Signal Words for Present Tenses
The table below is a list of the common words that are used with each present tense in English. They are known as signal words or trigger words. See the table below to work out what tense you are reading. You can also use it to work out which words you can use in your writing with different tenses in English.
| Present Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect | Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|---|
| always, every, often, normally, usually, sometimes, never, seldom, rarely, | at the moment, now, just now, Look!, Listen! in the morning, at noon, tomorrow, next... | ever, never, already, just, not... yet, so far, until now, up to now, for, since (often with stative verbs) | recently, lately, all day/all night. every day/ every morning, how long |
Present Simple Words:
- Always means 100% of the time.
- Every means all (every time)
- Often means about 80% of the time.
- Normally means 100 % of the time if nothing changes.
- Never means 0% of the time.
- Sometimes means around 40-50% of the time.
- Seldom means not often.
- Rarely has a similar meaning to seldom. It means not often. They both mean around 20-30% of the time.
Present Continuous Words
- At the moment means at the moment of speaking. It can also mean what somebody is doing just not at the time of speaking. (e.g.I’m working part-time at the moment)
- Now, just now, right now mean something at the time of speaking.
Things Happening in the Near Future.
- In the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening,
- at noon / tonight
- tomorrow
- next…. (week, time, month etc)
Things Happening for a limited time
- this week, this month, this year
Present Perfect Simple Words
- Ever means during your entire life. e.g. Have you ever been to Paris?
- Never means at no time during your life. e.g. I have never been to Paris.
- Already means something has been done before you expected. e.g. Have you already done your homework?
- Just means a short time ago. e.g. I’ve just arrived home.
- Yet means up until now. e.g. Have the children arrived yet? No not yet. (But you expect them to arrive soon.) Notice yet is used in questions and negative sentences.
- Until now, up to now, and so far mean until the time of speaking. There are five people in the class so far. (We expect more people to arrive soon)
- For is used with a time frame. e.g. I have lived here for five years.
- Since gives a specific starting point until now. e.g. I’ve lived here since 2019.
Present Perfect Continuous Words
- Recently means in the time not long ago. e.g. It’s been raining a lot recently.
- Lately means in the recent past. Not so long ago. e.g. I haven’t been going to the gym lately.
- How long is used in questions. I asks what period of time. e.g. How long have you been working today?
- Every morning means each morning. e.g. I’ve been getting up early every morning this week.
