GRAMMAR LESSON

Conjunctions

as although / though

while when

in order to unless

Unless = if … not / except if 

I’ll be at your place at 9.00 unless (= except if) the bus is late.

It is followed by a present tense, a past tense or a past perfect (never by 'would'). It is used instead of if + not in conditional sentences of all types.

She would be here by now unless she was stuck in the traffic.

Rewrite the sentences using “unless”

1. I will be back tomorrow if there isn’t a train strike.

2. I am going to work in the garden this afternoon, if it doesn’t rain.

3. Pedro gets angry with people who don’t take him seriously.

1. I will be back tomorrow unless there is a train strike.

2. I am going to work in the garden this afternoon unless it rains.

3. Unless you take Pedro seriously, he will get angry with you.

as =  used to state the reason for something

1. As you were out, I left a message.2. She may need some help as she's a new student.

What’s wrong?

in order to (formal) + verb = to + verb (informal)

I went to bed extra early (in order) to get plenty of sleep.

although / though (less formal)

although/ though + subject + verb

1. Although I don’t like to wake up early, I usually arrive on time.

2. I don’t like to wake up early. I usually arrive on time, though

WHEN

When is used with a clause with an activity that …1) is a short interruption, 2) occurs at nearly the same time or shortly

after another activity.   A non progressive verb form is commonly used  (short duration).

When you called, he was watching his baby. 

(short interruption; "at the moment")

He was watching his baby when you called.

When you called, he picked up his cell phone. 

(series of events; "immediately after")

WHILE

While is used with a clause with an activity that …

occurs during or at the same time as another activity.  A progressive verb form is commonly used (longer duration).

While he was talking on the phone, he was describing his baby.

(ongoing; "during the time") 

While he was talking on the phone, his baby slept.

The while-clause can also indicate that a background activity is going on while the other activity occurs.

His baby slept while he was talking on the phone.

 While he called me, he was driving to work.

Correct the following mistakes.

When he called me, he was driving to work. 

He was watching his baby, when you called.

He was watching his baby when you called.

1.  _________ it rains, I wear my raincoat. 2. Open your umbrella ______   you feel a drop of rain. 3.  __________ the weather gets better, I'll run out. 4.   _________I was waiting for him, I was reading a magazine. 5.  _________ are you coming ? 6. Here shoes are repaired  __________ you want. 7. I don't know  ____________ she'll be coming. 8. __________ I was sleeping, my husband was reading a book.9. That was the day  ________ you were here. 10.  _______ you are here, could you help me with the car ? 

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NOW, OPEN YOUR BOOK ON PAGE 15 AND DO THE EXERCISE ABOUT CONJUNCTIONS.

HOMEWORK- COMPOSITION -

Choose one of the following topics and write about 200 words:

Topic one-“Summer is Over” song – Suppose you are one of the characters in the song (the boy/ the girl). Back in your hometown now that Summer is over, you find out that you can’t forget the girl / boy you were involved with last Summer. Write him / her a letter (or email) telling him / her about your feelings, your life now and hopes for the future.

Topic two- Write about a memorable holiday trip from your childhood or a frightening experience you had.

Note: Use different conjunctions to link your sentences. Pay attention to verb tenses !