Time adverbs in French, including common expressions, placement rules, and examples, to help describe when actions take place.
Time adverbs in French are used to indicate when an action occurs, whether in the past, present, future, or as a general statement. These adverbs can specify exact moments, durations, frequencies, or sequences. Understanding their placement and usage is key to expressing time accurately in French.
- Time adverbs can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
- Some time expressions require prepositions, while others stand alone.
- Common categories include adverbs of frequency, duration, sequence, and specific time points.
Common Time Adverbs
Below are some of the most frequently used time adverbs in French, along with examples:
| French Adverb | English Equivalent | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aujourd’hui | today | Je travaille aujourd’hui. | I am working today. |
| demain | tomorrow | Nous partirons demain. | We will leave tomorrow. |
| hier | yesterday | Il est arrivé hier. | He arrived yesterday. |
| maintenant | now | Je mange maintenant. | I am eating now. |
| tout à l’heure | a little while ago / soon | Je l’ai vu tout à l’heure. | I saw him a little while ago. |
| bientôt | soon | Le train arrive bientôt. | The train is arriving soon. |
| déjà | already | Elle a déjà fini. | She has already finished. |
| encore | still / again | Il dort encore. | He is still sleeping. |
| jamais | never | Je ne fume jamais. | I never smoke. |
| toujours | always / still | Il est toujours là. | He is still there. |
Ella ha ___ terminado.
Which French adverb means 'already'?
déjà
'Déjà' means 'already' in French. 'Encore' means 'still' or 'again', 'bientôt' means 'soon', and 'jamais' means 'never'.
Time Expressions
These are common expressions that include adverbs or other time-related words:
| French Expression | English Equivalent | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ce matin / cet après-midi / ce soir | this morning / this afternoon / this evening | Je sortirai ce soir. | I will go out this evening. |
| la semaine dernière / prochaine | last / next week | J’ai voyagé la semaine dernière. | I traveled last week. |
| il y a … (temps) | … ago | Il y a deux jours, j’étais malade. | Two days ago, I was sick. |
| dans … (temps) | in … (time) | Je partirai dans une heure. | I will leave in an hour. |
| depuis … (temps) | since / for … | J’étudie le français depuis un an. | I have been studying French for a year. |
Placement Rules
Time adverbs in French usually follow these placement guidelines:
- At the beginning of the sentence: to set the time context.
- After the verb: especially with simple tenses.
- Between auxiliary and past participle: in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé).
- At the end of the sentence: for emphasis or clarity.
Examples of Placement
| Placement | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of sentence | Demain, je partirai tôt. | Tomorrow, I will leave early. |
| After verb (simple tense) | Je mange maintenant. | I am eating now. |
| Between auxiliary and past participle | J’ai déjà fini. | I have already finished. |
| End of sentence | Je finirai mes devoirs ce soir. | I will finish my homework tonight. |
Special Cases
- ne … jamais and other negative time adverbs surround the verb: Je ne fume jamais.
- Some adverbs require prepositions: depuis, il y a, dans.
- “Tout à l’heure” can mean either “a little while ago” or “soon,” depending on context.
Understanding these rules will help you use French time adverbs naturally and accurately.
Which preposition is used with 'depuis' when indicating duration?
depuis + period of time
'Depuis' is followed by a time period to indicate duration (e.g., depuis un an).
Flashcards (1 of 19)
- English Equivalent: today
- English Example: I am working today.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
