Time expressions used with the Present Perfect

For and Since

Since and for are very commonly used in the Present Perfect. We use for with a period of time, for example:

I have lived here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use since (followed by some point in time, for example: last june,
1967, yesterday).
I have lived here since 1960.

More about Time Expressions

Remember that in the Present Perfect you cannot use time expressions such as:

two months ago

one year ago
last week
yesterday
when I was five years old

Examples
I have visited my mother yesterday. WRONG
I have gone to the post office two months ago. WRONG

Those sentences are wrong because they specify accurately when something happened.

Instead, you should use the Present Simple.

Examples
I visited my mother yesterday. CORRECT
I went the post office two months ago. CORRECT

See the next page.

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Adverbs of time
Adverbs that tell us when
Adverbs that tell us when are usually placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples
Goldilocks went to the Bears' house yesterday.
I'm going to tidy my room tomorrow.

I saw Sally today.

I will call you later.

I have to leave now.

I saw that movie last year.

Adverbs that tell us for how long

Adverbs that tell us for how long are also usually placed at the end of the sentence.

Examples
She stayed in the Bears' house all day.
My mother lived in France for a year.

I have been going to this school since 1996.

All day, all week, all month, all year; for a day, for a week, for a month, for a year.

Examples
I stayed in Switzerland for three days.
I am going on vacation for a week.

I have been riding horses for several years.

The French monarchy lasted for several centuries.

I have not seen you since Monday.

Jim has been working here since 1997.

There has not been a more exciting discovery since last century.

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Times of the Day

Use the following time expressions to express things that happen during the day. These expressions can be
used with the past, present, and future forms.

in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening
at night

NOTE: Make sure to note that we say 'at night' NOT 'in the night'

They do the cleaning in the morning.

He goes to bed late at night.
We'll do the homework in the evening.
She had a drink in the evening before she went to bed.

Time Expressions to Use with the Present Simple

Use 'every' with segments of time such as every day, month, year, every two months, etc.

She travels to Las Vegas every year.

Jack tries to exercise every day.

adverbs of frequency (usually, sometimes, often, etc.)

They sometimes play golf.

She rarely smokes.

Time Expressions to Use with the Present Continuous

Use 'now', 'at the moment', 'right now' or 'today' with the present continuous to speak about what is
happening at the present moment.

now - Tom is watching TV now.

today - I'm working on the Smith project today.
at the moment - Jane is doing her homework at the moment.

Time Expressions Often Used in the Past

Use 'last' when speaking about the previous week, month or year

They went on holiday last month.

Use 'yesterday' when speaking about the previous day. Use 'the day before yesterday' to speak about two
days earlier.

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I visited my best friend yesterday.
They had math class the day before yesterday.

Use 'ago' when speaking about X days, weeks, months, years before. NOTE: 'ago' follows the number of
days, weeks, etc.

We flew to Cleveland three weeks ago.

The class started twenty minutes ago.

Use 'in' with specific years or months with past, present, and future tenses.

She graduated in 1976.

We'll see each other in April.

Use 'when' with a past time clause.

I played tennis every day when I was a teenager.

Time Expressions Used in the Future

Use 'next' to speak about the next week, month, or year.

We are going to visit our friends in Chicago next week.

I'll have some time off next month.

Use 'tomorrow' for the next day.

He'll be at the meeting tomorrow.

Use 'in X weeks, days, years' time with the future continuous to express what you will be doing at a specific
of time in the future.

We will be swimming in a crystal blue sea in two weeks time.

Use 'by (date)' form with the future perfect to express what you will have done up to that point in time.

I will have finished the report by April 15.

Use 'by the time + time clause ' with the future perfect to express what will have happened up to a specific
action in the future.

She will have bought a new home by the time he arrives.