Time adverbs in English are words that express when an action takes place, indicating past, present, or future timing. This guide explains their usage and common examples.
Time adverbs are words that describe when something happens. They help us place actions in the past, present, or future. Understanding these adverbs is essential for clear and accurate communication.
How Time Adverbs Work
- Time adverbs answer the question "When?"
- They can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
- They do not change form (no singular/plural or tense).
Where can time adverbs be placed in a sentence?
beginning, middle, or end
Time adverbs can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, though some positions are more natural than others.
Common Time Adverbs
| Time Adverb | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday | I went to the store yesterday. | the day before today |
| today | I am working today. | the present day |
| tomorrow | We will travel tomorrow. | the day after today |
| now | She is eating now. | at this moment |
| then | Finish your work, then you can play. | at that time |
| soon | The train will arrive soon. | in a short time |
| already | I have already eaten. | before now |
| yet | Have you finished yet? | up to now (usually in questions/negatives) |
| recently | I saw him recently. | a short time ago |
| lately | I haven’t slept well lately. | in the recent past |
| eventually | She eventually passed the exam. | after some time or delay |
Ya he comido ___.
Which English adverb means 'antes de ahora'?
already
'Already' means 'antes de ahora' (before now), indicating the action is completed.
️ Sentence Position
- Beginning: *Yesterday, I went to the park.
- Middle: I yesterday went to the park. (less common)
- End: *I went to the park yesterday.
Starting a sentence with a time adverb or placing it at the end is most natural. The middle position is possible but less common.
️ More Examples
| Time Adverb | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday | We watched a movie yesterday. | the day before today |
| today | I have a meeting today. | the present day |
| tomorrow | She will call you tomorrow. | the day after today |
| now | Please do your homework now. | at this moment |
| then | I was tired then. | at that time |
| soon | The game will start soon. | in a short time |
| already | They have already left. | before now |
| yet | I haven't eaten yet. | up to now (negative/question) |
| recently | He moved here recently. | a short time ago |
| lately | I’ve been busy lately. | in the recent past |
| eventually | Eventually, we found the solution. | after some time or delay |
Tips
- Use yet mainly in questions and negatives: Have you finished yet? / *I haven’t finished yet.
- Use already in positive sentences to mean “before now”: *She’s already gone.
- Recently and lately refer to a short time before now. “Recently” is more formal; “lately” is more common in speech.
- Eventually implies something took time or was delayed: *They eventually agreed.
Summary
Time adverbs tell us when* an action happens.
Use them at the beginning or end of a sentence for natural flow.
Be careful with yet (questions/negatives) and already (positive sentences).
Now you can talk about time with confidence!
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
