Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time tell us when something happens, for how long, or in what order. They include words like yesterday, soon, already, still, and yet.
What are adverbs of time?
An adverb of time answers the question "When?" or "How long?" about an action. Unlike adverbs of manner, they usually go at the beginning or end of a sentence rather than directly after the verb.
Common adverbs of time
| Category | Adverbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past | yesterday, recently, lately, ago, just, already, before | I saw him yesterday. She has just arrived. |
| Present | now, currently, today, still, at the moment | He is still sleeping. I'm busy right now. |
| Future | soon, tomorrow, later, eventually, shortly | She will call you soon. I'll do it later. |
| Duration | always, for ages, briefly, long, temporarily | We waited for ages. She stayed briefly. |
| Order | first, then, next, finally, afterwards, previously | First, mix the flour. Then add the eggs. |
Position of adverbs of time
Most adverbs of time can go at the beginning or end of a sentence. Some (like already, still, just, yet) have more specific positions.
- End of sentence (most common): I saw her yesterday. He will arrive soon. She called me earlier.
- Beginning of sentence (for emphasis): Yesterday I saw her. Soon he will arrive. Tomorrow we leave.
- Mid-position (already, still, just, yet with auxiliaries): She has already left. He is still waiting. I have just finished.
Already, still, yet — a key distinction
These three adverbs are frequently confused. Each carries a different meaning and is used in different sentence types.
| Adverb | Meaning | Sentence type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| already | sooner than expected | Positive statements, questions | She has already finished. Has he already left? |
| still | continuing up to now | Positive and negative statements | He is still waiting. She still hasn't replied. |
| yet | up to now (expected but not happened) | Questions and negatives | Have you eaten yet? I haven't finished yet. |
Have you finished already? (sooner than I expected)
Are you still working? (continuing longer than expected)
Haven't you finished yet? (I expected it to be done by now)
Just — position and meaning
Just means "a very short time ago" or "exactly/only". With the present perfect, it goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
She has just arrived. (a moment ago)
I've just spoken to him. (very recently)
He just called — he's on his way. (informal present simple)
Order adverbs: sequencing events
Adverbs like first, then, next, after that, finally organise actions in time. They usually go at the beginning of a clause, followed by a comma.
First, preheat the oven to 180°C.
Then, mix the butter and sugar together.
Next, add the eggs one at a time.
Finally, bake for 25 minutes.
Yet vs. already in questions: Both can be used in questions but with different expectations. "Have you eaten yet?" is neutral — I simply want to know. "Have you eaten already?" expresses surprise — I didn't expect you to have eaten so soon.
Tip: Ago always follows the time expression and is used with the past simple: two days ago, a year ago, five minutes ago. Never use ago with the present perfect: say I saw him two days ago (not: I have seen him two days ago).