Time clauses (when, as soon as, before/after) – Gramática inglesa B1

1) Mapa rápido

when = cuando as soon as = tan pronto como before = antes de/que after = después de/que until / till = hasta que En la time clause: no “will”

Patrón típico con futuro:
Time clause (Presente) + coma + main clause (futuro)
When I get home, I will call you.
En español usamos futuro en las dos partes; en inglés, solo en una.

2) Estructura básica de las time clauses

Una oración con time clause tiene dos partes:

Time clause: empieza con when, as soon as, before, after, until…
Main clause: la otra parte de la oración (acción principal).

Patrón	Ejemplo	Traducción
When + sujeto + verbo (presente), main clause (futuro)	When I finish, I will call* you.*	Cuando termine, te llamaré.
Main clause (futuro) + when + sujeto + verbo (presente)	I will call* you when I finish.*	Te llamaré cuando termine.
As soon as + presente, main clause (futuro)	As soon as I get* home, I’m going to eat.*	Tan pronto como llegue a casa, voy a comer.

Si la time clause va al inicio, lleva coma. Si va al final, normalmente no lleva coma.

3) when y as soon as

A) when (cuando)

Futuro: When I get home, I will call you.
Pasado: When I got home, I called you.
General: When it rains, I stay at home.

B) as soon as (tan pronto como)

As soon as I finish, I’ll send you the report.
I’ll call you as soon as I get there.

Diferencia: as soon as enfatiza que la acción ocurre inmediatamente después.

• When I arrive, I’ll text you. (cuando llegue, en general)
• As soon as I arrive, I’ll text you. (en cuanto llegue, inmediatamente)

4) before, after, until/till

Conector	Idea	Ejemplos
before	Algo pasa antes de otra cosa	Finish your homework before* you go out.* Termina la tarea antes de salir. I’ll call you before* I leave.*
after	Algo pasa después de otra cosa	After I finish* work, I’ll go to the gym.* We’ll eat* after he arrives.*
until / till	Hasta que algo pase	I’ll stay* here until you come back.* They’re not leaving* until the movie finishes.* till es más informal que until.

Recuerda: con futuro, el verbo en la time clause va en presente: before I leave, after he arrives, until she comes.

5) Regla importante: sin will en la time clause (futuro)

En español decimos: “Cuando llegue”, “Cuando llegue te llamaré” o incluso “Cuando llegue te llamaré”. En inglés:

✅ When I get home, I will call you.
❌ *When I will get home, I will call you.

As soon as I know, I’ll tell you.
Before you go to bed, you must brush your teeth.
After the film finishes, we’re going to eat.

Piensa: “Cuando + presente” en inglés, aunque hables del futuro.

6) Posición de la time clause

A) Time clause al inicio + coma
When I get home, I’ll call you.
As soon as I finish, I’m going to relax.

B) Time clause al final (sin coma)
I’ll call you when I get home.
I’m going to relax as soon as I finish.

Ambas opciones son correctas. Cambiar el orden suele cambiar solo el énfasis, no el significado.

7) Errores comunes

Incorrecto	Correcto	Por qué
When I will finish, I’ll call you.	When I finish, I’ll call you.	En la time clause usamos presente, no will.
As soon as I will arrive, I’ll text you.	As soon as I arrive, I’ll text you.	De nuevo, sin will tras as soon as.
After the film will finish, we’re going to eat.	After the film finishes, we’re going to eat.	Presente simple en la time clause; verbo en 3.ª persona.
I’ll stay here until you will come back.	I’ll stay here until you come back.	until + presente para hablar de futuro.
Before that you go, call me.	Before you go, call me.	No se usa “that” después de before en este nivel.

8) Mini-práctica

Completa con el conector correcto: when, as soon as, before, after, until.
a) ______ I get home, I’ll send you a message.
b) I’ll call you ______ I finish this meeting.
c) Brush your teeth ______ you go to bed.
d) We’re going to eat ______ the film finishes.
e) I’ll wait here ______ you come back.
Reescribe usando time clauses (futuro → presente en la time clause):
a) I’ll call you. I’ll finish my homework. (when)
→ ________________________________________________.

b) I’ll go to bed. The film will end. (after)
→ ________________________________________________.

c) He’ll tell me the answer. He’ll know it. (as soon as)
→ ________________________________________________.
Corrige las frases si es necesario:
a) When I will arrive, I’ll text you.
b) I’ll help you as soon as I will finish this.
c) After the class will finish, we’re going to have lunch.
d) I’m going to stay here until you will call me.
Completa con tu propia idea (usa time clause):
a) When I finish this course, ____________________________.
b) As soon as I get home, ______________________________.
c) Before I go to sleep, ________________________________.
d) After I graduate, ____________________________________.
Traduce al inglés usando time clauses correctas:
a) Cuando llegue a casa, te llamaré.
b) Tan pronto como sepa la respuesta, te la diré.
c) Antes de que empiece la película, quiero comprar palomitas.
d) Nos quedaremos aquí hasta que deje de llover.

Respuestas ejemplo:
1) a) When b) as soon as c) before d) after e) until
2) a) I’ll call you when I finish my homework. / When I finish my homework, I’ll call you.
b) I’ll go to bed after the film ends/finishes. / After the film ends/finishes, I’ll go to bed.
c) He’ll tell me the answer as soon as he knows it. / As soon as he knows the answer, he’ll tell me.
3) a) When I arrive, I’ll text you.
b) I’ll help you as soon as I finish this.
c) After the class finishes, we’re going to have lunch.
d) I’m going to stay here until you call me.
5) a) When I get home, I’ll call you.
b) As soon as I know the answer, I’ll tell you.
c) Before the film starts, I want to buy popcorn.
d) We’ll stay here until it stops raining.

9) Próximo paso

Continúa con Must / Have to / Don’t have to / Mustn’t para profundizar en obligación, necesidad y prohibición en inglés.