Grammar review

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
 PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE
 SIMPLE
PAST
 SIMPLE
FUTURE
 PRESENT
PERFECT
PRESENT PERF.
PROGRESSIVE

 *write
*writes

 *am, are, is
writing
 *wrote
 *will write
*am, are, is +
going to write
 *have/has
written
*have/has been
writing


 every           
day
Monday
week
month
etc.

on            
Mondays
weekends
etc.

always
usually
often
generally
sometimes
occasionally
once in a while
rarely
seldom
hardly ever
never
 now
at this moment
for the moment
currently
at the present
temporarily

this            
week
semester
month
etc.

today



 yesterday

last          
night
week
month
etc.

the last time
the first time

        ago
a day
two weeks
etc.

earlier         
today
this week
etc.

 tomorrow

tonight

next           
week
month
year
etc.

the next time

in             
a few days
ten minutes
a month
etc.
           times
many
a couple of
several

since*           
last        
yesterday
1983
*If since introduces a time clause, the verb in the time clause will be simple past.

in the last/past
           
week, month, year, etc.

up to now
so far
lately
recently

already (quests/affirm)
in a long time (neg)
yet (neg)

how long (quests.)
ever (quests.)
all         long
day
morning
week

since          
3 o’clock
yesterday
etc.

for the last/past
            
two days
three hours, etc.

for            
ten days
two hours, etc.






how long (quests)



PAST PROGRESSIVE *was/were + -ing
Used with when to express past activity in progress, interrupted by a non-continuous activity: I was writing when you called.

Used with while to express two continuous activities occurring
at the same time in past: I was reading while you were writing.
PAST PERFECT *had + past participle
Used with by the time to express two activities in the past, one occurring before the other. First activity: past perfect/second activity: simple past. Can also be used with when.

By the time / When we arrived, he had already left.

REV. 2003