Adverbs for Time
Telling When an action happens
Time — A Relative Concept
| TIME FRAME when? | ||
|---|---|---|
| EARLIER | CURRENT | LATER |
yesterday |
now |
tomorrow |
last Sunday |
today |
|
that Sunday |
tonight |
the coming Sunday |
| SPECIFICITY how specific? | |
|---|---|
| SPECIFIC TIME | UNSPECIFIC / INDEFINITE |
at noon |
as we speak |
on June 25 at 10 p.m. |
when we meet |
on Easter Day |
after that (later) |
in 2020 |
this month (sometime) |
| OCCURRENCE how often? how long? | ||
|---|---|---|
| ONCE single event | REPEATED | ONGOING |
last Sunday |
every Sunday |
during the weekend |
on graduation day |
several times |
for 24 hours |
when I was born |
always |
since last Sunday |
|
sometimes |
continuously |
| ENDURANCE lasting how long? | |
|---|---|
| TEMPORARY changeable | PERMANENT |
just for today |
always |
right now |
usually |
this week |
as a rule |
for the time being |
|
| EXPECTED COMPLETION on time? | |
|---|---|
| EARLY | LATE |
already |
yet |
|
soon |
|
still |
(aspect) |
finally |
| PERSONAL TIME FRAME recent? | |
|---|---|
| NEAR | DISTANT |
this year |
that year |
in these days |
in those days |
recently, just |
then |
lately |
back then |
Adverb practice pages: Present adverbs, Past adverbs, Future adverbs, Present perfect adverbs
Present Adverbs
Present and Present Progressive
Present Tense Adverbs
| PRESENT PROGRESSIVE – MORE TEMPORARY | |
|---|---|
Adverbs for the present progressive indicate a more temporary state, at the moment of speaking. The focus is on the present time period, with a larger range of time, for example this month, and not on time that has passed. |
|
| NOW | THIS ... |
at the moment |
today / tonight (word origin – this day, this night) |
now (for now, just now) |
this morning |
currently |
this week |
presently |
this month |
for a little while (for the time being) |
this semester |
as we speak |
this year |
| PRESENT – MORE PERMANENT | |
|---|---|
Adverbs for the present tense indicate a more permanent state and tell how often an activity occurs or is repeated. ¹Statements of fact or general truth rarely occur with adverbs. |
|
| EVERY ... | FREQUENCY |
every day (night, week, month, year, etc.) |
always (routinely, customarily, as a rule) |
each day (night, week, month, year, etc.) |
usually (most of the time, in general, normally) |
every other day (night, week, year, etc.) |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
most weekends (nights, weeks, months, etc.) |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
GENERAL TRUTH general truth¹ (no adverb) |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever, never, not ever) |
|
never (not ever) |
*Also ee Adverbs of Frequency Adverbs of Time
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)
Present tense practice pages: General Truth, At the Moment, Habits & Customs, Present Progressive, Adverbs of Frequency
Past Adverbs
Past and Past Progressive
Adverbs for Both Past & Past Progressive Tenses
| PAST & PAST PROGRESSIVE ADVERBS | ||
|---|---|---|
Past tense verbs are used with adverbs specifying a past time or frequency of occurence. The emphasis is on action. |
||
| AT, IN, ON | AGO, LAST | THIS, THAT |
A specific time in the past (clendar or clock times) |
A past time based on quantity or calendar units |
A past time before the current time (near, far) |
at 6:00 AM(at noon, at midnight) |
a day ago (second, minute, hour, , week, month, year) |
this monday (week, month, year) "the near, recent one" |
on January 10 (Thursday) |
last night (week, month, winter, year) |
that monday (week, month, year) |
in January (month) / in 2006 (year) / |
yesterday
|
these/ those weeks (days, months, years) |
in the 1960s (the 1800s, the early times) |
||
|
||
| PAST & PAST PROGRESSIVE ADVERBS | ||
|---|---|---|
Past progressive verbs are used with adverbs specifying a past time, or expressing duration. The emphasis is on time. |
||
| RELATIVE TIME | FREQUENCY | DURATION |
A time relative to another past activity |
A time that reoccurred in the past |
A time with duration in the past |
when he saw it¹ |
always (routinely, customarily, as a rule) |
for three weeks (days, months, years) "a quantity of time" |
while he was looking at it¹ |
usually (in general, normally) |
from Monday to Friday (a span of time) |
whenever he looked at it² |
often (frequently, half of the time) / |
during the 1960s (a period of time) |
anytime he looked at it² |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
over the past few years (days, months) |
if he looked at it |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever, not ever, never) |
continuously (continually) |
several times (nonprogressive only)
Also see During / In
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) |
Past tense practice pages: Past Complete, Past Prog, Past Habits, Reporting Source, Past Series, After, Before, When
Future Adverbs
Future and Future Progressive
| 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. |
||
| AT, IN, ON | NEXT | THIS, THAT |
A specific time in the future |
A future time based on quantity or calendar units |
A future time after the current time (near, far) |
at 6:00 AM(at noon, at midnight) |
next week( month, winter, year) (origin: latest week) |
this monday (week, month, year) "the near, recent one" |
on January 10 (Thursday) |
tomorrow(today, tomight) (a time not yet passed) |
that monday (week, month, year) |
in January / in 2006 (year) / in the 1960s (decade) |
in a minute (second, a while, an hour, the coming week) |
these/ those weeks (weeks, days, months, years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FUTURE & FUTURE PROGRESSIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
Future progressive adverbs tell us how long or how often. Future progressive tense emphasizes the time of the activity: its temporary nature, its duration or repetition. |
||
| RELATIVE TIME | FREQUENCY | DURATION |
A time relative to another future activity |
A time that reoccurs in the future |
A time with duration in the future |
when he sees it¹ |
always (as a rule, routinely, customarily, normally, ) |
for three weeks (days, months, years) "a quantity of time" |
while he is looking at it¹ |
usually (most of the time, in general) |
from Monday to Friday (a span of time) |
whenever he looks at it² |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
during the spring (a period of time) during |
anytime he looks at it² |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
over the next few years (minutes, days, months, winters) |
if he looks at it |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever, not ever, never) |
continuously (continually) |
several times – used in nonprogressive sentences only
Future Tense Sentences
| FUTURE NONPROGRESSIVE | FUTURE PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Adverbs with the future nonprogressive express a specific or indefinite future time, or a relative future event. (I wil call you If I don't see you.) The future is formed with the modal will+ a 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. A clause with a future progressive tense may also serve as "backgrounding" a second clause with the "main event." |
We will fly to Spain in January. (plan for a future date) |
We will fly to Spain in January. (a plan for a future date) |
We will fly to Spain when the game Olympic games begin.(relative activity) |
We will be flying to Spain when the game Olympic games begin. (relative activity or backgrounding) |
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. (future condition) |
(no equivalent progressive phrasing) |
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.
Future practice pages: Will / Might, Scheduled Events, Will / Would, May / Can, Scheduled Events, After, Before, When, Prepositions of time, By the time
Present Perfect
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive
| ADVERBS FOR PRESENT PERFECT & 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. |
||
| SINCE/FOR | SO FAR /THIS… | RECENTLY |
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 activities that are completed but still within the speaker's present frame of mind. |
since 6:00 AM (exact time – midnight, noon, this morning, July 2012) |
next week( month, winter, year) (origin: latest week) |
recently |
for a minute (hour, day, week, month, year, decade, the time being) |
tomorrow(today, tomight) (a time not yet passed) |
lately |
ever since then (Saturday, January, 2009, I met you, I was a child) |
in a minute (second, a while, an hour, the coming week, the coming month) |
just |
| FUTURE & FUTURE PROGRESSIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
Future progressive adverbs tell us how long or how often. Future progressive tense emphasizes the time of the activity: its temporary nature, its duration or repetition. |
||
| ALREADY / YET | FREQUENCY | REPETITION |
Use with activities that occur earlier or later than the speaker expects. |
Use with habitual activities beginning in the past and continuing until now. |
Use with non-progressive verbs to express past repeated activity that continues. |
already (earlier than expected) |
always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule) |
repeatedly |
yet (later than expected) |
usually (most of the time, in general) |
several times (nonprogressive only) |
still (ongoing) |
often (frequently, half of the time) / |
continuously (continually)
|
finally (later than expected) |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
several times (nonprogressive only) |
|
rarely (seldom, hardly ever, not ever, never) |
again and again (over and over) |
Sentences with Present Perfect Adverbs
| 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. |
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 |
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 |
RECENCY They have'nt worked on it lately. |
ALREADY / YET They have been working on it lately. |
ALREADY / YET They have already repaired the base. |
SPEAKER'S EXPECTATION *They have already been repairing the foundation. not used with progressive |
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 |
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 |
*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 for details.
Practice pages: Up to Now, Duration/ Repetition, Permanent/Temp, Experience, Ongoing, Just / Recently, Already / Yet, Present State of Mind
Grammar Notes
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Advanced
| ADVERBS | OTHER |
|---|---|
The traditional terms, "adverb" or "adverbial phrase" have undergone some changes. Some words have been reassigned to other categories, such as Noun or Preposition. |
An adverb may be a verb complement (a required element) "The meeting is at noon.s or a verb adjunct (not required) "The meeting will include a break at 2 p.m." The time may be an "interval" or a "point"; it may be "perfective" (completed) or "imperfective" (ongoing); It may have "polarity" (positive or negative context). For other aspects, see CaGEL 8 §6.3. |
| ADVERBS | PREPOSITIONS |
currently, presently, immediately, earlier, early, lately, recently, soon, formerly, subsequently ADV – We'll see you early / soon / subsequently.
already, yet, still, any longer NP positive – We finishing our project already. (+ polarity) |
after, ago, at, before, between, by , during, in, into, on, since, toward PP+NP – in, on, at, during, by We'll see you in three weeks / in June / on Sunday / by dinner time / during the break. PP + Finite Clause – before, after, as, once, since: We'll see you after we arrive / before we leave. PP + Nonfinite Clause – before, after, between, on, once, since: We'll see you after arriving / before leaving. PP – after, before, now, since, then, throughout: We'll see you afterwards.
|
| ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY | NOUNS |
twice, always, sometimes, usually, etc. Frequency ADV– We usually arrive on time. (Adjunct –may be omitted) "Adjuncts of frequency express quantification in the clause in a way which is comparable to that of quantifiers in the structure of NPs." (CaGEL 8 §9)
|
yesterday, today, tomorrow, tonight, Sunday, Monday, sometime, etc. morning, noon, evening, night, second, minute, moment, week, month, year NP – We'll see you tonight / this evening. (determiner + noun)
|
CATEGORIES: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective; Nonfinite Clause / Finite Clause
FUNCTIONS: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complements: (elements required by verb) Object, Indirect Object, Predicative Complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv
Practice
Adverb practice pages: Present adverbs, Past adverbs, Future adverbs, Present perfect adverbs
Present tense practice pages: General Truth, At the Moment, Habits & Customs, Present Progressive, Adverbs of Frequency
Past tense practice pages: Past Complete, Past Prog, Past Habits, Reporting Source, Past Series, After, Before, When
Future practice pages: Will / Might, Scheduled Events, Will / Would, May / Can, Scheduled Events, After, Before, When, Prepositions of time, By the time
Present perfect practice pages: Up to Now, Duration/ Repetition, Permanent/Temp, Experience, Ongoing, Just / Recently, Already / Yet, Present State of Mind