Adverbs of Time

Every action happens at a certain time. The question is, when? To answer the question When, we use Adverbs of Time.

What are Adverbs of Time?

Adverbs of Time are adverbs that provide information about when an action or event occurs, or how long it lasts.

Unlike Adverbs of Manner which mostly end in -ly, most time adverbs do not have a specific ending and must be memorized.

Here are some of the most commonly used Adverbs of Time:

  • Present: now, today, currently, right now
  • Past: yesterday, last night, last week, previously, ago
  • Future: tomorrow, next week, soon, later, tonight
  • Duration (How long): for an hour, since morning, all day

Position in a Sentence

The position of Adverbs of Time in a sentence is quite flexible, but the most common and natural position is at the end of the sentence.

1. At the End of the Sentence (Standard Position)

This is the default position for most time adverbs.

  • I am going to the supermarket today.
  • They arrived in London yesterday.
  • We will meet soon.

2. At the Beginning of the Sentence (For Emphasis)

If you want to put strong emphasis on the time or as a stylistic variation, you can place the time adverb at the beginning of the sentence. Usually, a comma is placed after it if the sentence is long.

  • Tomorrow, I have a very important meeting.
  • Last night, the storm destroyed several houses.

3. In the Middle of the Sentence (Less common, but possible)

Some adverbs of time (like now, recently, currently, already, still) are often placed in the middle of a sentence, right before the main verb or after the to be / helping verb.

  • I currently live in Tokyo.
  • She is still waiting for the bus.
  • They have already finished the project.

Order of Time (If there is more than one)

What if you want to mention a specific time (hours) and a broader time (days) at the same time? For example, at 7 AM tomorrow.

The rule in English is: The more specific (narrower) time comes BEFORE the broader time.

  • Correct: I will call you at 7 AM tomorrow. (7 AM first, then tomorrow).

  • Incorrect: I will call you tomorrow at 7 AM. (While understandable in conversation, it is less grammatically correct in formal writing).

  • Correct: The accident happened at 3 PM on Sunday.

  • Incorrect: The accident happened on Sunday at 3 PM.

Conclusion: Adverbs of Time are safest placed at the end of a sentence. If you want to emphasize the time, place it at the beginning. And if there are multiple time adverbs, always mention the most specific one first!