Year 3 English: Adverbs for time and cause: then, next, soon and therefore
Part of the Year 3 English clauses and sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Adverbs for time and cause: then, next, soon and therefore
An adverb can show time. Then, next, soon, later and finally all tell us when something happens. They can start a sentence, followed by a comma.
An adverb can also show a result. Therefore means "for this reason". It is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it needs a full stop before it: It rained for a day. Therefore, we stayed at home.
| Adverb | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| then | time: what happens next | Then we played outside. |
| next | time: the next step in order | Next, we cleaned the paint pots. |
| soon | time: a short while from now | Soon, the rain stopped. |
| later | time: after some time has passed | Later, Ben read a book. |
| therefore | cause: the result of something | It was very cold. Therefore, we wore hats. |
Key ideas
- Then, next, soon, later and finally tell us when something happens.
- Therefore tells us the result of something.
- Therefore is an adverb, so it needs a full stop (or a semicolon) before it.
- So is a conjunction: it joins two parts in one sentence.
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Therefore, we stayed at home.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.Therefore
- Write the answer. Therefore
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Find the job of so in the sentence.
- Read the word in its sentence. Look at its job in the sentence, not only at its spelling.The path was icy, so we walked slowly.
- Test the word. A conjunction joins two words, phrases or clauses.so is a conjunction here
- Write the answer. conjunction
Check. so does the job of a conjunction here. ✓
Watch out. A conjunction sits between the parts that it joins.
Method. Find the words that make the fronted adverbial.
- Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.went
- Find the words in the fronted adverbial. A fronted adverbial comes first in the sentence and tells when, where or why. It has no verb in it.Finally, the class went to the hall.
- Write the answer. Finally
Check. Read the fronted adverbial aloud: it has only the words above. ✓
Watch out. A fronted adverbial has no verb. A clause with a verb is different.
Watch out
Watch out: therefore needs a full stop before it: It rained. Therefore, we stayed at home. If the two parts are in one sentence, use so: It rained, so we stayed at home.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read a short list of events with your child. Ask which adverb tells the order: then, next, finally. Then ask what caused the result, and say it with therefore.
Exercise 4E Practice: adverbs of time and cause
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Then we played outside.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.Then, outside
- Write the answer. Then, outside
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Soon, the rain stopped.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.Soon
- Write the answer. Soon
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Next, we cleaned the paint pots.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.Next
- Write the answer. Next
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Later, Ben read a book.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.Later
- Write the answer. Later
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Choose the adverb that means last.
- Read the list. We ate, we washed up, and then we went home. Home is the last event.last event: went home
- Choose the adverb. Finally shows the last thing in a list of events.Finally
- Write the answer. Finally
Check. Finally fits the last event. ✓
Watch out. First is the start of a list. Next is in the middle.
Method. Find the adverb that shows the result of the rain.
- Read the sentence. It rained for a day is the reason. We stayed at home is the result.reason: rain; result: stay at home
- Choose the adverb. Therefore shows the result, and it starts a new sentence.Therefore
- Write the answer. Therefore
Check. Therefore shows the result, and it has a full stop before it. ✓
Watch out. Then would show time, not a result.
Method. Decide whether the word shows time or a result.
- Read the sentence. It was very cold, which is the reason we wore our hats.reason: cold
- Choose the word. Therefore shows a result. Then would not fit, because the sentence is not about time.Therefore
- Write the answer. Therefore
Check. Therefore shows the result of the cold. ✓
Watch out. Therefore shows a result, not the order of events.
Method. Find each word that is an adverb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.The path was icy, so we walked slowly.
- Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.slowly
- Write the answer. slowly
Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓
Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.
Method. Choose the word that shows a cause or a result.
- Look at each word. Then and soon tell when. Therefore tells the result of something.then: time; soon: time; therefore: result
- Choose the cause word. Therefore is the adverb of cause.therefore
- Write the answer. therefore
Check. Therefore is the only one of the three that shows cause. ✓
Watch out. Then and soon are adverbs of time.
Method. Check the word class of therefore, and what comes before it.
- Look at therefore. Therefore is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it cannot join two parts on its own.therefore: adverb
- Fix the sentence. Put a full stop before therefore, or use so in one sentence.It rained. Therefore, we stayed at home.
- Write the answer. Not quite. Therefore is an adverb, so it needs a full stop before it: It rained. Therefore, we stayed at home. Or use so: It rained, so we stayed at home.
Check. Both corrected sentences make sense. ✓
Watch out. So is the conjunction that joins two parts in one sentence.
Method. Use then for time, then therefore for a result after a full stop.
- Time. Then tells what happens next.Then we played outside.
- Result. Therefore tells the result of the cold.It was cold. Therefore, we wore hats.
- Write the answer. Any correct answer, for example: We ate lunch. Then we played outside. It was cold. Therefore, we wore hats.
Check. Each adverb is in the right place. ✓
Watch out. Put a full stop before therefore.