You are on page 1of 1

L.

BIAGGI
TIME EXPRESSIONS ACTIVE VOICE
On this chart you will find the time expressions generally used with the verb tenses listed below. When you use these expressions, either orally or in writing,
make sure you select the appropriate verb tense.

SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE SIMPLE PRESENT PRESENT PERF.


PRESENT PROGRESSIVE PAST FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
*write *am, are, is *wrote *will write *have/has *have/has been
*writes writing *am, are, is + written writing
going to write
every now yesterday tomorrow times all long
day at this moment many day
Monday for the moment last tonight a couple of morning
week currently night several week
month at the present week next
etc. temporarily month week since* since
etc. month last 3 o’clock
on this year yesterday yesterday
Mondays week the last time etc. 1983 etc.
weekends semester the first time *If since introduces a time clause, the
etc. month the next time verb in the time clause will be simple for the last/past
past.
etc. ago
always a day in in the last/past two days
usually today two weeks a few days three hours, etc.
often etc. ten minutes week, month, year, etc.
generally a month for
sometimes earlier etc. up to now ten days
occasionally today so far two hours, etc.
once in a while this week lately
rarely etc. recently
seldom
hardly ever already (quests/affirm)
never in a long time (neg)
yet (neg)
how long (quests)
how long (quests.)
ever (quests.)
PAST PROGRESSIVE *was/were + -ing PAST PERFECT *had + past participle
Used with when to express past activity in progress, interrupted by a non- Used with by the time to express two activities in the past, one occurring before
continuous activity: I was writing when you called. the other. First activity: past perfect/second activity: simple past. Can also be used
with when.
Used with while to express two continuous activities occurring
at the same time in past: I was reading while you were writing . By the time / When we arrived, he had already left.

REV. 2003

You might also like