Introduction to Time Phrases in English Tenses
What are Time Phrases?
Time phrases are phrases or teams of phrases that assist us perceive when an motion occurs. They’re important for mastering English tenses.
Examples: yesterday, now, subsequent week, for 5 years, since morning
Studying time phrases is the key to talking English confidently and naturally. Let’s discover them intimately, tense by tense!
1. Easy Current Tense Time Phrases
- The easy current tense describes habits, normal truths, and routines.
Frequent Time Phrases for Easy Current Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
Each day |
I drink espresso each day. |
Each morning |
She workouts each morning. |
Each night |
We go for a stroll each night. |
Each week |
He visits his grandmother each week. |
Each month |
They pay the hire each month. |
Yearly |
We rejoice New Yr yearly. |
All the time |
She all the time smiles at strangers. |
Often |
He often walks to high school. |
Usually |
We frequently play chess after dinner. |
Typically |
I typically skip breakfast. |
Not often |
He hardly ever goes to the cinema. |
By no means |
They by no means eat junk meals. |
Within the morning |
She reads the newspaper within the morning. |
At evening |
He watches TV at evening. |
On Sundays |
We go to the park on Sundays. |
Throughout the day |
She works throughout the day. |
Each weekend |
We go mountaineering each weekend. |
As soon as per week |
He visits the library as soon as per week. |
Twice a month |
I clear the storage twice a month. |
3 times a 12 months |
We journey overseas 3 times a 12 months. |
2. Current Steady Tense Time Phrases
- This tense describes actions taking place proper now or short-term conditions.
Frequent Time Phrases for Current Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
Now |
I’m studying a e book now. |
In the intervening time |
She is cooking in the intervening time. |
Presently |
They’re at present engaged on the challenge. |
Proper now |
We’re watching a film proper now. |
This week |
He’s staying together with his dad and mom this week. |
This month |
We’re specializing in finishing the report this month. |
This 12 months |
They’re working exhausting on a brand new challenge this 12 months. |
Today |
I’m studying French nowadays. |
At the moment |
She just isn’t attending college as we speak. |
Tonight |
We’re going out for dinner tonight. |
For now |
He’s staying with a pal for now. |
Nonetheless |
They’re nonetheless discussing the issue. |
Simply now |
I’m speaking to him simply now. |
At current |
She is at current engaged on her thesis. |
On this second |
We live on this second totally. |
3. Current Excellent Tense Time Phrases
- The current good tense is used for actions that occurred at an unspecified time prior to now however are related now.
Frequent Time Phrases for Current Excellent Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
Simply |
I’ve simply completed my homework. |
Already |
She has already eaten lunch. |
But |
Have you ever visited the museum but? |
Since |
We’ve lived right here since 2010. |
For |
He has labored at this firm for 5 years. |
Lately |
They’ve lately moved to a brand new metropolis. |
Recently |
I’ve been feeling drained currently. |
Up to now |
She has visited three nations to this point. |
Thus far |
We’ve accomplished two tasks so far. |
Ever |
Have you ever ever been to Paris? |
By no means |
He has by no means tried sushi earlier than. |
Up to now |
We’ve met a number of instances prior to now. |
Over time |
They’ve improved their expertise over time. |
Up to now |
She has obtained three awards up to now. |
This week |
He has written two experiences this week. |
This month |
We’ve had three conferences this month. |
This 12 months |
I’ve traveled rather a lot this 12 months. |
4. Current Excellent Steady Tense Time phrases
- Current Excellent Steady Tense is used to inform the motion which began prior to now and nonetheless happening. (It might proceed sooner or later or might not)
Frequent Time Phrases for Current Excellent Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
For |
She has been learning for 3 hours. |
Since |
We’ve been residing right here since 2015. |
Recently |
I’ve been feeling drained currently. |
Lately |
They’ve been working exhausting lately. |
All day |
He has been portray all day. |
All morning |
She has been cleansing the home all morning. |
All night |
We’ve been making ready for the occasion all night. |
For some time |
They’ve been arguing for some time. |
For ages |
She has been ready for ages. |
Since morning |
We’ve been working since morning. |
For hours |
I’ve been studying for hours. |
Since final week |
He has been attending courses since final week. |
For the previous few days |
They’ve been practising for the previous few days. |
Since yesterday |
She has been feeling unwell since yesterday. |
All this time |
We’ve been working exhausting all this time. |
1. Easy Previous Tense Time Phrases
- The easy previous tense describes actions accomplished prior to now.
Frequent Time Phrases for Easy Previous Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
Yesterday |
I went to the park yesterday. |
Final evening |
She studied for the check final evening. |
Final week |
We visited our grandparents final week. |
Final month |
They traveled to Japan final month. |
Final 12 months |
He graduated from faculty final 12 months. |
Two days in the past |
I met her two days in the past. |
An hour in the past |
She known as me an hour in the past. |
A couple of minutes in the past |
We completed the assembly a couple of minutes in the past. |
In 1990 |
He was born in 1990. |
Up to now |
Folks wrote letters extra typically prior to now. |
That day |
She informed me the reality that day. |
As soon as |
I visited the Eiffel Tower as soon as. |
A very long time in the past |
Dinosaurs roamed the earth a very long time in the past. |
Again then |
Again then, we didn’t have cellphones. |
After I was a toddler |
After I was a toddler, I performed with toy trains. |
Earlier as we speak |
We talked about it earlier as we speak. |
The opposite day |
I noticed him on the mall the opposite day. |
As soon as upon a time |
As soon as upon a time, there was a courageous knight. |
Years in the past |
They moved to town years in the past. |
2. Previous Steady Tense Time Phrases
- This tense describes actions that had been ongoing prior to now.
Frequent Time Phrases for Previous Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
At that second |
I used to be studying a e book at that second. |
At 5 PM |
She was cooking dinner at 5 PM. |
Whereas |
We had been enjoying whereas it began raining. |
When |
He was working after I noticed him. |
All day |
They had been working all day. |
All night |
We had been watching motion pictures all night. |
Earlier |
I used to be strolling my canine earlier. |
At midnight |
They had been learning at midnight. |
Yesterday at midday |
She was purchasing yesterday at midday. |
That night |
We had been discussing the challenge that night. |
Final evening at 10 PM |
He was writing a report final evening at 10 PM. |
For hours |
I used to be ready for hours. |
From morning to night |
They had been working from morning to night. |
When the telephone rang |
I used to be cooking when the telephone rang. |
When he arrived |
She was writing when he arrived. |
All morning |
We had been cleansing the home all morning. |
3. Previous Excellent Tense Time Phrases
- Previous Excellent tense is used to inform the motion which occurred prior to now earlier than one other motion.
Frequent Time Phrases for Previous Excellent Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
By the point |
By the point we arrived, the practice had already left. |
Earlier than |
She had completed her homework earlier than dinner. |
After |
He had gone to mattress after he completed his work. |
Already |
That they had already left after we arrived. |
Simply |
I had simply completed consuming when she known as. |
When |
After I reached the station, the practice had departed. |
By then |
He had discovered the information by then. |
By 8 PM |
She had accomplished the report by 8 PM. |
By yesterday |
We had cleaned the home by yesterday. |
Earlier |
He had known as me earlier that day. |
That morning |
She had seen him that morning. |
That day |
We had accomplished our duties that day. |
Earlier than I knew it |
Earlier than I knew it, that they had already began the assembly. |
By the tip of |
By the tip of the 12 months, that they had achieved all their objectives. |
As soon as |
As soon as he had defined, everybody understood. |
4. Previous Excellent Steady Tense Time Phrases
- Previous Excellent Steady Tense is used to inform the motion which began prior to now, it was happening for a time frame and ended prior to now itself.
Frequent Time Phrases for Previous Excellent Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
For |
He had been learning for 3 hours earlier than the check began. |
Since |
That they had been engaged on the challenge since morning. |
All day |
She had been feeling sick all day. |
All morning |
We had been ready for the bus all morning. |
For a very long time |
He had been eager about the issue for a very long time. |
Earlier than |
She had been practising yoga earlier than the category began. |
By the point |
By the point we arrived, that they had been ready for hours. |
As much as that time |
He had been working exhausting as much as that time. |
Since final evening |
That they had been enjoying music since final evening. |
For weeks |
We had been planning the journey for weeks. |
For months |
She had been making ready for the examination for months. |
For years |
That they had been saving cash for years. |
Earlier than then |
He had been residing in that city earlier than then. |
Till that second |
She had been ready for a response till that second. |
1. Easy Future Tense Time Phrases
- The easy future tense describes actions that may occur sooner or later.
Frequent Time Phrases for Easy Future Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
Tomorrow |
I’ll go to the museum tomorrow. |
Subsequent week |
She’s going to begin her new job subsequent week. |
Subsequent month |
We’ll transfer to a brand new home subsequent month. |
Subsequent 12 months |
They’ll journey to Europe subsequent 12 months. |
In a number of days |
He’ll name you in a number of days. |
In a number of hours |
I’ll end my project in a number of hours. |
In two weeks |
She’s going to go to her grandparents in two weeks. |
Quickly |
We’ll hear from them quickly. |
Later |
He’ll clarify the challenge later. |
Sooner or later |
They’ll develop their enterprise sooner or later. |
By subsequent week |
I’ll full the report by subsequent week. |
By tomorrow |
She’s going to ship you the small print by tomorrow. |
Inside an hour |
We’ll attain the venue inside an hour. |
This night |
He’ll be part of us for dinner this night. |
Tonight |
They’ll attend the occasion tonight. |
The day after tomorrow |
She’s going to meet the consumer the day after tomorrow. |
Subsequent weekend |
We’ll go mountaineering subsequent weekend. |
2. Future Steady Tense Time Phrases
- This tense describes actions that might be ongoing at a selected time sooner or later.
Frequent Time Phrases for Future Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
At the moment tomorrow |
I might be flying to New York at the moment tomorrow. |
At 5 PM tomorrow |
She might be giving a presentation at 5 PM tomorrow. |
By this time subsequent week |
We might be having fun with our trip by this time subsequent week. |
Within the night |
He might be learning within the night. |
Subsequent month |
They are going to be engaged on a brand new challenge subsequent month. |
Subsequent week |
She might be making ready for her exams subsequent week. |
Tomorrow morning |
We might be jogging tomorrow morning. |
Later as we speak |
I might be assembly my professor later as we speak. |
All day tomorrow |
They are going to be touring all day tomorrow. |
For hours |
She might be ready for hours to satisfy the physician. |
By the tip of the day |
He might be engaged on the challenge by the tip of the day. |
Subsequent weekend |
We might be tenting subsequent weekend. |
By this time tomorrow |
She might be presenting her report by this time tomorrow. |
At midday |
We might be having lunch at midday. |
All morning |
I might be learning all morning tomorrow. |
This night |
He might be attending a seminar this night. |
3. Future Excellent Tense Time Phrases
- Future Excellent Tense is used to inform motion could have occurred sooner or later at a selected time.
Frequent Time Phrases for Future Excellent Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
By tomorrow |
I’ll have accomplished the project by tomorrow. |
By subsequent week |
She could have completed her challenge by subsequent week. |
By the tip of the day |
They’ll have submitted the report by the tip of the day. |
By the tip of the month |
We could have moved into the brand new home by the tip of the month. |
By this time subsequent 12 months |
He could have graduated by this time subsequent 12 months. |
By the point |
By the point you arrive, I’ll have cleaned the home. |
In two days |
They’ll have accomplished the duty in two days. |
By 5 PM |
She could have ready dinner by 5 PM. |
By the point we meet |
By the point we meet, I’ll have learn the complete e book. |
Earlier than the deadline |
He could have accomplished the work earlier than the deadline. |
By subsequent month |
We could have saved sufficient cash by subsequent month. |
Inside per week |
She could have discovered the brand new talent inside per week. |
By subsequent weekend |
They’ll have painted the home by subsequent weekend. |
By midday tomorrow |
I’ll have despatched the e-mail by midday tomorrow. |
Earlier than you already know it |
Earlier than you already know it, we could have arrived at our vacation spot. |
4. Future Excellent Steady Tense Time Phrases
- The Future Excellent Steady Tense is used to explain the period of an motion that may have been taking place for a while (emphasizing size and continuity) as much as a selected level sooner or later.
Frequent Time Phrases for Future Excellent Steady Tense
Time Phrase |
Instance |
For 5 years |
By subsequent month, I’ll have been working right here for 5 years. |
For 3 hours |
By midday, they may have been learning for 3 hours. |
By this time tomorrow |
By this time tomorrow, she could have been touring for twenty-four hours. |
Since morning |
By night, we could have been engaged on the challenge since morning. |
For a decade |
By the tip of the 12 months, they may have been residing right here for a decade. |
By subsequent week |
By subsequent week, he could have been practising yoga for six months. |
For 2 days |
By the point we meet, she could have been touring for 2 days. |
By subsequent 12 months |
By subsequent 12 months, I’ll have been learning English for ten years. |
For months |
By the tip of this time period, they may have been making ready for months. |
By tomorrow morning |
By tomorrow morning, he could have been working for 12 hours straight. |
By the point |
By the point she arrives, I’ll have been ready for an hour. |
For years |
By 2030, we could have been researching the issue for years. |
Since final month |
By the point we end, we could have been engaged on this since final month. |
For some time |
By the tip of the day, she could have been resting for some time. |
Since final 12 months |
By subsequent summer time, he could have been studying guitar since final 12 months. |
Suggestions for Utilizing Time Phrases Successfully
- Memorize widespread phrases: Create flashcards to apply each day.
- Observe in sentences: Write 5 sentences for every tense.
- Converse recurrently: Use time phrases in conversations.
FAQ Part
Q1: Why are time phrases essential?
Time phrases assist make clear when an motion happens, making communication clear and correct.
Q2: Can a time phrase be used with multiple tense?
Sure, some phrases like “since” and “for” work in a number of tenses relying on the context.
Q3: How can I grasp time phrases?
Observe each day with real-life examples and use them in your talking and writing.