Adverbs for Time
Telling When an action happens
Time — A Relative Concept
| TIME FRAME when? | ||
|---|---|---|
EARLIER (past) yesterday |
CURRENT (present) now |
LATER (fututre) tomorrow |
last Sunday |
today |
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that Sunday |
tonight |
the coming Sunday |
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| OCCURRENCE how often? how long? | ||
|---|---|---|
ONCE (single event) last Sunday |
REPEATED (frequency) every Sunday |
ONGOING (duration) during the weekend |
on graduation day |
several times |
for 24 hours |
when I was born |
always |
since last Sunday |
|
sometimes |
continuously |
| EXPECTED COMPLETION on time? | |
|---|---|
EARLIER THAN EXPECTED already |
LATER THAN EXPECTED yet |
|
soon |
|
still |
(aspect) |
finally |
| SPECIFICITY how specific? | |
|---|---|
SPECIFIC TIME at noon |
UNSPECIFIC / INDEFINITE as we speak |
on June 25 at 10 p.m. |
when we meet |
on Easter Day |
after that |
in 2020 |
this month (sometime) |
| ENDURANCE lasting how long? | |
|---|---|
TEMPORARY (changeable) just for today |
PERMANENT always |
right now |
usually |
this week |
sometimes |
for the time being |
|
| PERSONAL TIME FRAME recent? | |
|---|---|
KEEPING IT NEAR this year |
KEEPING IT DISTANT that year |
in these days |
in those days |
recently, just |
then |
lately |
back then |
Practice pages: Present adverbs | Past adverbs | Future adverbs | Present perfect adverbs |
Present Adverbs
Present and Present Progressive
Present Tense Adverbs
| PRESENT – MORE PERMANENT | PRESENT PROGRESSIVE – MORE TEMPORARY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Adverbs for the present tense indicate a more permanent state and tell howoften an activity occurs or is repeated. |
Adverbs for the present progressive indicate a more temporary state, at the moment of speaking. With a larger range of time, for example this month, the focus is still on the present time period not any amount of time that has passed. |
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GENERAL TRUTH general truth (Adverbs are rarely used.) |
FREQUENCY always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general) |
NOW at the moment (momentarily) |
THIS ... today (tonight) |
|
usually (most of the time) |
now (for now, just now) |
this morning (morning, evening, afternoon, week, month, year) |
EVERY ... |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
currently (presently) |
these mornings(evenings, afternoons, weeks, months, years) |
every day (night, week, month, year, etc.) |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
for a little while |
|
each day (night, week, month, year, etc.) |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever) |
as we speak |
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every other day (night, week, year, etc.) |
never (not ever) |
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most weekends (nights, weeks, months, etc.) |
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Present Tense Sentences
| PRESENT | PRESENT PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Adverbs used with present nonprogressive specify frequency or are not stated at all |
Adverbs used with present progressive specify a temporary, short-term, or current time frame. |
The sun heats the earth. (general truth – no adverb) |
I am heating some water for tea. (at the moment-no adverb) |
Farmers usually plant their fields in spring. (habitual) |
We are planting our tomatoes today. (at the moment – temporary) |
Farmers normally water their fields every other day. (routine) |
We are watering the garden currently. (temporary activity) |
We usually make tomato sauce with our tomatoes. (custom) |
*(no equivalent sentence in the progressive verb form) |
**(no equivalent sentence in the nonprogressive verb form) |
We are rewriting our plan this month. (temporary change from the usual) |
*We are usually making tomato sauce with our tomatoes.
** We rewrite our plan this month. (changes the meaning to a future scheduled activity)
Practice pages: General Truth | At the Moment | Habits & Customs | Present Progressive
Past Adverbs
Past and Past Progressive
Adverbs for Both Past & Past Progressive Tenses
| PAST & PAST PROGRESSIVE ADVERBS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Past tense adverbs tell us when or how frequently a past activity occurred. Emphasis is on the action rather than the time. Past is used with all the adverbs in this table (except while...) |
Past progressive adverbs tell us how frequently or how long a past activity occurred. Emphasis is on the time: duration or repetition. Past progressive is used with all the adverbs in this table (except when...) |
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AT, IN, ON |
AGO, LAST, THAT/THOSE |
THIS / THESE |
RELATIVE TIMES |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY |
FOR, FROM, OVER, DURING |
A specific time in the past |
A past time based on quantity or calendar units |
A past time before the current time |
A time relative to another event or action in the past |
A time that re-occured in the past |
A time with duration in the past |
yesterday (at noon yesterday, at midnight last night) |
a minute ago (second, hour, day, week, month, year) |
today / tonight (time passed; before now) |
then (versus now) |
always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general) |
for three weeks (quantity of time) |
at 6:00 a.m. (hour) |
six weeks ago (seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years) |
this morning (morning, evening, afternoon, week, month, year) |
when I saw it |
usually (most of the time) |
from Monday to Friday |
on January 10. (day) |
last night (week, month, year) |
these mornings(evenings, afternoons, weeks, months, years) |
*while I was there |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
during the 1960s |
in January (month) |
last Thursday (June, winter, leap-year) |
whenever I tried |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
continuously |
|
in the 1960s |
that morning (morning, evening, afternoon, week, month, year) |
if I saw them |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever) |
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those mornings(evenings, afternoons, weeks, months, years) |
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never (not ever) |
*several times and since are not used with either tense including the progressive |
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Using that distances the speaker from the time mentioned.
Past Tense Sentences
| PAST NONPROGRESSIVE | PAST PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Adverbs used with the past nonprogressive tense tend to be past dates or relative past times. |
Adverbs used with past progressive tense tend to emphasize frequency, duration or repetition. |
The volcano erupted on April 14 2010. (past event) |
The volcano was erupting for over month. (indefinite quantity of time) |
A journalist photographed the event last night. (past event) |
A journalist was photographing the event from April to December. (time range) |
People often wondered when it would stop. (emphasis on activity) |
People were often wondering when it would stop. (emphasis on frequency) |
Airplanes did not fly while it was happening. (relative time) |
Airplanes were not flying while it was happening. (relative time) |
to erupt (v.) – to explode and send smoke, fire, and rock into the sky
Practice pages: Past Complete | Past Prog | Past Habits | Reporting Source | Past Series
Future Adverbs
Future and Future Progressive
Adverbs for Both Future & Future Progressive Tenses
| FUTURE & FUTURE PROGRESSIVE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adverbs used with future tense tell us when a predicted or scheduled activity will occur. Future tense focuses more on the activity rather than the exact time. |
Future progressive adverbs tell us how long or how often (repetition). Future progressive tense emphasizes the time of the activity: its temporary nature, its duration or repetition. |
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AT, IN, ON |
THIS |
NEXT |
IN A... / IN THE... |
RELATIVE TIMES |
FOR, FROM, OVER, DURING |
at midnight (time ahead) |
† tomorrow (sometime tomorrow) |
† next week (sometime next week) |
in a second |
soon |
for three weeks (quantity of time) |
at noon(time ahead) |
† tonight |
† next Tuesday |
in a while |
*when I see you |
from Monday to Friday |
(on) January 10.(time ahead) |
this morning (time not passed) |
† next month / spring |
in a minute |
*while I am studying |
over the next few days (weeks, months, years) |
in the summer (time ahead) |
this evening (time not passed) |
† next semester / term |
in an hour |
* as I pass by |
during the evening |
in 2020(time ahead) |
this week(time not passed) |
† next year |
in just a while |
*if I see them |
continuously, continually |
on January, 10 at 2:00 a.m. |
this month (days not passed) |
in the coming week |
*by the time you come |
several times (repeatedly) |
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in the coming month |
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† sometime within the range of the period |
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*the time is related to another event or action |
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Future Tense Sentences
| FUTURE NONPROGRESSIVE | FUTURE PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Adverbs used with future nonprogressive may indicate a specific or indefinite future time, or a relative future event. (I wil call you If I see you.) The future is indicated with the modal will+base verb or with the present tense and a future adverb. |
Adverbs used with future progressive tend to emphasize duration or repetition. In some cases, there is no difference in meaning when using the nonprogressive or progressive in a sentence. |
We will fly to Spain next year. (prediction, plan, hope) |
We will be flying to Spain next week. (prediction; emphasis on time) |
We are going to take a four-week vacation soon. |
(no equivalent progressive phrasing) |
The plane leaves tonight. (scheduled future event) |
The plane is leaving tonight. (scheduled future event) |
I will be on the next plane. (determination, will, volition) |
(no equivalent progressive phrasing) |
(no equivalent nonprogressive phrasing) |
We will be walking to the beach by the time you arrive. (relative time) |
We will call you if we have an extra room for you. (relative time, a condition) |
(no equivalent progressive phrasing) |
Practice pages: Will / Might | Will / Would | By the time
Related page: Prepositions of time
The next... vs. next...
When next is used with days of the week, it is not always clear what the speaker means: this coming one or the one after?
| THE NEXT ... | NEXT ... |
|---|---|
At the beginning of a sentence, the next... refers to the immediate time period (week, month, year). Phrases are often used to clarify the date: this, this coming, in/on the next, for the next or during the next . |
The meaning of next varies. For example, next week may mean: (1) seven days starting now; (2) seven to fourteen days from now; (3) the upcoming calendar week. Phrases are often used to clarify the date: the week after this one / or the week after this / or the week after. |
The next week will be sunny and warm. (This week will be sunny and warm.) |
Next week will be sunny and warm. (2,3) This week is foggy and cold. |
Give me a call in the next week and we'll have lunch. *Call me the next week. |
Give me a call next week and we'll have lunch. (2) |
She'll be out of town for the next week, but you can email her. |
She'll be out of town the week after this, but you can email her. (2,3) |
*Meet me the next Wednesday at noon. (Meet me this Wednesday at noon.) |
Meet me next Wednesday at noon. (Meet me on Wednesday of next week.) |
The next year will be difficult. (This year will be diffic ult.) |
Next year will be difficult. (The year after this one will be diffic ult.) |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Practice pages: Will / Might | Scheduled Events | Will / Would | May / Can | Scheduled Events
Present Perfect
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Adverbs
| ADVERBS FOR PRESENT PERFECT NONPROGRESSIVE & PROGRESSIVE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adverbs used with present perfect tell us when: how long or since when, and they express complex aspects such as frequency of occurrence, experience, recency, repetition or speaker's expectation for completion. Present perfect sentences focus on the duration of time more than the activity. |
Present perfect progressive sentences tend to focus more on the activity — its repetition (several times) or ongoing (still) duration. Most present perfect adverbs are used with the progressive. However, an adverb of repetition is not generally used (and is awkward) with the progressive because the tense already carries the meaning of repetition. |
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SINCE / FOR |
SO FAR / THIS |
REPETITION |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY |
SPEAKER'S EXPECTATION |
SPEAKER'S MENTAL TIME FRAME |
Use with activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
Use with activities that began in the indefinite past and continue to the present. |
Use with repeated activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
Use with habitual activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
Use with activities that occur earlier or later than the speaker expects. |
Use with activities that are completed but still within the speaker's present frame of mind. |
since noon (exact time – midnight, 3:00 a.m.) |
so far (to date) |
repeatedly |
always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general) |
already (earlier) |
recently |
since this morning (today, this week, this year, etc.) |
up to now (until now) |
several times |
usually (most of the time) |
yet (later) |
lately |
since July 2003 (summer, 1900, the 4th century) |
over the past two years (weeks, decades, centuries) |
continuously |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
still (later) |
just |
ever since then (I met you, I was little) |
in my life (in these times, situations, moments) |
continually |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
finally (later) |
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for a minute (hour, day, week, month, year, decade) |
tonight ( today) |
again and again (over and over) |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever) |
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for a while (a minute, an hour, a day, 30 years – quantity of time) |
this week (morning, evening, week, month, year) |
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never (not ever) |
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for the time being (for now) (quantity of time) |
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a time relative to the moment of speaking; the exact time is not specified |
Adverb Use Examples
| PRESENT PERFECT NONPROGRESSIVE | PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Use the present perfect nonprogressive tense to indicate duration, recent completion or permanence. |
Use the present perfect progressive to emphasize repetitive, ongoing or temporary activity. |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY They have always worked to save the Tower of Pisa. |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY They have always been working to save the Tower of Pisa. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
SO FAR They have worked efficiently so far. unspecified past; done |
SO FAR They have been working efficiently so far. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
THIS They have worked very hard this year. |
SO FAR / THIS They have been working very hard this year. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
SINCE / FOR They have worked for twelve years / since 1998. quantity of time/exact time |
SINCE / FOR They have been working for twelve years / since 1998. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
REPETITION They have worked repeatedly to save the Tower of Pisa. |
REPETITION *They have been working several times to save the Tower of Pisa. They have been telling you over and over not to do that. okay |
SPEAKER'S EXPECTATION They have already repaired the base. |
SPEAKER'S EXPECTATION *They have already been repairing the foundation. not used with progressive |
SPEAKER'S MENTAL TIME FRAME They have'nt worked on it lately. |
SPEAKER'S MENTAL TIME FRAME They have been working on it lately. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Present Perfect Tense Contrasts
| PRESENT PERFECT NONPROGRESSIVE | PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Use the present perfect nonprogressive tense to indicate duration, recent completion or permanence. |
Use the present perfect progressive to emphasize repetitive, ongoing or temporary activity. |
Engineers have stabilized the foundation. unspecified past; done |
Engineers have been stabilizing the foundation since 1838. repetition; ongoing |
The Tower has stood in Pisa since 1352. permanent |
We have been standing in line for two hours. temporary; ongoing |
The art committee has photographed the entire Tower of Pisa. unspecified past; done |
They have been organizing 64,000 photographs. work in progress; ongoing |
Jason finished his project this morning. Afterwards, he played soccer. past; done |
Jason has just finished his project. He's so happy about it. present; done but still in mind |
Experience – Ever / Never
| STATEMENT | NEGATIVE | QUESTION |
|---|---|---|
I have never been to Italy. *I have ever been to Italy. (incorrect) Ever is used in a question or negative sentence. |
I have never been to Italy. I haven't ever been to Italy. *I haven't never been to Italy. (incorrect - double negative) |
Have you never been to Italy? (I think you have.) Have you ever been to Italy? (question) |
See Never /Ever | Adverbs of Frequency.
Related page: Pop-Q "Since"
Practice pages: Up to Now | Duration/ Repetition | Permanent/Temp | Experience | Ongoing | Just / Recently | Already / Yet | State of Mind
Practice
See each section above for practice-page links.