Using Time Expressions and Tenses in English | English Time Ask Elo

Answered by @ Elo Kasia

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Using Time Expressions and Tenses in English | English Time Ask Elo

? Question Time: Using Time Expressions and Tenses in English | English Time Ask Elo

? @ Intan Nasution, Thank you for your question.

? As usual, I will try to explain the difference using simple language and plenty of examples.

English tenses are often used with adverbs, adverbial phrases or prepositions that indicate the time of the action, for example, yesterday, now, often, for, since, tomorrow, 10 years ago, last week. Adverbs of time and adverbial phrases of time are often called “time expressions”.

The connection between the tenses and their time expressions is quite important. It can, on the one hand help you use the tenses correctly, and on the other, recognise which tense is used.

Some phrases can be used in multiple tenses, in which case you have to look out for the verb form to ensure whether it the present, past or future they are referring to.

These are the most commonly used time expressions with the most widely used tenses.

Present Simple: frequency adverbs: always, often, sometimes, usually, rarely, hardly ever, never, once/twice/three times a week/a month/a year, frequently, generally, habitually, occasionally

• I often go to the cinema on Fridays.
• I never buy in this store.
• He habitually invites his friends over for dinner.

Past Simple: yesterday, last (Friday/week/month/year), days (weeks/months) ago, in (month/year/century), etc.

I went to the cinema last Friday.
You bought it in this shop in February.
He invited his friends over three months ago.

Present Continuous: now, at this moment, today, currently, this week (month/year)

• I’m going to the cinema now.
• Are you buying the car this week?
• He’s inviting his friends over for lunch.

Future Simple: tomorrow, next week (month/year)

• I’ll go tomorrow, I promise.
• I’ll buy this car next week.
• He’ll invite them to his party, I’m sure.

Present Perfect: for, since, just, already, yet, never, ever.

• I’ve already been to the cinema to see this film.
• Have you bought the car yet?
• I have never invited my friends over to my house.

Native speakers sometimes omit expressions indicating time (if the context is clear) because the tense form itself shows general information about the time of the action.

For example, these sentences have practically the same meaning:

• I buy bread in this store. (usually)— I usually buy bread in this store.
• She’s watching TV. (now) —-She’s watching TV now.
• He has left. (already) —-He has already left.

However, as a language learner you should make a clear connection between the tense and its adverbs of time. With time, you will get better at understanding the connections between various tenses and time expressions. Follow our posts this week and do our exercises to practise these topics.

Make sure you do our *TT exercises to practise asking questions in English.

Check my other articles here: All English Time Ask Elo – Learning Articles

Elo Kasia is the Community Mentor for ” English Grammar and Speaking Academy”  and Director at Eloquent Learning Online School www.eloquentlearning.com.