Yesterday or Today?
Last week or this week? Yesterday or nowadays? Time expressions pick their tense — learn which ones travel with the past and which stay in the present.
Past vs Present Time Words
Every time word has a team
Time expressions are loyal: past words (yesterday, last week, ago) only pair with past tenses, present words (now, today, these days) only with present tenses. Mixing teams sounds wrong — because it is.
The past team
yesterday · last week · two days agoWe watched a movie last night
The present team
now · today · these days · nowadaysShe is very busy nowadays
Ago always looks back
ago + past tense, alwaysI moved here two years ago
Never mix teams
past word + past verbI saw him yesterday
⚠️ Yesterday asks for a past verb. Nowadays asks for a present verb.
The Formula
The expression, the tense, the match
The time expression usually sits at the end of the sentence, and the verb shape answers to it: a past expression pulls the verb into the past, a present expression keeps it in the present.
Wewatcheda movielast night
Sheworksfrom homethese days
Common Mistakes
Four team-switching slips
The classic error is dressing a past sentence in present verbs, or the other way around. Spot the time word first — then the verb becomes obvious.
I am going to the gym yesterday.
I went to the gym yesterday.
💡 Yesterday is past — the verb must be past too.
She visited her parents nowadays.
She visits her parents nowadays.
💡 Nowadays is present — keep the present tense.
I live in Paris two years ago.
I lived in Paris two years ago.
💡 Ago always looks back: past tense with it.
Last week I buy new shoes.
Last week I bought new shoes.
💡 Last week is a past marker — buy becomes bought.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
We ___ to the beach yesterday.
💡 Extra info2 sections
The Two Teams
Know the words, choose the tense
Memorize the teams and the tense choice becomes automatic. These are the most common players on each side.
One Word, Two Teams
Today plays for both sides
Today is the friendly rebel: it works with the present (I feel great today) and with the past (I woke up early today). The verb tells you which one is happening.
Today + present
how things are right nowI feel great today
Today + past
what already happened todayI woke up early today
⚠️ Same word, two tenses — let the verb pick the meaning.