Before, after, during, while

Before

• I have to brush my teeth before I eat breakfast.
• I need comb my hair before we go out.
• We fell asleep before the movie began.
• Don’t forget to clean your room before you go to sleep.
• You should finish the assignment before the deadline.

After

• They were tired after their swimming lesson.
• She was hungry after work.
• We ate dessert after we had our lunch.
• I was thirsty after playing football.
• Mum had to cook dinner after she came back from work.

During

• I fell asleep during the Maths lesson.
• Emma began to feel sleeping during the movie.
• Joshua took notes during the lecture.
• My dad sleeps during the day and works during the night.
• My parents get annoyed when my sister uses her phone during dinner.

While

• Samantha was on her phone while the teacher was talking to her.
• I fall asleep while listening to classical music.
• You shouldn’t speak while eating.
• I’m going to look after my neighbour’s cat while they go on holiday.
• While the baby was sleeping, mum cleaned the house.

• Before, during and after

I bought popcorn before the film.

I fell asleep during the film.

I was tired after the film.

• Before, while and after

I need to change the baby’s nappy before I put her to sleep.

While the baby is sleeping, I’m going to clean up the mess she’s made.

I’m going to give the baby a bath after she wakes up.

• During, while and for

When we use ‘during’ in a sentence, it is followed by a noun.

During + noun

Examples :

I fell asleep during the Maths lesson. (noun = the Maths lesson)

Emma began to feel sleeping during the movie. (the movie)

When we use ‘while’ in a sentence, it is followed by a verb.

While + verb

Examples :

Samantha was on her phone while the teacher was talking to her. (verb =  the teacher was talking)

         We do not use during… (not Samantha was on her phone during the teacher was talking to her)

I fall asleep while listening to classical music. (verb = listening)

         We do not use during… (not I fall asleep during listening to classical music)

When we use ‘for’ in a sentence, it is followed by a period of time.

For + period of time

Examples :

We went shopping for 3 hours.

We do not use during…  (not We went shopping during 3 hours)

Mum and dad went on holiday for a month.

We do not use during… (not Mum and dad went on holiday during a month)

We have lived in this house for 10 years.

We do not use during… (not We have lived in this house during 10 years)

We can use before/after + verb ending in -ing

I have to clean my room before going to school.

Before eating my breakfast, I have to brush my teeth.

I always feel more tired after waking up late.

After eating dinner, I have to wash the dishes.