Adverbs and Expressions of Time - ESL worksheet by atlantis1971 - Free Printable

Here are the solutions to the grammar exercises.

Part A: Sorting Adverbs and Expressions of Time

To solve this, we look at when the action happens (past, present, future) or how it relates to time (duration, frequency).

1. Simple Present
*Used for habits, routines, and facts.*
* always
* often
* sometimes
* every day
* on Mondays

2. Present Continuous
*Used for actions happening right now or around this time.*
* at the moment
* now
* today (can be used here for temporary actions happening today)

3. Simple Past
*Used for finished actions at a specific time in the past.*
* yesterday
* last year
* in 1819
* seven years ago

4. Present Perfect
*Used for experiences, unfinished time, or actions connecting past to present.*
* already
* just
* never
* ever
* since 1976
* for ages
* for two years

5. Future
*Used for actions that will happen later.*
* tomorrow
* next year
* in three days
* in 20 years (from the sentence list below, though not in the yellow box, it fits here)

*(Note: Some words like "today" can fit in multiple tenses depending on the sentence, but the lists above show the most common associations for these exercises.)*

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Part B: Building Sentences

Here is the step-by-step logic for building each sentence:

1. Pamela / work / in a supermarket ( on Saturdays )
* *Clue:* "on Saturdays" means it is a habit/routine. Use Simple Present.
* *Subject:* Pamela (she) → verb needs 's'.
* *Result:* Pamela works in a supermarket on Saturdays.

2. my friends / see / that film ( already )
* *Clue:* "already" suggests the action is complete relative to now. Use Present Perfect.
* *Subject:* My friends (they) → use "have".
* *Verb:* see → seen.
* *Result:* My friends have already seen that film.

3. Gary and Paul / swim / in the pool ( at the moment )
* *Clue:* "at the moment" means happening right now. Use Present Continuous.
* *Subject:* Gary and Paul (they) → use "are".
* *Verb:* swim → swimming (double the 'm').
* *Result:* Gary and Paul are swimming in the pool at the moment.

4. Richard's father / get up / before 7 o'clock ( always )
* *Clue:* "always" indicates a routine. Use Simple Present.
* *Subject:* Richard's father (he) → verb needs 's'.
* *Result:* Richard's father always gets up before 7 o'clock.

5. we / not / go / to the theatre ( last night )
* *Clue:* "last night" is a finished time in the past. Use Simple Past.
* *Negative:* did not + base verb.
* *Result:* We did not go to the theatre last night.

6. you / visit / Poland ? ( ever )
* *Clue:* "ever" asks about life experience. Use Present Perfect.
* *Structure:* Have + subject + ever + past participle?
* *Verb:* visit → visited.
* *Result:* Have you ever visited Poland?

7. it / not / rain ( tomorrow )
* *Clue:* "tomorrow" is in the future. Use Future Simple (will).
* *Negative:* will not (won't).
* *Result:* It will not rain tomorrow. (Or: It won't rain tomorrow.)

8. Brian and Claire / get married ( ten years ago )
* *Clue:* "ten years ago" is a specific finished time. Use Simple Past.
* *Verb:* get → got.
* *Result:* Brian and Claire got married ten years ago.

9. people / travel / to the moon ( in 20 years )
* *Clue:* "in 20 years" is a prediction about the future. Use Future Simple (will).
* *Result:* People will travel to the moon in 20 years.

10. I / walk / to school ( often )
* *Clue:* "often" indicates frequency/habit. Use Simple Present.
* *Subject:* I → base verb.
* *Result:* I often walk to school.

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Final Answer:

A. Categorization

* Simple Present: always, often, sometimes, every day, on Mondays
* Present Continuous: at the moment, now, today
* Simple Past: yesterday, last year, in 1819, seven years ago
* Present Perfect: already, just, never, ever, since 1976, for ages, for two years
* Future: tomorrow, next year, in three days

B. Sentences

1. Pamela works in a supermarket on Saturdays.
2. My friends have already seen that film.
3. Gary and Paul are swimming in the pool at the moment.
4. Richard's father always gets up before 7 o'clock.
5. We did not go to the theatre last night.
6. Have you ever visited Poland?
7. It will not rain tomorrow.
8. Brian and Claire got married ten years ago.
9. People will travel to the moon in 20 years.
10. I often walk to school.