Time Words when, then, after, before

Read words that tell when things happen in a story.

Stories happen in time, so authors use time words. 'When' can ask a question, 'When is lunch? ', or tell the moment something happens, 'When it rained, we went inside. ' 'Then' tells what came next. 'Before' means earlier, and 'after' means later.

These words are mostly decodable, so you can sound them out the first time and then learn them by sight. Read: 'Before bed, I brush my teeth. Then I read. After that, I sleep. ' Time words help you keep the order of events straight.

• 1'then' tells what came next.
• 2'before' means earlier; 'after' means later.
• 3Time words keep events in order.