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Time adverbs


(yet, already, recently, lately, never, ever)

Presentation / Objective


Do you get excited with the results of a hard day's work?

Do you smile when you remember everything you have accomplished or experienced in your life?

excited person

Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://pixabay.com/photo-307791/

 

Well, all of that can be expressed with a simple structure and even more critical, with time adverbs. It is fantastic to see how a simple word can say so much. Let me explain?

In this section, you are going to learn how to use the time adverbs.

  • You will learn specific rules of time adverbs: yet, already, recently, lately never, ever.

Objective

At the end of this topic you will:
• Use time adverbs to talk about actions that have just happened, or have not happened, but will happen. Also, any that occurred before, or will not happen in a lifetime and even those that have always happened.

Content

Time Adverbs

yet

already

recently

lately

never

ever

Let’s review a bit of Present Perfect, shall we?

Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is used to:

Click on each topic to see the content.

To connect the past with the present.

  • E.g. She has been to the doctor recently.
doctor
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://pixabay.com/photo-148133/

To talk about a repeated action in the past which can happen again.

  • E.g. I have gone to Zumba classes lately.
Zumba class
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Talwalkars_launched_Zumba_Fitness_Programme_in_India,_Neha_Dhupia.jpg

To talk about an action in the past with consequences in the present.

  • E. g. My husband has lost his keys.
keys
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://flic.kr/p/gLwcFf

To talk about experiences.

  • E.g. I have not been to France yet.
France
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=37615&picture=pavement-cafe-french

To talk about a very recent finished action.

  • E.g. She is not hungry. She has just eaten a lot!
dog
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://flic.kr/p/c9EKW3

Adverbs (yet, already, recently, lately never, ever)

Sometimes we use time adverbs to be very explicit in our message. These words carry an implicit message. In fact, they are the words that we are going to focus on.

So let’s move on!

Click on each topic to see the content.

We use it to talk about an action which was finished before we expected it.

Already is also used to show surprise about things that have happened or will have happened earlier than we expected.[ CITATION Cam \l 2058 ]

Son: Mom can I go out with my friends?
Mom: Have you cleaned your room?
Son: Yes! I’ve already done it.

Cleaning the room
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://flic.kr/p/DKqVud

Note:

Pay attention to the position of already!

  • We usually put already in the normal mid position for adverbs (between the subject and the main verb, or after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb) [ CITATION Cam \l 2058 ]
  • We can use already at the end of a sentence for greater emphasis or to show greater surprise. This is especially common in informal speaking. [ CITATION Cam \l 2058 ]
  • We usually write it right before the main verb.

We use recently and lately to talk about an action that has happened very close to the present time.

Laura: My mom is very nervous about my grades.
Mary: Really? Why?
Laura: She has asked me recently “are you going to pass the semester?”

exam
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/photo-1516644

NOW
An action which happened very close to the present, either in a continuous way or in repeated moments.

convince
promise

Yet

It is a word we exclusively use in negative sentences with the meaning “not at the moment but I’m planning to do it” and questions with the meaning “already”.

Robert: Have you heard the new podcast from “the X show”?
David: I haven’t heard it yet. Is it good?
Robert: I think it is the best so far, you have to hear it.

podcast
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://flic.kr/p/5UPajj

Note:

Look at the position and the structure of yet:

It is used in negative sentences and at the end of the sentence.

It is a negative word and it basically means “I have not done it in my life”. It is a word that implies that the speaker hasn’t experienced something.

Andrea: I just loved Emma Watson in “The Beauty and the Beast” did you like her too?
Jesus: Who is Emma Watson?
Andrea: Hermione! from The Harry Potter movies!
Jesus: I’m sorry. I have never seen any of those movies.
Andrea: I’m sorry Jesus I think we can’t be friends anymore.

Emma Watson
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://flic.kr/p/RvmEUR

It is a word that can be used to add emphasis or with the meaning “at any time”. It is almost never used in affirmative sentences (except for some fixed expressions “forever” “whatever”, etc) and it is mostly used in negatives and questions.

Wendy: Have you ever tried grasshoppers? They are delicious!
Stella: No I haven’t, but aren’t those a kind of insect?
Wendy: Yes, they are!
Stella: Eeewwww I won’t try them ever!!

grasshoppers
Retrieved on May 20, 2017 from https://openclipart.org/detail/28477/cartoon-grasshopper

Reading

Activity 1

Incredible life experiences everyone should have.

Widespread use of adverbs is when we talk about life experiences either if we have done them or not. In this activity, you will read about some events you should do, and places you should visit before you die.

You will read the text “Incredible life experiences everyone should have”. Some words might be new for you;, so, you’ll have to understand them from the context. Use every reading comprehension skill you have developed. After this, you will identify the main use of adverbs to express the time in your activities.

Read the text and match the highlighted words to the correct meaning. There are only five definitions so be careful. You have two attempts to answer each item. At the end of the exercise, you can see your score.

Activity 2

Understanding the experiences

Here you will read the text “Incredible life experiences everyone should have.” This time you have to pay attention to every detail that contains meaning. It could be, adverbs (yet, already, recently, lately, never, ever) or words according to the context.

Based on the statements, you will select True or False. At the end of the exercise, you can know your score.

Listening

Activity 3

Listening to general information

Here you will listen to a radio show “an interview with the author.” Next, you will answer the following 3 questions to show your understanding of audio. Use your knowledge of frequency adverbs.

Click here to listen to the conversation:


Choose the most appropriate option for the following statements. At the end of the exercise, you can know your score.

Activity 4

Understanding the experiences

Here you are going to listen again to the radio show “an interview with the author.” Then, use your knowledge of time adverbs to understand the context of the show. Answer each option with True or False.

Click here to listen to the conversation:


Decide if the following statements are true or false and choose the best option. At the end of the exercise, you can know your score.

Writing

Activity 5

Personal achievements

In this topic, we have taught you how to express your achievements and experiences. You have practised this topic by listening about experiences, and now it is time to talk about your own.

The following is a self-assessment writing activity about everything you have explored. Remember that you do not need to save the world for considering something as an achievement.

  • You only have to talk about the goals you have reached and how important they are for you.
  • Write between 60 – 80 words.
  • Use at least 10 times the time adverbs and at least one of each.

Please check the rubrics to make sure your work meets the criteria. You can read this example to compare and self-assess your work.

Speaking

Activity 6

Putting the time adverbs in practice

Here you will use everything explored in the contents. That means the time adverbs which you will use to express the temporal space of your actions.

Now you will express some of your personal achievements or life experiences. To make it more challenging, you will have to use a time adverb in every idea. The length of your audio must be between 45” – 1min. Use at least 10 frequency adverbs and at least 1-time adverb. Remember not to read while you are recording.

Make sure your recording has the characteristics contained in the rubric. Compare your work to the following example. To self assess yourself use the rubrics.

 

Self-assessment

Time Adverbs

It has been a long journey. But, but I am happy to say, you are almost through with this part of the course. To recap, here’s a little activity for you to check your knowledge on this topic.

Based on the information explored, decide on the best option to complete the exercise. This activity will ask you to identify the best time adverb for each sentence. Choose one of the three options given. When you finish, press the check button.

Good Luck!

References

Basic references

BBC Learning English. (n.d). Always or ever? [web page]. Retrieved on 20.05.17 from https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv352.shtml

Complementary

Cambridge dictionary. (n.d.). Cambridge dictionary. Taken from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/adverbs-of-time-and-frequency/already
Crocosaurus cove. (2017). Taken from http://www.crocosauruscove.com/
Curso de inglés. (n.d.). Taken from https://www.curso-ingles.com/aprender/cursos/nivel-intermedio/verb-tenses-future/future-simple
Edge walk. (2017). Taken from https://www.edgewalkcntower.ca/
English grammar on line. (n.d.). English grammar on line. Taken from https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
Flyboard Queenstown. (2016). Taken from http://www.flyboardqt.com/about-us/
Ice Hotel. (n.d.). Taken from https://www.icehotel.com/about-icehotel/
Waitomo Glow worm caves. (2017). Taken from https://www.waitomo.com/Waitomo-Glowworm-Caves/Pages/default.aspx
5 minute English. (2013). Taken from http://www.5minuteenglish.com/may29.htm