Representing when, where, how and why
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Representing when | page 2 of 11 |
Using clauses
Clauses containing when, while, as, as soon as, before, until, etc, are used to represent when:
When he first came he would hardly speak to anybody. (Bank of English)
While I was waiting there they were talking about machines.
(Bank of English)As they leave the entrance a police officer appears on his haunches from behind a bar and fires a shot. (SCMP 17/5/94)
Reduced clauses without a finite verb 
are sometimes
used to indicate time:
When driving back from his holiday some ten days later, he got more severe pain across his chest. (Bank of English)
He suddenly went "mad" while having a meal. (SCMP 13/10/92)
For further information about using subordinate clauses to represent when, see 
Linking clauses by subordination: Expressing time.
Using clauses
