How to express past and present changes

How to express a contrast between past and present of our lives?

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First, you should know that we use certain words to express comparisons between the past and present. Here, there are some examples: for example:

Before I was fat and now I am slim. Some years ago I was in the school and nowadays I am in the university.

What happens with the words in red?

Those words are known as time expressions.

You can use these for actions in the present:at the moment, now, right now, today, these days, this year...

You can use these for actions in the past:When I was a child, some years ago, last year, a long time ago, in 2005...

What other things can I express to contrast present and past changes?

You can compare: roles, work, physical characteristics, things that you possessed and now you don’t, things you used to do but now you don’t. For example:

• When Hector was a child he practiced basketball, now he is an adult and he doesn’t practice any sport.
• Last year I was a university student, nowadays, I am a teacher.
• Before Danna worked in a factory, now she works in a bank.
• Some years ago Christian had a motorbike, nowadays he has got a car.
• Julian used to eat many candies, but now he doesn’t.