You’re going out a lot these days.
Do you know if she’s still playing these days?
She’s seeing a lot more of them.
Time adverbials with reference to the present
4.21 You do not normally need to use an additional time adverbial with present forms of verbs, but you can add them in order to emphasize the immediate present or general present, or to contrast the present with the past or future.
They’re getting on quite well at the moment.
We’re safe now.
What’s the matter with you today, Marnie?
I haven’t got a grant this year.
general truths
4.22 If you are using the present simple to talk about something that is always or generally true, you can reinforce or weaken your statement by using an adverb.
Babies normally lose weight in the beginning.
The attitude is usually one of ridicule.
Traditionally, the Japanese prefer good quality clothes.
Here is a list of common adverbs that can be used to modify your statement in this way:
always
generally
mainly
normally
often
traditionally
usually
The use of the present simple to talk about general truths is explained in paragraph 4.10.
regular actions
4.23 When you use the present simple to say that an action takes place regularly, you can use an adverbial of frequency such as often or sometimes to be more specific about how often it happens.
Several groups meet weekly.
I visit her about once every six months.
It seldom rains there.
I never drink alone.
The use of the present simple to talk about regular activities is explained in paragraph 4.11.
More information about adverbials of frequency, including a list of the most common ones, can be found in paragraphs 4.114 to 4.122.
frequent actions
4.24 The present progressive is also used with words like always and forever when you want to emphasize how often the action takes place. This use expresses disapproval or annoyance. The adverb is placed after the auxiliary verb.
You’re always looking for faults.
It’s always raining.
And she’s always talking to him on the telephone.
They are forever being knocked down by cars.
The use of the present progressive to talk about frequent, habitual actions is explained in paragraph 4.20.
time adverbials with present verb forms
4.25 Note that some adverbs that refer to the present time, such as now and today, are also used to express past time. However, there are a few adverbs and other time adverbials that are almost always used with present verb forms.
I’m not planning on having children at present. …the camping craze that is currently sweeping America.
Nowadays fitness is becoming a generally accepted principle of life.
The following is a list of time adverbials that are normally only used with present verb forms:
at present
currently
in this day and age
nowadays
presently
these days
Note that in this list the word presently means now.
The past
4.26 When you are talking about the past, a time adverbial is necessary to specify the particular time in the past you are referring to. The time reference can be established in a previous clause, and the verbs in the following clauses are therefore put in the past tense.
It was very cold that night. Over my head was a gap in the reed matting of the roof.
The house was damaged by fire yesterday. No-one was injured.
Stating a definite time in the past: the past simple
4.27 If you want to say that an event occurred or that something was the case at a particular time in the past, you use the past simple.
The Israeli Prime Minister flew into New York yesterday to start his visit to the US.
Our regular window cleaner went off to Canada last year.
On 1 February 1968 he introduced the Industrial Expansion Bill.
They gave me medication to help me relax.
past situations
4.28 If you want to say that a situation existed over a period of time in the past, you also use the past simple.
He lived in Paris during his last years.
Throughout his life he suffered from epilepsy
4.29 If you are talking about something that happened in the past, and you mention a situation that existed at that time, you use the past simple. You can do this whether or not the situation still exists.
All the streets in this part of Watford looked alike.
About fifty miles from the university there was one of India’s most famous and ancient Hindu temples.
habitual and regular actions
4.30 If you want to talk about an activity that took place regularly or repeatedly in the past, but that no longer occurs, you use the past simple.
We walked a great deal when I was a boy.
Each week we trekked to the big house.
Would and used to can also be used to say that something happened regularly in the past but no longer does so. See paragraphs 5.112 and 5.253 for more information.
Actions in progress in the past: the past progressive
repeated actions
4.31 If you want to focus on action in progress or repeated actions that occurred in the past, you use the past progressive.
Her tooth was aching, her burnt finger was hurting.
He was looking ill.
Everyone was begging the captain to surrender.
I was meeting thousands of people and getting to know no one.
contrasting events
4.32 If you want to contrast a situation with an event that happened just after that situation existed, you use the past progressive to describe the first situation. You then use the past simple to describe and draw attention to the event that occurred after it.
We were all sitting round the fire waiting for my brother to come home. He arrived about six in the evening.
I was waiting angrily on Monday morning when I saw Mrs. Miller.