How to Talk About Past & Future Events in English

⏳ Are you confused about how to talk about time in English? Maybe you’re not sure when to use “ago,” “last week,” “in the next year,” or “three weeks from now.” This episode explains the phrases native speakers use when they describe events in the past or the future.

We walk through everyday examples so you can understand when to say last summer, this Friday, or within the next month. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident expressing time clearly and naturally in conversation. A great listening practice episode for ESL and EFL learners who want to sound fluent and accurate when talking about life events.

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Demarcate: To set the boundaries or limits of; separate or distinguish.

2) Clarify: To make (a statement or situation) less confused and more comprehensible.

3) Decade: A period of ten years.

4) Century: A period of one hundred years.

5) Millennium: A period of one thousand years.

Talking about the Past

• yesterday - the day before today
• a go - used with numbers of days, weeks, months, etc. to indicate how long ago something happened (e.g., three weeks ago)
• this past - refers to a recent time period (e.g., this past week)
• last - used with specific days of the week, months, seasons, holidays, or years (e.g., last Friday, last month)
• in the last - used for longer periods in the past, often when something started in the past and continues to the present (e.g., In the last 20 years, technology has changed rapidly)

Talking about the Future

• this - refers to the current week, month, season, or year (e.g., This Friday, I'm going to the movies)
• next - refers to the following week, month, or year (e.g., Next summer, we're planning a trip to Europe)
• in/within - used with "the next" for a general timeframe in the future (e.g., In the next few days, I'll call my mom)
• from now - used with a number and a unit of time (e.g., Three weeks from now, we're moving)