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“WHEN” “AS SOON AS”
English uses “when” as a “As soon as” has a similar
conjunction to talk about meaning to “when,” but it
events or actions in the future implies that the second
that must happen before event will take place
another event or action can FIRST EVENT SECOND EVENT immediately once the first NOW
take place. These phrases are event is complete.
called subordinate time
clauses and are usually used
with the present simple.
“When” indicates that the first
event has not happened yet.

COMMON MISTAKES TENSES AFTER TIME CONJUNCTIONS
FURTHER EXAMPLES Subordinate time clauses

can also be used to ask Future forms are not The present simple describes the first
event, even though it is a future event.
about future events. used after “when” and
“as soon as,” even if the
clause is referring to
the future.

Even though this refers to the future,
it is incorrect to use a future form.

“WHILE”
“While” is used to connect two
clauses that are happening at
the same time.
ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT

UK English sometimes uses the present
perfect instead of the present simple in
subordinate time clauses.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

The present perfect still describes a future event.

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