Connectors · CEFR A2 · Everyday
when / while / before / after — English conjunctions
When marks a point, while marks a stretch. Before and after put the two halves in order whichever way round you say them.
The shape
when / while / before / after + clause
Put two events in order inside one sentence.
In Hindi
when एक पल बताता है, while एक अवधि। before और after क्रम तय करते हैं, चाहे वाक्य किसी भी क्रम में हो।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
While I was going, I met him while. | While I was going, I met him. The connector appears once, at the front of its own half. |
when / while / before / after examples
Easiest first. Every sentence is authored, with the Hindi it comes from.
When I am tired, I rest.
जब मैं थक{ता|ती} हूँ तो आराम कर{ता|ती} हूँ।
Wash your hands before eating.
खाना खाने से पहले हाथ धोओ।
Close the door before going to sleep.
सोने से पहले दरवाज़ा बंद करो।
When I get home, I will call you.
जब मैं घर पहुँच{ूँगा|ूँगी} तो तुम्हें फोन कर{ूँगा|ूँगी}।
When you are ready, tell me.
जब तुम तैयार हो जाओ तो मुझे बताना।
When it rains, I stay at home.
जब बारिश होती है तो मैं घर पर {रहता|रहती} हूँ।
When I am hungry, I eat.
जब मुझे भूख लगती है तो मैं खाना खा{ता|ती} हूँ।
When he comes home, he drinks tea.
जब वह घर आता है तो चाय पीता है।
When we meet, we talk a lot.
जब हम मिलते हैं तो बहुत बात करते हैं।
When school finishes, the children go home.
जब स्कूल खत्म होता है तो बच्चे घर जाते हैं।
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
- until / since / onceB1Say when something stops, starts, or follows
- When I arrive, I will callB1Talk about two future things without saying "will" twice
- Telling a storyB1Tell what happened without losing your listener
Questions people ask
- What is the when / while / before / after used for?
- When marks a point, while marks a stretch. Before and after put the two halves in order whichever way round you say them. In practice: put two events in order inside one sentence.
- How do you form the when / while / before / after?
- when / while / before / after + clause.
- What is the most common mistake with the when / while / before / after?
- Saying “While I was going, I met him while.” instead of “While I was going, I met him.”. The connector appears once, at the front of its own half.
Where when / while / before / after fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
when / while / before / after is a CEFR A2 structure — the everyday band — and it belongs to connectors. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
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