Time adverbs situate an action in time, indicate its duration, its frequency or its origin in the past and the present. They complement the verb, the verbal group or sometimes the entire sentence, like the other types of Adverbs. In common usage, they allow expressing a precise moment, a period, a starting point or a repetition, with values that are clearly distinct from Adverbs of Manner and Adverbs of Frequency.

Today, yesterday and tomorrow designate a point in time. They serve to place the action relative to the moment of speech or to a contextual reference point. Today retains a fixed form inherited from its history, and these adverbs are invariable regardless of person or number.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Aujourd’hui indique le jour présent.Today indicates the present day.	Aujourd’hui, je pars tôt.Today, I leave early.
Hier indique le jour précédent.Yesterday indicates the previous day.	Hier, nous avons travaillé tard.Yesterday, we worked late.
Demain indique le jour suivant.Tomorrow indicates the following day.	Demain, elle téléphonera à Paul.Tomorrow, she will call Paul.

During and throughout express a duration limited within a time frame. Since and since that indicate that a situation begins in the past and continues up to the present, which brings them closer to a value of continuous duration. There is + duration looks back to the past from the present and marks a completed event.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Pendant introduit une durée complète.During introduces a complete duration.	J’ai dormi pendant deux heures.I slept for two hours.
Depuis indique un point de départ encore actuel.Since indicates a starting point that is still current.	J’habite ici depuis 2010.I have lived here since 2010.
Il y a indique une durée écoulée.Ago indicates a duration that has elapsed.	Il est parti il y a deux jours.He left two days ago.

Always, often, sometimes and rarely express the frequency of an action and remain invariable. Soon, shortly and in announce a future moment more or less near. These adverbs combine easily with adverbs of frequency and more precise time adverbs to organize the chronology of a narrative.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Toujours exprime une répétition constante.Always expresses a constant repetition.	Elle est toujours ponctuelle.She is always punctual.
Souvent indique une fréquence élevée.Often indicates a high frequency.	Nous lisons souvent le soir.We read often in the evening.
Bientôt annonce un futur proche.Soon announces a near future.	Le film commence bientôt.The movie starts soon.

The short adverb is often placed right after the verb, while a longer adverb comes after the verbal group. In compound tenses, short adverbs such as déjà, bien or souvent are usually placed between the auxiliary and the past participle. In spoken language, the order can be more flexible, especially in informal style.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
L’adverbe court suit souvent le verbe.The short adverb often follows the verb.	Elle chante bien.She sings well.
L’adverbe long suit souvent le groupe verbal.The long adverb often follows the verbal group.	Il a parlé avec calme.He spoke calmly.
En temps composés, certains adverbes se placent entre l’auxiliaire et le participe passé.In compound tenses, some adverbs are placed between the auxiliary and the past participle.	Il a déjà fini.He has already finished.

A time adverb can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to organize the narrative or mark a change of reference. It is then often followed by a comma. This position is very common with yesterday, today, tomorrow or soon, especially in a written style.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
L’adverbe initial ouvre le cadre temporel.The initial adverb opens the temporal frame.	Hier, j’ai vu Paul.Yesterday, I saw Paul.
Une virgule suit souvent l’adverbe en tête de phrase.A comma often follows the adverb at the head of the sentence.	Demain, nous partirons tôt.Tomorrow, we will depart early.
Cette position donne un repère immédiat au lecteur.This position gives an immediate reference point to the reader.	Bientôt, la ville changera.Soon, the city will change.

With ne...pas or ne...plus, the time adverb keeps its logical place in the sentence and can modify the overall meaning. Encore can mean a continuation with ne...pas encore, or a repetition with encore in an affirmative sentence. Déjà can express anteriority, achievement or surprise depending on the tense and the position.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Pas encore indique qu’une action n’est pas accomplie.Not yet indicates that an action is not yet accomplished.	Il n’est pas encore arrivé.It has not arrived yet.
Encore indique la continuation.Encore indicates continuation.	Elle travaille encore.She is still working.
Déjà indique qu’une action est accomplie plus tôt que prévu.Already indicates that an action is accomplished earlier than expected.	Nous avons déjà mangé.We have already eaten.

Since, during and il y a are not interchangeable, as they do not present time from the same viewpoint. Since opens onto a duration that continues, during encloses a past or bounded duration, and there is places a completed fact in the past. Spoken French often allows more flexibility in the placement of these adverbs, and certain constructions vary slightly by region, notably between France and Quebec.

RégionRegion	Mot ou expressionWord or expression	Définition régionaleRegional definition	ExempleExample
FranceFrance	BientôtSoon	Annonce un futur proche dans un registre courant.Announces a near future in a common register.	Bientôt, on commence.Soon, we start.
QuébecQuébec	TantôtIn a little while	Peut signifier bientôt ou tout à l’heure selon le contexte.Can mean soon or a little while from now depending on the context.	Tantôt, je reviens.In a little while, I’ll be back.
FrancophonieFrancophonie	Tout à l’heureA moment ago / in a moment depending on context	Désigne un moment proche dans le passé ou dans le futur selon le contexte.Designates a moment close in the past or in the future depending on the context.	Tout à l’heure, j’ai appelé.A moment ago, I called.

Time adverbs organize the sentence around the moment, the duration, the frequency and the starting point. Their form does not vary with the person, and their placement depends mainly on their length, the verb tense and the intended effect. Mastering today, yesterday, tomorrow, during, since and ago allows distinguishing precisely the completed past, the ongoing duration and the projection toward the future.