6-8. Придаточные клозы времени (Time clauses)

 
К основным союзам, используемым в таких клозах относятся: when, whenever, after, as, before, once, since, until, while, as long as, as soon as и by the time that.

I met George Lamb in 1954/when I was at school/whenever I went into town.

Такие придаточные клозы могут занимать позицию в конце или начале предложения:

After he had told her, he felt relieved (в таких случаях ставится запятая).
She stared at her feet while he was talking to her.

При этом:

1. Будущее грамматическое время в таких придаточных клозах не употребляется:

Mr X will return soon. Then he will telephone you.
Mr X will telephone you when/as soon as he returns.

I will return your hook on Monday. I will have read it by then.
I will return your book on Monday when/as soon as I have read it.

It’ll be interesting to see what she’s wearing when she arrives tomorrow.

2. Придаточные клозы времени, относящиеся к прошлому, в косвенной речи подчиняются общим правилам:

Mr. X said he would telephone you when/as soon as he returned.
I promised I would return your book when/as soon as I had read it.

3. Некоторые из таких союзов употребляются также в качестве предлогов: after, before, until, since и while:

After supper, he felt tired.

4. Союз since часто предполагает, чтобы глагол в главном клозе будет стоять в совершенном виде:

Since they made the decision to close the plant, employees have been protesting at the front gate.

Иногда в совершенной формой стоит глагол и в придаточном клозе:

[Since the employees have been protesting], the management has refused to negotiate with them.
[Since we have lived here], we have made many friends.

Если предложение относится к прошлому, может употребляться Past Perfect:

[Since the employees had been protesting], the management had refused to negotiate with them.

Since I left school (till now), I have only seen him once.
I met George last week. Since we left school (till then), we had often written to each other.

5. В качестве своего рода союзов могут использоваться такие слова и сочетания как once, immediately. the moment, the day:

He will telephone you [immediately he comes back].
He will telephone you [the moment he comes back].

6. В главном предложении может употребляться императив:

Come and see me [as soon as you get back].
Come and see me [when you have finished].

7. Till и until взаимозаменяемы и обозначают какую-либо «конечную точку» во времени:

Wait here till I come back.
Don't live/You mustn't go till I return.

8. While означает 'during the period that':

George arrived [while I was having a bath].
He was playing [while I was doing my homework].
George waited/I did my homework [while I had my bath/ he played].