ENGLISH 2

Sequencing Words

Let's briefly review the so called sequencing words (or sequence words) - the words that establish the order, or sequence, in which the facts or events happen.
I know many of you have had problems with them! But, no more! Practicing and learning more English with LEP will make things easier!  :-)
Here is the drill:
First (or First of all, or To begin with),  I write the sequencing words in "sequence", of course. What happens first, comes first. It's that easy! And I highlight them in yellow.
Secondly (or Next), you read this. Then you start understanding the sequence.
After that, you will remember that we use "that" after "after" (when we are talking about sequence of facts), because "that" refers to what came before in the sequence. It's like saying: I have A, and B after A = I have A, and B after that ("that" refers" to "A"). So we must use "that"!  Example:
I went to the store and after to the bank. = INCORRECT!
I went to the store, and after that to the bank. PERFECT!
Or, we can use "someone or something" in place of "that". Observe these sentences below:

	After the storm there is calm. ==> "the storm" is the noun that was not mentioned before, so it cannot be replaced my "that". BUT:  The storm came fast, and after that, the calm. Here we use "that" because it's referring to the "storm" that was mentioned before - and we don't want to repeat it!
	After Paul arrived, we left. BUT: Paul arrived, and after that we left.

Finally (or Lastly, or At last,), you might want to do some exercises to be sure you have got it right.
Choose the appropriate highlighted yellow words above to fill in the blanks below:

01) _________ I fed the kids, next I put the garbage out.  _______  ______, we all left.
02) It's easier if you go first to the gas station, _________ go to the market, ________ _____ to the pharmacy, and then to the post office. _________, you pick me up.
03)  ________ I got home, and ________ I started studying. Later _______  _____, I fell asleep.
04) I'm finishing this work, ____  _____!
05) I'll call you first, ok? ____ we decide what to do.

 Answers:

01) First (or First of all, or To begin with),  I fed the kids, next I put the garbage out. After that, we all left.
02) It's easier if you go first to the gas station, secondly (or next) go to the market, after that  to the pharmacy, and then to the post office. Finally (or lastly, or at last), you pick me up.
03)  First I got home, and then I started studying. Later  after that, I fell asleep.
04) I'm finishing this work, at last!
05) I'll call you first, ok? Then we decide what to do.

FUENTE:
http://www.liveenglishprogram.com/sequencing.html