Use of Time Expressions

Time expressions are often the key to understanding and planning written work. Students can improve their written and spoken accuracy by having a good grasp of the relationship between time expressions and tenses. This lesson includes an identification and matching exercise and is followed by a longer sentence construction exercise to give students practice in correct sentence structure.

Aim: Increased awareness and/or review of relationship between time expressions and tenses

Activity: Identification and matching exercise, followed by sentence completion

Level: Intermediate to Upper Intermediate

Outline:

• Write a number of time expressions on the board and ask students to identify which tenses can be used with the various time expressions.
• Shortly review the more difficult time expressions with the class.
• Distribute worksheet.
• Have students work together in small groups to complete the first exercise.
• Correct the exercise in class, making sure to review problem areas.
• Have students complete the written work by themselves.
• Ask students to exchange the exercise and check each other's work - this helps students further inductively improve their skills by seeing how other students have used the time expressions.
• Finish with a follow up discussion of any problematic areas.
• Have students write an autobiography or biography of a famous person employing the time expressions employed in the lesson.

Draw a line to the time expression with the sentence fragment. Complete by drawing a line to the correct tense identification.

• ...when I was younger.
• ...for many years.
• ...this time next week.
• ...at(on) weekends.
• After he finishes his homework,...
• By the time you receive this letter,...
• ...three years ago.
• ...this week.
• ...since 1996.
• ...while I was watching TV.
• ...next year.
• ...yet.
• ...yet?
• Usually,...
• ...in June.

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