Linking clauses by subordination
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Expressing time | page 2 of 4 |
Time before
Before and until are used to indicate that the events in the main clause
took place before the situation described in the subordinate clause 
.
When until is used, the event or action described in the main clause always
lasts for a period of time, rather than being instantaneous. This means that the first
sentence below is possible, but the second one is not :
The prime minister said the government would continue in office until the new President is chosen. (Bank of English)
The prime minister said the government would take power until the new President is chosen. (Bank of English)
When before is used, the event or action described in the main clause may last
for a period of time :
Clashes continued for four hours before police were able to evacuate the flat's inhabitants. (Bank of English)
or it may be instantaneous:
He'd started the countdown before I managed to convince him it was real.
(Bank of English)
Sometimes the events described in the main clause may prevent the situation in the subordinate clause from taking place (so below he never found out their names):
They left
before he could find out their names. (Bank of English)
Sometimes we don't know whether the situation in the subordinate clause actually occurred:
He
died before they got him to hospital. (Bank of English)
Introduction
Time before
