2. Signal words

The first thing that will help you choose which tense you should choose is signal words. Some signal words will demand a certain tense. Here is a basic table.

PAST

PRESENT

Simple

Any signal word that indicates the date when something happened and it is completed/over:

  • last Monday / week / month / year...
  • ... ago
  • in (+year / + month …)
  • Yesterday
  • for ...

Any signal word that indicates a frequency or a recurrent event:

  • every day
  • sometimes
  • always
  • often
  • usually
  • seldom
  • never
  • first ... then

Be + ing

Any signal word that shows an ongoing action (in the past):

  • While
  • As

Any signal word that shows an ongoing action (action happening at the moment of speaking)

  • now
  • at the moment
  • Look!
  • Listen!

Perfect

Any signal word that indicates a link between the past and the present:

  • just
  • yet
  • never
  • ever
  • already
  • so far
  • up to now
  • since
  • for
  • recently

Perfect be + ing

Any signal word that focuses on the duration of an action:

  • all day
  • the whole day
  • how long
  • since
  • for