Adverbs of time in English

Adverbs of time tell us when an action happens or when a situation is true. They can refer to the past, present or future, and can describe an exact time, a general period or the relationship between one time and another. Common examples include yesterday, now, recently, nowadays, soon, already, still and yet. Other adverbial phrases can also act as adverbs of time, including every day, last week, and at three o’clock.

Adverbs of definite time

Adverbs of definite time identify a particular time or period when an action or situation happens. Common definite time expressions include:

Current periods – past, present or future depending on the context

• today, tonight, this morning, this afternoon, this evening
• this week, this month, this year

Present

• now, right now, at the moment

Past

• yesterday, yesterday morning, yesterday afternoon, etc.
• last night, last week, last month, last year, etc.
• two hours ago, three days ago, six months ago, etc.

Future

• tomorrow, tomorrow morning, tomorrow evening, etc.
• next week, next month, next year, etc.
• in two hours, in three days, in six months, etc.

Past, present or future depending on the context

• at 3pm, at midday, at midnight, etc. (specific times)
• on Monday, on June 1st, on Christmas Day, etc. (days and dates)
• in April, in 2026, in the 21st century, etc. (months, years and periods)

Adverbs of definite time placement

Adverbs of definite time appear in the end position if the time is not being emphasised:

• It’s his birthday today.
• We visited Paris last year.
• John will arrive tomorrow.
• I’ll meet you at 6pm.

We can also place adverbs of definite time in the front position, which gives the time greater emphasis or focus. Separating the time expression with a comma creates a slight pause and gives it a little more prominence. Without a comma, the time expression becomes part of the natural flow of the sentence. Longer time expressions should be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma to make the sentence easier to read:

• Now we’re going to watch a video.
• Tomorrow, we need to leave early.
• Next year the business will do much better.
• At 11 o’clock on November 11^th in 1918, the First World War ended.

Adverbs of indefinite time

Adverbs of indefinite time tell us when something happens without identifying a particular time. Unlike adverbs of definite time, their position depends on the individual adverb:

Already, still and yet

Already, still and yet all relate an action or situation to a point in time, but they have different meanings and positions.

Already means that something has happened before a particular time or earlier than expected. It normally appears in the mid position:

• I’ve already eaten.
• She already knows the answer.
• They had already left when we arrived.
• Didn’t John already speak to the customer?

It can also appear in the end position for extra emphasis, especially when something happened earlier than expected or to express annoyance:

• Have you finished already?
• I told you already!

Still means that a situation continues and has not changed. It goes in the mid position:

• She is still asleep.
• They are still waiting.
• He still works for the same company.
• She still remembers him.

With negative verbs, still emphasises that an expected change has not happened and goes before the negative auxiliary:

• I still haven’t received the email.
• She still doesn’t understand.

Yet means up to a particular time and is mainly used in questions and negative sentences. It normally appears in the end position:

• Have you finished yet?
• Has the bus arrived yet?
• I haven’t finished yet.
• They don’t know yet.

Compare:

• She has already arrived. (the action happened before)
• She is still here. (the situation continues)
• She hasn’t arrived yet. (the action is expected to happen, but has not happened)

Just, recently and lately

Just, recently and lately all refer to the recent past, but they are used differently.

Just means a single event happened a very short time ago in the immediate past and is placed in the mid position:

• She has just arrived.
• I’ve just been talking to Sarah.
• We just got on the bus.
• I just sent you the email.

Recently refers to an event or situation that happened a short time ago or during the recent past, but not in the immediate past like just. It can appear in the front, mid or end position:

• I recently changed jobs.
• Recently, I’ve been sleeping much better.
• She recently bought a new car.
• Have you spoken to him recently?

Lately means during the recent period up to now and is especially common for situations or actions that have continued or happened repeatedly during that period. It most commonly appears in the end position, but can also appear in the front position:

• I’ve been feeling tired lately.
• Lately, there have been a lot of robberies in this area.
• She hasn’t been going out much lately.
• Have you seen Phil lately?

Compare:

• I just bought a new laptop. (one event in the immediate past)
• I recently bought a new laptop. (one event in the recent past)
• I’ve been using my laptop a lot lately. (something happening repeatedly during the recent period)

Today, these days and nowadays to talk about the present

These days, today and nowadays all refer to the present, and all three are commonly used when comparing the present with the past. However, they have different focuses and wider uses.

These days means during the current period around now. It can simply describe a current situation, habit or trend, or it can suggest that the situation is different from how it was in the past. These days most naturally appears in the front or end position:

• It’s been raining a lot these days. (current period)
• These days, I’m working from home a lot. (current situation)
• It’s not safe to go out these days. (suggested comparison with the past)
• People seem much less patient these days. (suggested comparison with the past)

These days can also appear directly after a noun or noun phrase subject, especially when making general statements about people or things in the current period. It does not appear directly after a personal pronoun:

• People these days spend a lot of time online.
• Cars these days produce far fewer emissions.
• ❌ They these days prefer to stay at home.

Today can mean in the present age or modern period, not only on the current day. In this meaning, it can simply describe something that is generally true in the modern world, or it can suggest a comparison with the past. Today most naturally appears in the front or end position:

• Today, almost everyone has a smartphone. (present-day situation)
• Working life is very different today. (suggested comparison with the past)
• Today, about 7% of global energy comes from renewable sources. (present-day situation)
• Anyone can be internet famous today. (present-day situation)

It can also appear directly after a noun or noun phrase subject, especially when making general statements about people, organisations or things in the modern world. It does not appear directly after a personal pronoun:

• Workers today have access to powerful AI tools. (present-day situation)
• Young people today have access to more information. (suggested comparison with the past)
• ❌ They today have access to enormous amounts of information.

Nowadays means at the present time in contrast with the past. Unlike these days and today, the comparison with the past is part of its meaning. Nowadays most naturally appears in the front or end position:

• Nowadays, most people book flights online.
• People use cash much less nowadays.
• Many people work from home nowadays.
• Nowadays, everyone is using AI.

Nowadays can also appear directly after a noun or noun phrase subject, especially when making general statements about how people or things are different in the present compared with the past. It does not appear directly after a personal pronoun:

• People nowadays expect information immediately.
• Businesses nowadays rely heavily on digital technology.
• ❌ They nowadays rely heavily on digital technology.

Summary:

• these days = the current period around now; possibly implying a change from the past
• today = the modern age or present period; possibly implying a change from the past
• nowadays = the present specifically contrasted with the past

Finally and eventually

Finally and eventually both refer to something happening after a period of time, but they focus on that time period slightly differently.

Finally emphasises a long wait and often conveys relief or happiness that the wait ended, or annoyance or irritation that it took so long. It usually appears in the front or mid position:

• The bus finally arrived.
• Finally, the band came onto the stage.
• She finally finished the report.
• Finally, we reached the hotel.

Eventually means in the end, and emphasises delays, difficulties or problems encountered before reaching that stage. It can appear in the front, mid or end position:

• They eventually found a solution.
• All the products were sold eventually.
• She eventually became the company’s CEO.
• Eventually, the rain stopped.

Compare:

• The food was finally served. (suggests the wait was longer than desired)
• The food was eventually served. (suggests difficulties or problems in serving the food)

Sometime and sometimes

Do not confuse sometime with sometimes.

Sometime means at an unspecified or undecided time. It usually goes in the end position:

• We should meet for coffee sometime.
• I met her sometime in 2022.
• I’ll visit Japan sometime.
• He left sometime last night.

Sometimes means on some occasions and is an adverb of frequency which can go in the front, mid or end position:

• Sometimes I work from home.
• We sometimes eat out on Fridays.
• He visits me sometimes.
• Sometimes, my colleagues annoy me.

Common mistakes with adverbs of time

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using adverbs and other expressions of time, particularly with verb tenses, word order and prepositions.

1. Using the present perfect with a finished past time

Time expressions such as yesterday, last week, two days ago and in 2020 refer to a finished past time, so they go with the past simple, not the present perfect:

• ❌ I’ve seen him yesterday.
• ✅ I saw him yesterday.

• ❌ We’ve moved here two years ago.
• ✅ We moved here two years ago.

2. Putting a time expression between a verb and its object

If a verb has a direct object, we do not place an adverb between the verb and object:

• ❌ I saw yesterday Sarah.
• ✅ I saw Sarah yesterday.

• ❌ I’ll call tomorrow John.
• ✅ I’ll call John tomorrow.

3. Putting still in the wrong place with a negative verb

In negative sentences, still is not placed in the regular mid position but before the negative auxiliary verb:

• ❌ I haven’t still finished.
• ✅ I still haven’t finished.

• ❌ She doesn’t still understand.
• ✅ She still doesn’t understand.

4. Adding unnecessary prepositions before expressions such as last, next, this and every

We don’t usually use prepositions such as at, in or on before time expressions with last, next, each, every, this, etc:

• ❌ in last week
• ✅ last week

• ❌ on next Monday
• ✅ next Monday

• ❌ in every year
• ✅ every year

Free adverbs of time worksheets