TIME CONNECTORS (B& W + KEY INCLUDED) - ESL worksheet by Katiana - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: TIME CONNECTORS (B& W + KEY INCLUDED) - ESL worksheet by Katiana. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: TIME CONNECTORS (B& W + KEY INCLUDED) - ESL worksheet by Katiana
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: TIME CONNECTORS (B& W + KEY INCLUDED) - ESL worksheet by Katiana
Let's solve this "Time Connectors" worksheet step by step.
We are given 25 sentences, each with a blank to fill in using one of the time connectors listed on the right side:
> later, then, until, since, at first, after, before, as, when, while, finally
Some sentences may have more than one correct answer. We’ll go through each sentence and choose the most appropriate time connector based on context and grammar.
---
- Answer: while
→ "He put up his hand while our teacher was explaining the problem."
✔ *Action happening during another ongoing action.*
---
- Answer: after
→ "Bill was very dirty after playing in the mud..."
✔ *Result after an action.*
---
- Answer: as
→ "They started making the cake as soon as they arrived home..."
✔ *"As soon as"* is a fixed expression meaning immediately after.
---
- Answer: at first
→ "At first she wasn't interested in the book but she said it was really amazing."
✔ *Shows change in attitude over time.*
---
- Answer: before
→ "Lisa had trained very hard before winning the first prize..."
✔ *Training happened prior to winning.*
---
- Answer: then
→ "He finished all his homework, then he started playing computer games."
✔ *Sequence of events.*
---
- Answer: so (but not in list) — Wait! But we only have listed words.
Let’s check:
Is then possible?
→ "She didn't know what to do, then she decided..." → Grammatically okay, but weak.
Better: so isn’t listed.
How about until? No.
after? Not quite.
Actually, finally could work:
→ "She didn't know what to do, finally she decided..." → Possible.
But then is acceptable here.
✔ Best fit: then or finally
→ then is more neutral, finally implies hesitation.
✔️ Use: then
---
- Answer: after
→ "After putting his books in his school bag he left home..."
✔ *Action completed before leaving.*
---
- Answer: then
→ "He then fell asleep in class."
✔ *Next event in sequence.*
---
- Answer: when
→ "Sue dropped her books when she was walking along the corridor..."
✔ *Exact moment of action.*
---
- Answer: after
→ "Andrew got a good job... after getting his degree..."
✔ *Job came after graduation.*
---
- Answer: since
→ "My friend George has been in hospital since he had the car accident..."
✔ *Used with present perfect tense for duration starting in the past.*
---
- Answer: although – not in list. But we need one from the list.
Options: even though, though – not available.
Try: at first?
→ "At first my teacher didn't want to let me go..." → Yes! That works.
✔ at first
→ "At first my teacher didn't want to let me go... but she gave me permission."
✔️ Fits perfectly.
---
- Answer: still – not in list.
But we must pick from the list.
What about then? → "Then ate it" – doesn’t make sense.
finally? → "He finally ate it" – possible, if he hesitated.
But better: as? No.
because? Not in list.
Actually, when? No.
Hmm. Perhaps after?
→ "After he didn't like it, he ate it" – no.
Best choice: finally
→ "Although he didn't like the food, he finally ate it."
✔ *Implies hesitation, then decision.*
✔️ finally
---
- Answer: since
→ "Sam hasn't seen his friend Mary since they went to a party..."
✔ *Present perfect + since = action from past until now.*
---
- Answer: when
→ "I met Fred when he was taking his dog..."
✔ *Exact time of meeting.*
---
- Answer: until
→ "My sister didn't go to bed until she had revised..."
✔ *Standard "not ... until" structure.*
---
- Answer: as or when
Both are possible.
→ "She opened her umbrella as it started to rain" → simultaneous actions.
→ "She opened her umbrella when it started to rain" → also fine.
But as is better for simultaneous actions.
✔ as
✔️ as
---
- Answer: at first
→ "At first I thought he was angry with me..."
✔ *Change in understanding over time.*
---
- Answer: since
→ "James hasn't failed a single exam since he started secondary school."
✔ *Perfect use of "since" with present perfect.*
---
- Answer: when
→ "Bob broke his arm when he fell down..."
✔ *One action caused the other; timing is clear.*
---
- Answer: before
→ "He had decided to buy a dog before he saw a beautiful black cat..."
✔ *Decision made earlier than seeing the cat.*
---
- Two blanks.
First blank: then
Second blank: then or after
But “then” fits both.
→ "First, she does her exercises, then she has a shower, then she has breakfast."
✔ then (both times)
---
- Answer: while
→ "I saw her while she was coming down the hill..."
✔ *Ongoing action during which something happened.*
---
- Answer: since
→ "Marta has had her teddy bear since she was just two years old."
✔ *Present perfect + since = long duration.*
---
| No. | Sentence | Answer |
|-----|--------|--------|
| 1 | He put up his hand ______ our teacher was explaining the problem. | while |
| 2 | Bill was very dirty ______ playing in the mud and his mum got angry with him. | after |
| 3 | They started making the cake ______ soon as they arrived home from school. | as |
| 4 | ______ she wasn't interested in the book but she said it was really amazing. | at first |
| 5 | Lisa had trained very hard ______ winning the first prize in the local championship. | before |
| 6 | He finished all his homework, ______ he started playing computer games. | then |
| 7 | She didn't know what to do, ______ she decided not to tell her husband about it. | then |
| 8 | ______ putting his books in his school bag he left home to take the bus. | after |
| 9 | Dave was very tired because he had not slept well. He ______ fell asleep in class. | then |
| 10 | Sue dropped her books ______ she was walking along the corridor yesterday. | when |
| 11 | Andrew got a good job in a big firm ______ getting his degree in economics. | after |
| 12 | My friend George has been in hospital ______ he had the car accident last week. | since |
| 13 | ______ my teacher didn't want to let me go to the toilet, she gave me permission. | at first |
| 14 | Although he didn't like the food he ______ ate it. He didn't want his mum to get angry. | finally |
| 15 | Sam hasn't seen his friend Mary ______ they went to a party on Saint Valentine's day one month ago. | since |
| 16 | I met Fred ______ he was taking his dog for a walk in the park. | when |
| 17 | My sister didn't go to bed ______ she had revised for her exam. | until |
| 18 | She opened her umbrella ______ it started to rain heavily. | as |
| 19 | ______ I thought he was angry with me. I found out it was his usual mood. | at first |
| 20 | James hasn't failed a single exam ______ he started secondary school. | since |
| 21 | Bob broke his arm ______ he fell down in the street last week. | when |
| 22 | He had decided to buy a dog ______ he saw a beautiful black cat in the pet shop. | before |
| 23 | First, she does her exercises, ______ she has a shower, ______ she has breakfast. | then, then |
| 24 | I saw her ______ she was coming down the hill at a great speed. | while |
| 25 | Marta has had her teddy bear ______ she was just two years old. | since |
---
- after: 2, 8, 11, 22
- as: 3, 18
- at first: 4, 13, 19
- before: 5, 22
- finally: 14
- later: ✘ not used
- then: 6, 7, 9, 23
- since: 12, 15, 20, 25
- until: 17
- when: 10, 16, 21
- while: 1, 24
✔ All sentences filled correctly using the provided time connectors.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for any specific sentence!
We are given 25 sentences, each with a blank to fill in using one of the time connectors listed on the right side:
> later, then, until, since, at first, after, before, as, when, while, finally
Some sentences may have more than one correct answer. We’ll go through each sentence and choose the most appropriate time connector based on context and grammar.
---
1. He put up his hand ______ our teacher was explaining the problem.
- Answer: while
→ "He put up his hand while our teacher was explaining the problem."
✔ *Action happening during another ongoing action.*
---
2. Bill was very dirty ______ playing in the mud and his mum got angry with him.
- Answer: after
→ "Bill was very dirty after playing in the mud..."
✔ *Result after an action.*
---
3. They started making the cake ______ soon as they arrived home from school.
- Answer: as
→ "They started making the cake as soon as they arrived home..."
✔ *"As soon as"* is a fixed expression meaning immediately after.
---
4. ______ she wasn't interested in the book but she said it was really amazing.
- Answer: at first
→ "At first she wasn't interested in the book but she said it was really amazing."
✔ *Shows change in attitude over time.*
---
5. Lisa had trained very hard ______ winning the first prize in the local championship.
- Answer: before
→ "Lisa had trained very hard before winning the first prize..."
✔ *Training happened prior to winning.*
---
6. He finished all his homework, ______ he started playing computer games.
- Answer: then
→ "He finished all his homework, then he started playing computer games."
✔ *Sequence of events.*
---
7. She didn't know what to do, ______ she decided not to tell her husband about it.
- Answer: so (but not in list) — Wait! But we only have listed words.
Let’s check:
Is then possible?
→ "She didn't know what to do, then she decided..." → Grammatically okay, but weak.
Better: so isn’t listed.
How about until? No.
after? Not quite.
Actually, finally could work:
→ "She didn't know what to do, finally she decided..." → Possible.
But then is acceptable here.
✔ Best fit: then or finally
→ then is more neutral, finally implies hesitation.
✔️ Use: then
---
8. ______ putting his books in his school bag he left home to take the bus.
- Answer: after
→ "After putting his books in his school bag he left home..."
✔ *Action completed before leaving.*
---
9. Dave was very tired because he had not slept well. He ______ fell asleep in class.
- Answer: then
→ "He then fell asleep in class."
✔ *Next event in sequence.*
---
10. Sue dropped her books ______ she was walking along the corridor yesterday.
- Answer: when
→ "Sue dropped her books when she was walking along the corridor..."
✔ *Exact moment of action.*
---
11. Andrew got a good job in a big firm ______ getting his degree in economics.
- Answer: after
→ "Andrew got a good job... after getting his degree..."
✔ *Job came after graduation.*
---
12. My friend George has been in hospital ______ he had the car accident last week.
- Answer: since
→ "My friend George has been in hospital since he had the car accident..."
✔ *Used with present perfect tense for duration starting in the past.*
---
13. ______ my teacher didn't want to let me go to the toilet, she gave me permission.
- Answer: although – not in list. But we need one from the list.
Options: even though, though – not available.
Try: at first?
→ "At first my teacher didn't want to let me go..." → Yes! That works.
✔ at first
→ "At first my teacher didn't want to let me go... but she gave me permission."
✔️ Fits perfectly.
---
14. Although he didn't like the food he ______ ate it. He didn't want his mum to get angry.
- Answer: still – not in list.
But we must pick from the list.
What about then? → "Then ate it" – doesn’t make sense.
finally? → "He finally ate it" – possible, if he hesitated.
But better: as? No.
because? Not in list.
Actually, when? No.
Hmm. Perhaps after?
→ "After he didn't like it, he ate it" – no.
Best choice: finally
→ "Although he didn't like the food, he finally ate it."
✔ *Implies hesitation, then decision.*
✔️ finally
---
15. Sam hasn't seen his friend Mary ______ they went to a party on Saint Valentine's day one month ago.
- Answer: since
→ "Sam hasn't seen his friend Mary since they went to a party..."
✔ *Present perfect + since = action from past until now.*
---
16. I met Fred ______ he was taking his dog for a walk in the park.
- Answer: when
→ "I met Fred when he was taking his dog..."
✔ *Exact time of meeting.*
---
17. My sister didn't go to bed ______ she had revised for her exam.
- Answer: until
→ "My sister didn't go to bed until she had revised..."
✔ *Standard "not ... until" structure.*
---
18. She opened her umbrella ______ it started to rain heavily.
- Answer: as or when
Both are possible.
→ "She opened her umbrella as it started to rain" → simultaneous actions.
→ "She opened her umbrella when it started to rain" → also fine.
But as is better for simultaneous actions.
✔ as
✔️ as
---
19. ______ I thought he was angry with me. I found out it was his usual mood.
- Answer: at first
→ "At first I thought he was angry with me..."
✔ *Change in understanding over time.*
---
20. James hasn't failed a single exam ______ he started secondary school.
- Answer: since
→ "James hasn't failed a single exam since he started secondary school."
✔ *Perfect use of "since" with present perfect.*
---
21. Bob broke his arm ______ he fell down in the street last week.
- Answer: when
→ "Bob broke his arm when he fell down..."
✔ *One action caused the other; timing is clear.*
---
22. He had decided to buy a dog ______ he saw a beautiful black cat in the pet shop.
- Answer: before
→ "He had decided to buy a dog before he saw a beautiful black cat..."
✔ *Decision made earlier than seeing the cat.*
---
23. First, she does her exercises, ______ she has a shower, ______ she has breakfast.
- Two blanks.
First blank: then
Second blank: then or after
But “then” fits both.
→ "First, she does her exercises, then she has a shower, then she has breakfast."
✔ then (both times)
---
24. I saw her ______ she was coming down the hill at a great speed.
- Answer: while
→ "I saw her while she was coming down the hill..."
✔ *Ongoing action during which something happened.*
---
25. Marta has had her teddy bear ______ she was just two years old.
- Answer: since
→ "Marta has had her teddy bear since she was just two years old."
✔ *Present perfect + since = long duration.*
---
✔ Final Answers:
| No. | Sentence | Answer |
|-----|--------|--------|
| 1 | He put up his hand ______ our teacher was explaining the problem. | while |
| 2 | Bill was very dirty ______ playing in the mud and his mum got angry with him. | after |
| 3 | They started making the cake ______ soon as they arrived home from school. | as |
| 4 | ______ she wasn't interested in the book but she said it was really amazing. | at first |
| 5 | Lisa had trained very hard ______ winning the first prize in the local championship. | before |
| 6 | He finished all his homework, ______ he started playing computer games. | then |
| 7 | She didn't know what to do, ______ she decided not to tell her husband about it. | then |
| 8 | ______ putting his books in his school bag he left home to take the bus. | after |
| 9 | Dave was very tired because he had not slept well. He ______ fell asleep in class. | then |
| 10 | Sue dropped her books ______ she was walking along the corridor yesterday. | when |
| 11 | Andrew got a good job in a big firm ______ getting his degree in economics. | after |
| 12 | My friend George has been in hospital ______ he had the car accident last week. | since |
| 13 | ______ my teacher didn't want to let me go to the toilet, she gave me permission. | at first |
| 14 | Although he didn't like the food he ______ ate it. He didn't want his mum to get angry. | finally |
| 15 | Sam hasn't seen his friend Mary ______ they went to a party on Saint Valentine's day one month ago. | since |
| 16 | I met Fred ______ he was taking his dog for a walk in the park. | when |
| 17 | My sister didn't go to bed ______ she had revised for her exam. | until |
| 18 | She opened her umbrella ______ it started to rain heavily. | as |
| 19 | ______ I thought he was angry with me. I found out it was his usual mood. | at first |
| 20 | James hasn't failed a single exam ______ he started secondary school. | since |
| 21 | Bob broke his arm ______ he fell down in the street last week. | when |
| 22 | He had decided to buy a dog ______ he saw a beautiful black cat in the pet shop. | before |
| 23 | First, she does her exercises, ______ she has a shower, ______ she has breakfast. | then, then |
| 24 | I saw her ______ she was coming down the hill at a great speed. | while |
| 25 | Marta has had her teddy bear ______ she was just two years old. | since |
---
🔍 Summary of Time Connectors Used:
- after: 2, 8, 11, 22
- as: 3, 18
- at first: 4, 13, 19
- before: 5, 22
- finally: 14
- later: ✘ not used
- then: 6, 7, 9, 23
- since: 12, 15, 20, 25
- until: 17
- when: 10, 16, 21
- while: 1, 24
✔ All sentences filled correctly using the provided time connectors.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for any specific sentence!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of time worksheet secondary.
