Talking about when an event happens can be said with more than just the verb tense of the sentence. Time expressions are words or phrases that provide information about when an action or event occurs. These words helps us to be more specific about the moment in time in the past, present or future when something occurs.
These are used to organize a sequences of events in stories in a more interesting way as well as to convey time frames. They help us communicate how frequently it occurs.
In this blog post you will learn what time expressions are, with examples of key time expressions sued with each tense, the past, present and future.
Time Expressions for Past Events
Below is a table of Past time expressions with their meaning and an example sentence.
| Past Expression | Meaning | Example |
| Yesterday | Referring to the day before the current day | I had a really productive day yesterday. I wrote 7 articles in one sitting. |
| Last week/month/year | Referring to the week/month/year directly before the current one | I just watched that movie last week! It was great. |
| A week/month/year ago | A specific event or time period that happened one week/month/year prior to the present | A month ago, I started a new workout regime and I’m seeing a lot of improvement in my body already. |
| Earlier this week/month/year | A period in the same week/month/year but before the current time | Earlier this year, we travelled around Europe for a couple of months. |
| The day/week/year before | Referring to the day/week/year immediately preceding the current one | I graduated from college the year before I started my current job. |
| Back in the day | A time in the past, typically nostalgic or recalling earlier times. | Back in the day, we used to ride our bikes in the streets without worrying about cars. |
Time Expressions for Present Events
Time expressions for situations in the Present are accompanied by verbs either in the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.
For permanent situations in the present, use the Present Simple.
“I now live in a big city.”
“Nowadays it is hard to find an affordable house.”
For temporary situations in the present, use the Present Continuous.
“At the moment I am working at the local factory.”
“For the time being, I am living in a big city”
| Present Expressions | Meaning | Example |
| Nowadays | Referring to the current period of time or the present day. | Nowadays, you’re expected to be carrying around a smartphone. |
| Today | Referring to the current day | Today is a beautiful day, so I plan to spend some time outdoors. |
| Right now | Referring to the current moment or immediate time frame | Right now, I am writing an email to a client |
| Currently | Referring to the ongoing situation or state at the present time. | Currently, the children take up most of my attention. |
| This week/month/year | Referring to the current week/month/year | This month, I plan to focus on improving my language skills. |
| For the time being | Referring to the current period or temporary situation. | I am staying with my parents for the time being while I search for a new apartment. |
Time Expressions for Future Events
| Future Expression | Meaning | Example |
| Tomorrow | The day after today | I have a meeting tomorrow morning. |
| Next week/month/year | The month after that | I’m taking a trip next month. |
| Soon | A future event that is near or not far away | The package will be delivered to you soon. |
| Later on | A specific time that follows the present moment | Let’s meet up for coffee later on today. |
| In a week/month/year | A specific time period that will occur in the future from now | The project’s deadline is in a week. |
| In five years | A specific time period that will occur in five years | I want to be travelling the world in five years. |