Time Expressions

Question

Hi All,I got this phrase "Jack is going to propose to Jane after they have dinner on Friday!". What if instead of after I put before,so "Jack is going to propose to Jane before they have dinner on Friday!", it also sounds good to me with 'before'.According to this source h t t p://goo. gl/Aa0FU, I should use after.It sounds good to me if he proposes after or before the dinner, but in an exam how to know what to type in the before/after space.I know I could have the answer in the front of my nose, but I still don't get it please help.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

http://www.reload.lt/pakvietimas-166449

Di Di · Answer

You better do it after dinner because she may get angry on you and you will both lose your appetite and also dinner.

CalifJim · Answer

omar laverdeI still don't get it

Well, I don't think anyone else gets it either. Nothing changes in terms of grammar if you use 'after' or 'before' in that sentence. Both sentences that result from those substitutions are completely grammatical.

On the other hand, if you are just talking about the relative merits of each course of action, then your question doesn't belong in a grammar forum.

CJ

Something is wrong with the link you cited. You might want to try to post that link once again.

Omar laverde · Answer

Hi, thanks for your reply. I added some spaces to the link because I think this web page removes the links from outside sources but here it goes again: http://esl.about.com/od/Intermediate_Verb_Resource/a/Time-Expressions-After-Before-When.htm

So my question is related with Time expressions, e.g.

“He came to America before the Civil War.” or "We'll discuss the plans after he gives the presentation."

Can it be used before or after on any of this phrases I have more examples if you will.

Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

OK. I looked at that link.

You do you what "example" means, don't you. On that site, you have an example of the use of the word "after":

Jack is going to propose to Jane after they have dinner on Friday!

The people who chose that example could have chosen any other sentence in the world that contained the word "after". You realize that, don't you?
___________________________________

You also have an example of the use of the word "before":

Jennifer will speak with Jack before she makes a decision.

The people who chose that example could have chosen any other sentence in the world that contained the word "before". You realize that, don't you?
____________________________

So the people who wrote up all that information on that site could have given this as an example of the use of "after":

Jennifer will speak with Jack after she makes a decision.

And they could have given this as an example of the use of "before":

Jack is going to propose to Jane before they have dinner on Friday!
_________________________

omar laverdeSo my question is related ~~with Time~~ to time expressions

Right. So, in brief, just use "before" when you mean "before" and use "after" when you mean "after". It doesn't matter what comes next as long as it makes sense. There are not two different rules about the grammar of "before" and "after". They are treated the same grammatically.

CJ

Omar laverde · Answer

Thanks again. Well for me this phrase “He came to America before the Civil War.” sounds good in both ways before or after. But then how come you could receive a bad grade if you choose the wrong one ?

"I take a shower before I go to work." It makes sense taking a shower before going to work, but you could take a shower also after you arrive from work. isn't there a special composition that I am not taking into account on this ?

CalifJim · Answer

omar laverdehow come you could receive a bad grade if you choose the wrong one ?

I am not aware that you can receive a bad grade for choosing one or the other. Maybe you are being tested on knowledge of the world rather than on grammar.

omar laverde"I take a shower before I go to work." It makes sense taking a shower before going to work, but you could take a shower also after you arrive from work. isn't there a special composition that I am not taking into account on this ?

If you are being asked to choose between "before" and "after" in this context, the question is not about grammar, but about your understanding of combinations of words and about your knowledge of how the world normally works.

I take a shower after I go to work is grammatical, but it doesn't describe a typical action in the lives of most people. It says you get into your car, and drive to work, and arrive at work, and then you take a shower. This will probably be considered wrong on a test because it does not describe an action that is very typical.

You said "after you arrive from work", but this makes no sense. You can "arrive at work". You can "come home from work". Maybe you are thinking of this:

I take a shower after I come home from work. This says you drive home from work, and arrive at home, and then you take a shower. You cannot use the words after I go to work to mean after I come home from work. It's two different things.

CJ

Omar laverde · Answer

You are right, maybe I am thinking too much on simple things <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>, I appreciate your time. Thanks.

Time Expressions

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