List of Adverbs of Time: Definition, Infographics & PDF

Adverbs of time are words that modify or describe a verb, indicating when an action took place or will take place. They provide information about the timing, frequency, duration, or sequence of an event or action. Adverbs of time help to add clarity and precision to our sentences by answering questions such as “When?” or “How often?”

It’s important to note that adverbs of time can also be phrases or clauses, providing more specific information about the time of an action. For example, “In the morning,” “At 3 o’clock,” or “Before she left.”

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Table of Contents

List of Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time in the provided list are almost the same as adverbs of frequency, as an adverb of frequency is a type of adverb of time.

Generally
Sometimes
First
Lately
Daily
Monthly
Yet
Seldom
Recently
Early
Previously
Formerly
Last
Now
Infrequently
Annually
Fortnightly
Hourly
Never
Today
Often
Just
Not until
Tonight
Tomorrow
Frequently
Yearly
Regularly
Later
Late
Ever
Yesterday
Earlier
Constantly
Since
Eventually
Before
Next
Immediately
Normally
Rarely
Already
Finally
Quarterly
Soon
Then
Still
Occasionally
Weekly
Usually
Always

Adverbs of Time for the Present

Here are some common adverbs of time used to refer to the present:

Continuously
Currently
Right now
Ongoing
In the present circumstances
These days
At this very moment
Now
Nowadays
As we speak
For the time being
Always
At this point in time
Nowadays
Constantly
Regularly
Presently
Frequently
Today
Tonight
Currently
At present
At the moment
In the here and now
Immediately

These adverbs can be used to describe ongoing actions, habitual actions, or actions happening at the current moment.

Adverbs of Time for the Past

Adverbs of time for the past refer to words that indicate when an action or event occurred in the past. Here are some common adverbs of time for the past:

Back then
Once
In earlier times
Previously
Yesterday
Earlier
In the bygone era
Ago
In the past
In the old days
Formerly
In ancient times
Last week/month/year
In those days
Before

These adverbs can be used to provide temporal context to past actions or events in sentences. Here are a few examples:

We went on vacation last month.
She came earlier than expected.
He was previously a doctor before becoming a teacher.
I visited my grandparents yesterday.
In the old days, there were no smartphones.
I had seen that movie before.
In the past, people used to communicate through letters.
Once, I lived in Paris for a year.
The shop formerly sold clothes, but now it sells books.
He left the company a year ago.

These adverbs help to specify the time frame in which a particular action or event took place in the past.

Adverbs of Time for the Future

Here are some common adverbs of time used to refer to the future:

In due course
In a while
Eventually
Soon
Shortly
In the coming days/weeks/months/years
Next week/month/year
In the future
Before long
In the near future
Later
Tomorrow

These adverbs are used to indicate actions or situations that will happen or exist in the future. They help provide a timeframe or indicate the timing of future events.

Adverbs of Definite Frequency

Quarterly
Daily
Yearly
Hourly
Monthly
Nightly
Fortnightly
Annually
Weekly

Points of Time

Tonight
Tomorrow
Yesterday
Today
Now
Then

Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency

Adverbs of frequency are also adverbs of time.

Seldom
Constantly
Always
Regularly
Generally
Usually
Often
Regularly
Infrequently
Rarely
Ever
Sometimes
Occasionally
Normally
Frequently
Never

Relationships in Time

Formerly
Late
Soon
Finally
Already
Yet
Before
Earlier
Early
Lately
Later
First
Still
Since
Eventually
Last
Recently
Previously
Next
Just

Example Sentences of Adverbs of Time

Here are some common examples of adverbs of time:

Yesterday: It indicates that an action occurred on the day before today. For example, “I saw him yesterday.”

Today: It refers to the current day. For example, “I am going to the park today.”

Tomorrow: It signifies the day after today. For example, “We have a meeting tomorrow.”

Now: It signifies the present moment. For example, “She is busy working now.”

Later: It indicates a time that is after the present moment or after a specific event. For example, “I will call you later.”

Early: It means before the expected or usual time. For example, “She arrived early for the meeting.”

Always: It indicates that something happens all the time or on every occasion. For example, “He always sings in the shower.”

Often: It signifies that something occurs frequently or many times. For example, “I often go jogging in the morning.”

Sometimes: It means that something occurs occasionally or at certain times. For example, “She sometimes forgets her keys.”

Never: It indicates that something has not happened at any time or on any occasion. For example, “He never eats seafood.”

These adverbs can be used in various positions within a sentence, depending on the emphasis or desired effect. They can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on the specific meaning or context.

By incorporating adverbs of time into your sentences, you can enhance your writing or speech by providing a clear temporal context to your actions or events.

Tips for Using Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time are an essential part of a language that helps convey when an action takes place. Using adverbs of time effectively can add clarity, precision, and coherence to your writing or speaking. Here are some tips to help you use adverbs of time effectively:

Choose the right adverb: There are numerous adverbs of time, such as “yesterday,” “today,” “tomorrow,” “now,” “soon,” “later,” “already,” “never,” and many more. Select the adverb that best fits the specific time frame you want to convey.
Place the adverb correctly: Generally, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence. However, they can also be placed in the middle of a sentence for emphasis or stylistic reasons. Ensure that the placement of the adverb doesn’t cause confusion or alter the intended meaning.

Examples:

Yesterday, I went to the park.
I went to the park yesterday.
I went to the park, yesterday, with my friends.

Maintain tense consistency: Adverbs of time should match the tense of the verb in your sentence. If you’re talking about a past event, use adverbs like “yesterday” or “last week.” For present events, use adverbs like “today” or “now.” For future events, use adverbs like “tomorrow” or “soon.” This helps maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Examples:

She will leave tomorrow.
I am going to the store later today.
They have already finished their work.

Consider adverbial phrases: Adverbs of time can also be expressed through adverbial phrases. These phrases provide more detailed information about when an action occurs. Common adverbial phrases include “in a few minutes,” “during the summer,” “at midnight,” “for two days,” and so on. Be mindful of proper punctuation and word order when using these phrases.

Examples:

The concert will start in a few minutes.
He will be on vacation during the summer.
They worked tirelessly for two days.

Use adverbs of time sparingly: While adverbs of time can enhance your writing, using them excessively can make your sentences sound repetitive or monotonous. Use them judiciously and focus on providing relevant information about the timing of events.
Vary your sentence structure: To make your writing more engaging, vary the placement of adverbs of time and use different sentence structures. This will prevent your writing from becoming predictable or formulaic.

Examples:

Now, I want you to listen carefully.

I want you to listen carefully now.

Carefully, I want you to listen now.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Adverbs of Time

When using adverbs of time, it’s important to be aware of some common mistakes to avoid. Here are a few of them:

Incorrect placement: Adverbs of time should be placed appropriately in a sentence to maintain clarity and accuracy. Avoid placing them in the wrong position, such as at the beginning or end of a sentence when they should be in the middle. For example:

Incorrect: Yesterday, I went to the movies.

Correct: I went to the movies yesterday.

Missing prepositions: Adverbs of time often require prepositions to establish their relationship with the rest of the sentence. Make sure to include the appropriate preposition. For example:

Incorrect: He will arrive in airport.

Correct: He will arrive at the airport.

Inconsistent tense usage: When using adverbs of time, it’s important to maintain consistency with the tense of the verb in the sentence. If the verb is in the past tense, the adverb should also reflect that. For example:

Incorrect: I will visit my grandparents yesterday.

Correct: I visited my grandparents yesterday.

Redundancy: Avoid using adverbs of time that are redundant or unnecessary. If the time frame is already clear from the context, there’s no need to use an adverb to explicitly state it. For example:

Incorrect: I saw him just a moment ago.

Correct: I saw him a moment ago.

Overuse: While adverbs of time can provide useful information, using them excessively can make the sentence sound cluttered or repetitive. Try to use them sparingly and only when necessary. For example:

Incorrect: I woke up early in the morning, and then I immediately brushed my teeth, and then I quickly got dressed.

Correct: I woke up early in the morning and quickly brushed my teeth before getting dressed.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can effectively use adverbs of time in your writing or speech, enhancing clarity and precision.