before he leaves C. Before leaving D. Before he will 
leave 
15. Jones__________ after everyone__________. 
 A. speaks / will eat B. will speak / has eaten 
 C. is speaking / eats D. has spoken / will have eaten 
16. __________, Joe stays in bed and reads magazines. 
 A. Whenever raining B. As it will be raining 
 C. When it will rain D. Whenever it rains 
17. __________ in Rome than he was kidnapped. 
 A. No sooner he arrived B. Had he no sooner arrived 
 C. No sooner had he arrived D. No sooner he had arrived 
18. We saw many beautiful birds__________ in the lake. 
 A when we are fishing B. while fishing 
 C. while fished D. fishing 
19. __________, Peter came to see me. 
 A. While having dinner B. While I was having dinner 
 C. When having dinner D. When lam having dinner 
20. __________ my homework, I went to bed. 
 A. After I had finished B. After finished 
 C. Finished D. After had finished 
Exercise 151. Choose one word or phrase marked A, B, C, or D that best complete the 
preceding sentence. 
1. __________ I came to this country, I couldn”t speak a word of English. 
 A. Since B. After C. When D. Before 
2. I”ll let you know__________ I come back. 
 A. though B. since C. because D. before 
3. They left the house__________ saying good-bye to their mother. 
 A. before B. after C. during D. in 
4. We will wait here__________ he comes back. 
 A. while B. until C. before D. after 
5. Mozart could write music__________ he was only five. 
 A. because B. although C. when D. however 
6. __________ Peter gets here, we will congratulate him. 
 A. As soon as B. After C. No sooner D. Since 
7. Mrs. Pike__________ the door before the customers arrived. 
 A. had opened B. will open C. would open D. has open 
8. After Mariana __________ her exam, __________ her out to eat. 
 A. was finishing/ would take B. finished/ had taken 
 C. will finish/ have taken D. has finished/ will take 
9. Mary will have finished all her work__________. 
 A. as soon as her boss returned B. until her boss will return 
 C. by the time her boss returns D. when he-r boss will return 
10. She went on crying, with her head sunk into a pillow, and cried and cried_________ the 
pillow was wet through. 
 A. before B. after C. until D. while 
11. He cleaned his shoes__________ they shone. 
 A. when B. after C. while D. until 
12. I had no sooner lit the barbecue _______ it started to rain. 
 A. as B. while C. than D. that 
13. I will wait__________ he comes. 
 A. however B. until C. so that D. in spite of 
14. You should give the iron time to heat up__________ you iron your clothes. 
 A. because B. so that C. even though D. before 
15. When the paint__________ it”ll change from a light to a deep red. 
 A. dry B. dries C. dried D. will dry 
16. When__________ older I”d love to be an artist. 
 A. I”m B. I”ll be C. was D. have been 
17. __________ you finish typing that report make five copies of it and give it to aloof the 
officers. 
 A. While B. When C. But D. Although 
18. When the passenger__________, will you please give him this package? 
 A. will arrive B. arrives C. would arrives D. arriving 
19. They were playing in the garden when__________. 
 A. they have heard a scream B. they were hearing a scream 
 C. they heard a scream D. they had heard a scream 
20. By the time he retires, he__________ $20,000. 
 A. will save B. has saved C. had saved D. will have saved 
Exercise 151. Choose one word or phrase marked A, B, C, or D that best complete the 
preceding sentence. 
1. Mark heard the news on the radio__________ he was driving home. 
 A. while B. as C. until D. A and B 
2. What are you going to do__________ graduating from university? 
 A. before B. after C. so D. because 
3. I am not so good at English, __________ I have to practice more. 
 A. but B. so C. while D. despite 
4. __________ the fact that she fail the exam, she didn”t look disappointed. 
 A. although B. despite C. in spite of D. because of 
5. We didn”t go to France last summer__________ we couldn”t afford to. 
 A. so B. when C. because D. because of 
6. You can”t drive a car__________ you have a license. 
 A. unless B. so C. in case D. if 
7. __________ the flight delay, they didn”t attend the conference. 
 A. Because B. As C. Although D. Because of 
8. The storm was so strong. __________ all the crops were destroyed. 
 A. However B. As a result C. Consequently D. B and C 
9. Everyone thought she would accept the offer. __________, she turned it down. 
 A. However B. So C. Too D. Moreover 
10. You should look up the meaning of the new words in the dictionary__________ misuse it 
 A. so as to B. to C. so as not to D. so that 
11. I bought this new software__________ Chinese. 
 A. for learning B. learning C. to learn D. learned 
12. The flight from New York to London was delayed__________ the heavy fog. 
 A. because of B. because C. so D. as a result 
13. It”s__________ city that he”s got lost. 
 A. a such big B. such big C. such a big D. a very big 
14. There are__________ in the universe that we cannot count them. 
 A. so much stars B. so many stars C. such stars many D. such stars much 
15. He has__________ to do that he can”t go to the cinema with us. 
 A. so much work B. so many work C. such much work D. such a work. 
16. It is__________ book that just a few people like it. 
 A. so an old B. so old C. such old D. such an old 
17. The satellite travel__________ into space that nobody could see it with naked eyes. 
 A. so far B. such far C. too far D. far enough 
18. __________ the bad weather, the plan landed safely. 
 A. in spite B. in spite of C. despite the fact that D. though 
19. It was__________ that we went for a walk. 
 A. a beautiful weather B. so a beautiful night 
 C. so nice weather D. such a nice weather 
20. He lighted the candle__________ he might read the note. 
 A. so that B. and C. because D. as a result 
Exercise 152. Choose one word or phrase marked A, B, C, or D that best complete the 
preceding sentence. 
1. Fail to pay the bill__________ they will cut off the electricity 
 A. unless B. and C. so D. if 
2. It is such an important matter__________ I can”t decide anything about it myself. 
 A. so B. because C. that D. if 
3. He hid that letter in a drawer__________ no one could read it. 
 A. so that B. because C. although D. than 
4. __________ Tom was unable to see anything, he knew someone was in his room. 
 A. Because B. In case C. If D. Even though 
5. __________ other workers” constant objection, the director dismissed the workers. 
 A. Because B. Because of C. Although D. In spite of 
6. __________ some scientists use lasers for military purposes, others use them in medicine. 
 A. When B. While C. Until D. However 
7. It seems__________ those students haven”t learnt this grammar point before. 
 A. so that B. as if C. such that D. even though 
8. They were disqualified__________ they fought to the last minute. 
 A. as B. since C. though D. once 
9. The teacher explained the lesson twice__________ the students understood it clearly. 
 A. as long as B. so that C. because D. as if 
10. She didn”t participate in the contest__________ her lack of confidence. 
 A. because B. because of C. since D. despite 
11. It is__________ that I have read it twice. 
 A. such an interesting book B. so interesting a book 
 C. too interesting a book D. A and B 
12. Lili is__________ to do this exercise. 
 A. no intelligence enough B. not intelligent enough 
 C. not enough intelligent D. so intelligent enough 
13. I am__________ a car. 
 A. not rich enough to buy B. too rich enough to buy 
 C. too poor to buy D. A and C 
14. The ceiling is__________. 
 A. too high for me to reach B. too high for me to reach it. 
 C. so high for me reaching D. enough high of me to reaching 
15. The woman was so beautiful__________. 
 A. that I couldn”t help looking at B. that I couldn”t help looking at her 
 C. for me looking at her D. that for me to look at 
16. It is__________ that I would like to go to the beach. 
 A. such a nice weather B. too nice weather 
 C. such nice weather D. such