Just before vs. just over

[Luciana]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #187 "Idioms and expressions with just: just about, just before", question 1

......... the doors opened they all noticed a 5 note lying on the floor.

(a) Just over
(b) Just before
(c) Just then
(d) Just about

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #187 "Idioms and expressions with just: just about, just before", answer 1

Just before the doors opened they all noticed a 5 note lying on the floor.

Correct answer: (b) Just before
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Why not "just over"?

Luciana

[Prezbucky]

...because "...just over the doors opened..." doesn't make sense.

Some of the possibilities in this case are:

- Just as the doors opened... (or "As the doors opened...")

- Just before the doors opened...

- Just after the doors opened... (or "Soon after the doors opened...")

The key here is time -- when did the doors open in relation to when the protagonists saw the note?:

Q: When did they notice the 5 note lying on the floor?

A: They noticed it just before (or after, or as) the doors opened.

One could not answer that question using any of the other options:

Wrong answer: They noticed it just over the doors opened.

WA: They noticed it just then the doors opened.

WA: They noticed it just about the doors opened.
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