Page 129 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

61 Time: connecting words and expressions

A One thing before another

Ihadwrittentoherpriortomeetingthecommittee.(formal/writtenstyle)
ItwasnicetobeinVenice.PreviouslyI’donlybeentoRome.(fairlyformal,moreinformalwouldbe
Before that, I …)
Iwasintheofficefrom2.30.Iwasoutearlieron.[beforethen;fairlyinformal]
ThestreetisnowcalledTreetopAvenue.FormerlyitwasHedgeLane.(fairlyformal,typicallywritten;
used when something has changed its name, state, etc.)
Dinnerwillbereadyinaboutanhour.Inthemeantime/Meanwhile,relaxandhaveadrink.
[betweennowandthetimeofthemeal]

B Things happening at the same time

Shewasentering(at)theverytime/theverymomentIwasleaving.(thesetwoarestrongerandmore
precise than as or just as)

Thetwoeventshappenedsimultaneously.[startedandendedatexactlythesametime]
During thewar,shelivedinDublin.Throughout thewar,theyremainedinthecity.

Language help

During does not specify how long within a period of time. Throughout means from the beginning
to the end of a period of time.

C One thing after another

ReadthispersonalstatementbysomeonehopingtoworkforaninternationalcorporationinChina.
Thewordsinboldareratherformal.

1
2
Following myfirstvisittoBeijing,IreadseveralbooksaboutChinaandsubsequently decided
totakeasix-monthcourseinMandarinChinese.IrevisitedChinaonseveraloccasionsthereafter 3
andnowfeelthatIhaveagoodknowledgeofthecountryanditsculture.

1 after 2 at some time after that 3 after finishing the course

Notealsoimmediate(adjective),e.g.Thegovernmentremovedthepriceregulationsandthe

immediateresultwasa10%pricerise.[which happened at once]

D Time when

The moment /The minute IsawhisfaceIknewI’dmethimbefore.
Istayedinthathospitalthetime(that)Ibrokemyleg.
ImetPaulaatMark’swedding.Onthatoccasionshewaswithadifferentman.(moreformal)

E Non-specific time expressions

Wecandiscussthebudgetnow.Atalaterstagewecandiscussthedetailedarrangements.
At some pointwewillhavetoreplaceourcomputers,butwe’reOKforthemoment.
[atanunspecifiedtimeinthefuture]

128 English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate