Practice
Adverbs of time: rules and examples
Compare these two replies: I finished the form. I finished the form yesterday. The second reply gives the listener a time, so the event is easier to place.
Use common adverbs and adverbial phrases of time to say when an action happens, and place them naturally in a sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
already, still, and tomorrow /ɔlˈrɛdi, stɪl, ænd təˈmɑroʊ/
The short answer
Use an adverb of time to add timing to an action. Put a time phrase at the end when you want to say when something happened. Put words such as already, still, and just close to the main verb or auxiliary verb.
Mina has already sent the invoice.
Why it works: Already appears between has and sent, where it naturally modifies the completed action.
5 more examples
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The train leaves at six tomorrow morning.
The phrase tells us when the train leaves and appears at the end of the clause.
Not this:The train leaves
at six. What changes: The sentence gives an hour but does not say which day. -
I have just spoken to the building manager.
Just means very recently here. It goes between have and spoken.
Not this:I spoke to the building manager
last week. What changes: Last week gives a finished time in the past, so it does not use the present perfect pattern. -
Ravi still needs the receipt for his expense claim.
Still shows that the need began earlier and continues now.
Not this:Ravi
no longerneeds the receipt for his expense claim. What changes: No longer says that the earlier situation has ended. -
We usually review new vocabulary on Friday afternoons.
Usually shows a regular habit. It comes before the main verb review.
Not this:We reviewed new vocabulary
last Friday afternoon. What changes: This sentence describes one finished event instead of a repeated habit. -
After the presentation, the team discussed the questions.
This time phrase comes first and sets the order of the two events.
Not this:The team discussed the questions
before the presentation. What changes: Changing before and after changes the order of events.
Read the full guide
Start by asking what time information the listener needs. Do you need to say when the event happened, whether it is still happening, or whether it happened sooner than expected? That answer usually points to the right word and position.
Add the missing time detail
A time expression makes an action easier to place. It can point to a moment, a period, a repeated habit, or the order of events. Choose the expression that answers the listener's real question.
I will send the revised file tonight.
I will send the revised file. This sentence does not tell the reader when to expect it.
Which question does tonight answer: Who will send the file, or when will the file be sent?
It answers when the file will be sent.
Put clear time phrases where readers expect them
A phrase such as yesterday afternoon, after work, or every month often goes at the end of the clause. This position is clear and natural in everyday English. You can move a phrase to the front when it gives useful context for the whole sentence.
We checked the numbers after lunch.
After lunch, we checked the numbers. Both positions are possible; the first phrase gives the time before the action.
Choose an end position or a front position: You want to begin a report sentence by setting the time period.
Use a front position, for example: During the first week, the team checked the numbers each day.
Keep short time words near the verb
Some short words fit inside the verb phrase. Already and just commonly appear after have, has, or had. Still often appears before the main verb, or after be. Their position helps the reader see exactly what has changed or continues.
The guests have already arrived.
The guests arrived an hour ago. This uses a finished past time expression instead of already.
Complete the sentence: The guests have ___ arrived. Choose already or tomorrow.
Choose already. It fits between have and arrived and shows that the arrival happened sooner than expected.
Describe habits and repeated events
Words such as always, often, usually, sometimes, and never can describe how regularly something happens. In simple present, they normally go before the main verb but after be. This pattern is useful for routines, schedules, and preferences.
Our supervisor usually replies before noon.
Our supervisor is usually available before noon. With be, usually follows the verb.
Where does often go in this sentence: The office is open on Saturdays?
Put it after be: The office is often open on Saturdays.
Check what the time word changes
Before you finish a sentence, check the message. Already can show that an action happened earlier than expected. Still can show that a situation continues. Then can show the next step. A correct position is useful only when the word also gives the meaning you intend.
First, save the document. Then send it to the group.
Save the document and send it to the group. This gives two actions but does not make their order as clear.
Which word shows that a problem continues now: already, still, or yesterday?
Choose still. It connects an earlier situation with the present moment.
Before you go
Remember this
Use time adverbs and phrases to show when an action happens, whether it continues, or how regularly it occurs. Put longer time phrases at the end unless you want to set the scene first. Put short words such as already, just, still, and usually close to the verb pattern they modify.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adverbs of time: rules and examples"
What are adverbs of time?
Adverbs of time are words or phrases that add timing to an action, description, or whole sentence. They can say when something happens, how long it lasts, how often it happens, or which event comes first. Today, already, often, and after the meeting all add time information.
The train leaves at six tomorrow morning.
Where do adverbs of time go in a sentence?
Many longer time phrases go at the end of a clause: We met after work. You can also put one first to set the context: After work, we met. Short words follow their own patterns. In a present perfect clause, already and just usually go after have, has, or had.
The train leaves at six.
Is already an adverb of time?
Yes. Already says that an action happened before the speaker expected it to happen, or before another relevant time. In Mina has already sent the invoice, already explains the timing of sent. It normally sits inside the present perfect verb phrase, between has and the past participle.
I have just spoken to the building manager.
How is still used as an adverb of time?
Still shows that a situation began earlier and continues at the time of speaking. In Ravi still needs the receipt, the need has not ended. It often goes before the main verb, but it comes after be: The office is still open. Choose it when continuation is the meaning you need.
I spoke to the building manager last week.
What is the difference between usually and yesterday?
Usually describes a repeated habit, while yesterday names one finished day in the past. We usually review vocabulary describes a routine. We reviewed vocabulary yesterday describes a single completed event. The different meanings also affect the verb tense and the natural place of the time expression.
Ravi still needs the receipt for his expense claim.