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Soon

Soon means ‘a short time after now’ and ‘a short time after a point in the past’. Like many other short adverbs, we can use it in front position, mid position or end position, though we don’t use it in end position when referring to the past:

  • The summer is coming. Soon the tourists will arrive. (front position)
  • She soon realised her mistake and apologised to us all. (mid position)
  • I was sorry to hear you are not well. I hope you get better soon. (end position, future reference)
  • A: Bye bye.
  • B: Bye. See you soon. (end position, future reference)
  • The ticket office opened at 8 am, and all the tickets were soon sold out. (or The ticket office opened at 8 am, and soon all the tickets were sold out.)
  • Not: … were sold out soon.

We can use very or quite before soon:

  • The construction is planned to start very (or quite) soon – next month in fact.

Soon or early?​

Soon does not mean the same as early.

Compare

We’ll have to leave soon.We’ll have to leave after a short time from now.
We’ll have to leave early.We’ll have to leave before the usual or planned time, e.g. early in the morning, so that we do not arrive late.

Soon or quickly?​

warning

Soon does not mean the same as quickly:

  • I hope to see you soon to tell you more about it.
  • Not: I hope to see you quickly …

Soon after​

Warning:

We can use soon before after or afterwards:

  • Sharon arrived first, and Mena arrived soon after (or soon afterwards).

As soon as …​

As soon as … is a common phrase. We can follow it by the adjective possible, or by a clause:

  • The bridge must be repaired as soon as possible. It’s dangerous.
  • Come and see us as soon as you can.
  • Fill in the form and return it as soon as you receive it.