Time Adverbs in FrenchA2

Time adverbs place an action in time. Aujourd’hui the place in the present day, hier the place in the past day, demain the place in the next day. In a sentence like I work today, the action is linked to the current moment. With yesterday, we look back: I arrived yesterday. With tomorrow, we look to the future: We leave tomorrow. Without this adverb, the sentence only says the action, not its moment.

Situate an action in time

Usage	Explanation
Present	We use today to talk about the current day.
Recent past	We use yesterday to talk about the previous day.
Near future	We use tomorrow to talk about the next day.

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Before, after and then organize several actions in time. Before indicates that an action comes earlier than another: 'I tidy up before leaving'. After places an action later: 'We will go to the cafe after the movie'. Then adds the next step in a narrative or instruction: 'I take my keys, then I close the door'. These words help to follow the order of events without repeating dates in every sentence.

Show the sequence of events

Usage	Explanation
Antériorité	We use before to place an action earlier than another.
Postériorité	We use after to place an action later than another.
Suite immédiate	We use then to show that an action comes right after the previous one.

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To tell a sequence of actions, 'then' marks the continuity between two steps. 'So' often shows that an action follows from the previous: 'It was cold, so we went home.' 'Finally' announces the last step of a series: 'I get ready, I take the bus, finally I arrive at work'. In a narrative, these adverbs give a clear progression. They are often placed at the beginning of the sentence or after a pause, especially when you want to emphasize the sequence.

Link the steps of a narrative

Usage	Explanation
Add a step	We use then to add an action in the continuation of the story.
Immediate consequence	We use then to show that an action follows another.
Closure of the story	We use finally to announce the last step of a story.

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Already, again and always express duration or repetition. Already indicates that an action is completed earlier than planned or earlier than expected: 'You are already ready'. Again shows that an action continues or restarts: 'It is still raining' or 'She still wants another coffee'. Always expresses uninterrupted continuity: 'We still live here'. These adverbs modify the meaning of the verb without changing its form.

Talking about an action that continues

Usage	Explanation
Action already completed	We use already to say that an action happened before the expected moment.
Action that continues	We use still to say that an action is not finished or repeats.
Default duration	We use always to say that an action or a state continues without change.

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Soon speaks of a near future moment. It announces an action that will happen in a short time: 'The train is arriving soon'. 'Just now' can refer to a recent past or near future depending on the context. With the past, it means an action happened a little while ago: 'I saw you just now'. With the future, it means an action will take place in a moment: 'I am coming in a moment'. The context of the sentence suffices to clarify the meaning.

Distinguish near time

Usage	Explanation
Near future	We use soon to talk about an event that will happen in a short time.
Recent past	We use just now to talk about a moment past or very near future depending on context.

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From now on and henceforth announce a new rule of life or a new habit valid from the present. They indicate that a situation has changed and that the change continues in time: 'From now on, I take the metro'; 'From now on, meetings begin at nine o'clock'. They are used when a decision or a new organization replaces the old. They are often placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the change.

_mark a new habit

Usage	Explanation
From now on	We use from now on to announce a new situation that starts now.
New norm	We use henceforth to talk about a rule or habit valid from now.

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Sometimes, often and rarely indicate how frequently an action occurs. Sometimes marks an irregular frequency: 'I go to the museum sometimes'. Often shows that an action repeats frequently: 'She often reads in the evening'. Rarely means that the action happens little: 'We rarely go out on weekdays'. These adverbs answer the question of the usual rhythm and specify whether the action is occasional, frequent, or infrequent.

Express the frequency of an action

Usage	Explanation
Occasional	We use sometimes to say an action occurs from time to time.
Habitual	We use often to say an action occurs frequently.
Rare	We use rarely to say an action occurs infrequently.

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A time adverb is often placed at the end of the sentence, especially when it specifies the moment of the action: 'I’m leaving tomorrow', 'We dined yesterday'. It can also appear at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the temporal reference: 'Tomorrow, I leave early'. When several adverbs are possible, the strongest for organizing the narrative often comes at the beginning, as in 'Then, we walked for a long time'. This position at the start puts time at the head of the sentence and guides the reading of the event.

Typical position of temporal adverbs

Idea
We often place the time adverb after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
Some time adverbs can be placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize them.

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