ELPS

In English, there exists a pattern for explaining order of events in time. The pattern is based on use of adverbs: "first", "next", "then" and "finally".

Below are the adverbs followed by their meaning in the context of event order in time.

First

first - before all others in time

First, I turned left at the first traffic lights.

Next

next - immediately after in time

Next, I walked past a museum in the city centre.

Then

then - next in time

Then, I travelled on the bus for one hour.

Finally

finally - after all others in time

Finally, I arrived at my place of destination.

Examples

Here are all the above events as an example sequence:

First, I turned left at the first traffic lights.

Next, I walked past a museum in the city centre.

Then, I travelled on the bus for one hour.

Finally, I arrived at my place of destination.

Below is another example of events that occurred in a sequence:

First, she put a teabag into a cup.

Next, she added a teaspoon of sugar.

Then, she poured water.

After that, she added in a drop of milk.

Finally, she sat down and took a sip.

After that

Adverbs "next" and "then" can be applied many times while explaining order of events between the first and the last one in a sequence. However, to avoid their repetitive use in consecutive sequences, "after that" can be used in place of either of them as done in the example above.

Here is a further extended example of describing order of events:

First, they send you a polite request letter.

Next, they try to call you.

Then, they pound on your door every week for a month.

Afterwards, they warn you that they could take you to a court of law.

After that, they send you one or two threatening overdue payment reminders by post.

Then, they try to catch you outside of your house.

Finally, if unsuccessful with the last step, they give up and delete your name from their debtor database.