Mastering the skill of talking about time in English is important. This is because the time expressions usually provide additional information in a sentence.
Time expressions help to tell what has happened, is happening, or will happen. It's technically the same as learning about past, present, and future tense.
Let’s dive in!
Past Time Expressions
Past tense expressions are used to refer to events or periods that have already passed. Take a look at the examples in the following table.
| Past Expressions | Definition | Example |
| Yesterday | The day before today. | “I went to the park yesterday. |
| Ago | Used to indicate a time earlier than the present. | “I saw her three days ago.” |
| Last week/month/year | The week/month/year before this one. | “We went on vacation last year.” |
| Previously | It indicates something happened at an earlier time than the present one. | “The information was previously unknown.” |
| Earlier | Before the present time or a specified earlier. | “I arrived at the meeting earlier than expected.” |
| A while ago | It implies a relatively recent time, but not right now or very recently. | “I met him a while ago at the coffee shop.” |
| Back then | It refers to a specific period that is earlier than the present. | “Back then, things were so much simpler.” |
| The day before yesterday | Two days ago. | “I finished reading the book the day before yesterday.” |
| In the past | In previous times, it has happened. | “In the past, people used to travel by horse and carriage.” |
| Once upon a time | Used to introduce a story and indicate that the story happened in a long, unspecified time in the past | “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess.” |
Present Time Expressions
Present time expressions are used to express the current time or an ongoing time. Some of these include:
| Present Expressions | Definition | Example |
| Now | At this moment, it refers to the immediate period. | “I am studying English now.” |
| Today | The day that is happening now. | “Today is sunny, what a beautiful day.” |
| Currently | At present, similar to now. | “She is currently working on a new project.” |
| At present | At this time refers to the current time. | “The economic situation at present is unstable.” |
| Nowadays | It refers to the current period, contrasting it with the past. | “Nowadays, many people work from home.” |
| These days | In this era, similar to nowadays. | “These days, technology is rapidly advancing.” |
| Right now | At this very moment, emphasize the present time with a sense of immediacy | “I am cooking dinner right now.” |
| Presently | It indicates something is happening or existing right now. | “The manager is presently unavailable.” |
| For the time being | Temporarily or for now, this indicates a situation that may change in the future. | “We will stay here for the time being.” |
| In the present day | It refers to the period we are currently living in. | “In the present day, communication is much easier.” |
Future Time Expressions
Future tense expressions are meant to convey the time of an event or period in the future. Take a look at the examples below.
| Present Expressions | Definition | Example |
| Tomorrow | The day after today. | “I will go to the library tomorrow.” |
| Next week/month/year | It refers to the time immediately following the current week/month/year. | “We are going to the beach next week.” |
| Soon | It implies something will happen relatively quickly, but doesn’t specify exactly when. | “The new toy store will be opening soon.” |
| In the future | At a later time, it refers to a period that is yet to come. | “In the future, I hope to travel the world.” |
| Shortly | In a short time, similar to soon. | “The meeting will begin shortly.” |
| Later | A time in the future, though not usually the very near future. | “I will call you later.” |
| The day after tomorrow | The day following tomorrow. | “We are having a party the day after tomorrow.” |
| In a few days/weeks/months | In the short or indeterminate future, but will happen relatively soon. | “I will receive the package in a few days.” |
| Eventually | It suggests that something will happen, though it may take a while. | “Eventually, they will find a solution.” |
| Sometime | Unspecified or unstated time, the exact time is unknown or unimportant. | “I’d like to visit Europe some time.” |
Examples of Time Expressions in Daily Conversations
After knowing the vocabulary for time expressions, let's learn how they work in daily conversations!
Past time expressions
Alpha: “Did you go to the concert last night?”
Ben: “Yes I did. It was amazing! I had so much fun.”
Alpha: “Really? I wanted to go, but I was busy yesterday.”
Ben: “You should go next time. They’re performing again next month, by the way.”
Present time expressions
Alpha: “Hi Ben, what are you doing now?”
Ben: “I’m reading a book at the moment. It's very fascinating.”
Alpha: “Cool! What is it about?”
Ben: “It’s about history. I’m learning a lot these days.”
Future time expressions
Alpha: “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
Ben: “I’m going to visit my grandparents. I haven’t seen them in a while”
Alpha: “That’s nice. When are you coming back?”
Ben: “I’ll be back next week. We’re having a family gathering.”
Mixed time expressions
Alpha: “Hi Ben, how was your trip to Japan last year?”
Ben: “It was fantastic! I’m planning to go back again next summer.”
Alpha: “That sounds great! What are you doing to prepare now?”
Ben: “I’m currently saving money and researching places to visit. I’m also learning some basic Japanese phrases.”
Conclusion
Those are the various time expressions in English. By mastering them, you'll be one step ahead of everyone else!
Keep practicing your sentences using the time expressions above. Don't be afraid to use them in your daily activities, okay?
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