Timing by adjuncts

Timing by adjuncts

69 In many statements, it is the adjunct rather than the tense of the verb which carries the time reference. For this reason, many adjuncts can be used with more than one set of tenses, because they refer to time and not to tense.

For example, a common use is to put adjuncts which normally refer to future time with the present tense when it is used to refer to future actions, including habitual actions. They can also be used with references to the future that are made in the past.

West Germany celebrates its fortieth birthday tomorrow.

After all, you're coming back next week.

The farmer just laughed and rode away. So the next week I tried my luck at another farm.

We arranged to meet in three week's time.

The adjuncts 'now', 'today', 'tonight' and those involving 'this' refer to a period of time which includes the present moment. They are used fairly commonly with all tenses. This is because an event can be located before, during, or after the time specified by the tense of the verb.

I was now in a Scottish regiment.

Your boss will now have no alternative but to go to his superiors and explain the situation.

One of my children wrote to me today.

I will ski no more today.

It's dark today.

'I went to the doctor this morning,' she said.

He won't be able to fight this Friday.

I'm doing my ironing this afternoon.

70 If you want to refer to a period of time in relation to another period of time, or in relation to an event, you use an adjunct. For example, you can use an adverb such as 'soon' or 'later' to refer to time which follows a particular event or period of time, and you can use an adverb such as 'beforehand' or 'earlier' to refer to time which preceded a particular period of time or an event.

Sita was delighted with the house and soon began to look upon it as home.

It'll have to be replaced soon.

He later settled in Peddie, a small town near Grahamstown.

I'll explain later.

I was very nervous beforehand.

You'll be having a bath and going to the hairdresser's beforehand.

She had seen him only five hours earlier.

This type of time reference is common with past and future tenses. It is sometimes used with present tenses when they are used to refer to past, future, or habitual actions.

We don't clean out beforehand because it only gets any again.

I remember the next day at school going round asking the boys if they'd ever seen a ghost.

But afterwards, as you read on, you relate back to it.

Here is a list of adjuncts which are used to refer to time in a relative way:

Note that in this list 'presently' means 'soon'.

You can use 'early' to indicate that something happens before the expected or planned time, and 'late' to indicate that it happens after that time. 'On time', and 'punctually' are used to say indicate that southing happens at the planned time.

These adverbs come after the verb and at the end of the clause.

Tired out, he had gone to bed early.

I arrived at Paddington early and had a first-class compartment to myself.

He had come to the political arena late, at the age of 62.

We went quite late in the afternoon.

If Atkinson phoned on time, he'd be out of the house in well under an hour.

He arrived punctually.

With 'early' and 'late' you can also use the comparative forms 'earlier' and 'later'.

I woke earlier than usual.

Later, the dealer saw that it had been sold.

Note that 'early', 'late', and 'on time' are also used as complements.

The door bell rang. Barbara was appalled, 'They are early.'

The Paris train was slightly late.

What time is it now? This bus is usually on time.

For more information on complements, see paragraph 3.128.

71 You can also specify a time by relating it to an event, using a qualifying expression or a relative clause after the time expression.

I didn't sleep well the night before the prosecution.

I called him the day I got back.

72 You can also use some prepositions to relate events to each other, or to particular periods of time. These prepositions are listed in paragraph 99, and there is a full explanation in paragraphs 102 to 107.

Over the Bank Holiday, Mr Palumbo spent time relaxing at his estate.

A British paratrooper returns to a gloomy tower block in the East End after active service in the Falklands.

73 If you want to refer to a 'necessary time', beyond which an event will no longer be relevant, useful, or successful, you can use 'in time' as an adjunct or a complement.

I would have to do some fast hiking over the hills to reach the rendezvous in time.

He leapt back, in time to dodge the lashing hooves.

If something happens before the necessary time, you can use 'too early', and if it happens after the necessary time, you can use 'too late'. 'Too early' and 'too late' may be used as adjuncts or as complements.

Today they hear too much about sex too early.

It's much too early to assess the community service scheme.

They arrived too late for the information to be any good.

It's too late to change that now.

74 If the time you are referring to in the past of future has already been mentioned, you can use the adverb 'then'.

We kept three monkeys then.

We were all so patriotic then.

It'll be too late then.

To be more specific, you can use 'that' with the name of a day, month, season, and so on, of with a general time word.

William didn't come in that Tuesday.

So many people will be pursing other activities that night.

Emphasizing the unexpected: continuing, stopping, or not happening

75 If you want to comment on the existence of the relationship between past, present, and future situation, you can use one of the following adjuncts:

76 If you want to say that a situation exists up to the present time, you use 'still'. If you are using 'be' as a main verb or an auxiliary verb, you put 'still' after 'be' or the auxiliary. If you are using any simple verb except 'be' you put 'still' in front of the verb. 'Still' often suggests that the continuation of me situation is surprising or undesirable.

It's a marvel that I'm still alive to tell the tale.

Male prejudice still exists in certain quarters.

Years had passed and they were still paying them off.

In negative statements which use the 'n't' contraction, 'still' is placed in front of 'be' or the auxiliary.

We've been working on it for over two years now. And it still isn't finished.

We still don't know where we're going.

'still' for expected situations 77 You can also use 'still' in front of a 'to'-infinitive to say that something has not happened yet, although it is expected to, or you feel that it should.

The Government had still to agree on the provisions of the bill.

The problems were still to come.

There are many other questions still to be answered.

'Still' is not used in negative statements in this way; see paragraph 78 for a similar use of 'yet'.

'yet' for expected situations 78 If you want to indicate that something has not happened up to the present time, but is likely to happen in the future, you use 'yet' with a negative. 'Yet' usually comes at the end of a sentence.

We don't know the terms yet.

I haven't set any work yet. I suppose I shall some day.

They haven't heard yet.

If you want to sound more emphatic, you can put 'yet' before a simple verb or after the auxiliary and negative word.

No one yet knows exactly what it means.

Her style had not yet matured.

'Yet' can also be used in questions, where it is usually put at the end of the clause.

Was the Colonel waved his paper yet?

Has Mr. Harris not come yet?

79 You can also use 'yet' in affirmative statements to say that something that is expected has not happened up to the present time. In this case, 'yet' is followed by a 'to'-infinitive clause.

The true history of art in post-war America is yet to be written.

He had yet to attempt to put principles into practice.

80 'Yet' is also used in affirmative statements with superlatives to indicate that the statement apples up to the present, but may not apply in the future. 'Yet' normally comes at the end of the clause.

This is the best museum we've visited yet.

Mr. Fowler said that February had produced the best results yet.

This would be the biggest and best version yet.

likely change 81 If you want to say that a situation which has existed up to the present time may change in the future, you can use 'as yet', 'so far', 'up to now', or 'up till now'. They are normally placed either at the beginning or the end of the clause. They are also occasionally placed after an auxiliary verb.

As yet, there is little to suggest that the Prince is an exception in this.

Only Mother knows as yet.

So far, the terms of the treaty have been carried out according to schedule.

You've done well so far, Mrs Rutland.

Up till now, the most extraordinary remark I remember was made by you.

This troop had up to now succeeded in preventing the movement of any but light forces across the River Lippe.

You haven't once up till now come into real contact with our authorities.

Note that these expressions can be used in affirmative and negative statements.

82 If you want to say that a past situation does not exist in the present, you can use 'no longer', or a negative with 'any longer' or 'any more'.

She was no longer content with a handful of coins.

They didn't know any longer what was funny and what was entertaining.

They don't live together any more.

83 If you want to emphasize that a situation exists, rather than not yet having occurred, you use 'already'. It is usually put in front of any simple verb except 'be', or after 'be' as a main verb, or following an auxiliary verb.

The energy already exists in the ground.

Senegal already has a well established film industry.

He was just a year younger than Rudolph, but was already as tall and much stockier.

My watch says nine o'clock. And it's already too hot to sleep.

We have already advertised your post in the papers.

Britain is already exporting a little coal.

You can put 'already' at the beginning or the end of the clause for emphasis.

Already, European consumers pay over the odds for TV, sets, video recorders, and other goods.

I was happy for her; she looked better already.

'Already' is not often used with the simple past tense, except with the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'know'.

Note that 'already' cannot normally be used in negative statements, but can be used in negative 'if'-clauses, negative questions, and relative clauses.

Refer certain types of death to the coroner if this has not already been done.

What does it show us that we haven't already felt?

all peers who did not already belong to the Privy Council.