When Should You Use Adverbs of Time? A Complete Guide
Adverbs of time tell us when something happens, for how long, or how often it occurs. They're essential for organizing and communicating temporal information in English.
Types of Time References:
- Past: yesterday, last week, when I arrived
- Present: now, today
- Future: soon, tomorrow
- Duration: for hours, since 2015
- Frequency: always, sometimes, rarely
Position in Sentences:
- Beginning: "Tomorrow, we have a big test." (emphasizes time)
- End: "We have a big test tomorrow." (most common)
- Between subject and verb: "She often reads before bed." (frequency adverbs)
Order with Multiple Adverbs: The correct sequence is Manner → Place → Time Example: "She studied quietly [manner] in the library [place] yesterday [time]."
Common Usage Examples:
- When: "I met her yesterday."
- Duration: "He stayed in Paris for a year."
- Frequency: "She always arrives on time."
Key Rules:
- Use appropriate positioning for emphasis
- Maintain correct order with other adverb types
- Choose specific adverbs to match temporal context
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Incorrect: "She goes every weekend to the market." Correct: "She goes to the market every weekend."
Understanding adverbs of time helps create clear, well-structured sentences that effectively communicate when actions occur, their duration, and their frequency.