Adverbs of time are an essential part of English grammar. They are used to express when an action happens, how often it happens, or how long it lasts. These adverbs help clarify the time frame of an event and add precision to sentences.
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time describe the timing of an action or event. They commonly answer questions such as when?, how often?, and for how long? Adverbs of time can modify verbs, adjectives, or even entire clauses.
Common examples include now, today, yesterday, soon, always, often, rarely, and daily.
Adverbs of time can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on emphasis and type.
Points of Time (When)
- Now
- Then
- Today
- Tonight
- Tomorrow
- Yesterday
Adverbs of Definite Frequency
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Yearly
- Hourly
- Nightly
- Quarterly
- Annually
- Fortnightly
Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency
- Always
- Usually
- Often
- Frequently
- Sometimes
- Occasionally
- Rarely
- Seldom
- Never
- Generally
- Normally
Relationships in Time
- Already
- Before
- After
- Early
- Late
- Earlier
- Later
- Lately
- Recently
- Previously
- Eventually
- Finally
- Next
- Still
- Yet
Position of Adverbs of Time
Beginning of a Sentence
Adverbs of time are placed at the beginning of a sentence to add emphasis. When used in this position, they are followed by a comma.
- Yesterday, we went to the park.
- Today, I am going to the gym.
- Every morning, I drink a cup of coffee.
Middle of a Sentence
Indefinite frequency adverbs usually appear in the middle of a sentence, before the main verb or after the verb be. Commas are not used.
- I always wake up early.
- She often works late.
- He is usually on time.
End of a Sentence
The end of the sentence is the most common position for adverbs and adverbial phrases of time. No comma is used before them.
- We went to the park yesterday.
- I am going to the gym today.
- She will start her new job next week.
Order of Multiple Time Expressions
When more than one time expression appears in a sentence, the typical order is:
- Duration (how long)
- Frequency (how often)
- Time (when)
Example: I worked for two hours every day last year.
Examples of Adverbs of Time
- I met him yesterday.
- She visits her parents weekly.
- We will leave tomorrow.
- He has already finished the report.
- They stayed there for a while.
Last Updated on January 20, 2026
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Thankyou