Download Signal Words – Present Simple

Signal Words – Present Simple
often
usually
sometimes
always
never*
seldom
normally
every day/month etc
occasionally
* can also be a signal word for present perfect when talking about life experiences e.g. I have
never been to Paris.
Copyright © October 2011 Joanne Chapman
www.speak-sprachschule.de
Signal Words – Present Continuous
just*
just now
now
at the moment
right now
currently
at present
* can also be a signal word for present perfect when talking about something which was
recently finished but with a present result e.g. I have just finished the report, here it is.
Copyright © October 2011 Joanne Chapman
www.speak-sprachschule.de
Signal Words – Past Simple
yesterday
2 weeks ago
in 1990
the other day
the day before yesterday
last week/month etc
Copyright © October 2011 Joanne Chapman
www.speak-sprachschule.de
Signal Words – Present Perfect
just*
already**
since
till now
up to now
so far
not yet
ever
never***
this morning/week etc
* can also be a signal word for the past perfect e.g. I had just left the house when the
telephone rang.
** can also be a signal for past perfect e.g. I had already left the house when the telephone
rang.
***can also be a signal word for present simple when talking about routines e.g. I never
drink coffee in the afternoon.
Copyright © October 2011 Joanne Chapman
www.speak-sprachschule.de
Exercises 1
Choose 3 signal words from each page and write an example sentence for each one, being
careful to use the correct verb tenses.
Exercise 2
Look at the signal words again and compare them to the verb tense rules. Can you explain
why these words are related to those verb tenses?
Exercise 3
Write a short text about the following:
- what you studied at university/what profession you learnt
- what job you are doing at the moment
- how long you have been doing that
Make sure you think carefully about the verb tenses.
Exercise 4
Write a short text/story using all of the following signal words:
- just
- currently
- sometimes
- so far
- last week/month/year
Make sure you think carefully about the verb tenses.
Copyright © October 2011 Joanne Chapman
www.speak-sprachschule.de