Adverbs of Time For Intermediate learners

What Are Adverbs of Time?

Adverbs of time (los adverbios de tiempo) tell us when or how often an action happens, answering questions like "¿Cuándo?" and ¿Con qué frecuencia?".

Indicating Time

These adverbs show when something happens. Here are some of the most common adverbs of time in Spanish:

hoy → today

ayer → yesterday

anoche → last night

mañana → tomorrow

ahora → now

antes → before

después → after

luego → later

pronto → soon

tarde → late

temprano → early

ya → already

todavía → still/yet

Here are some example sentences:

Example

Hoy tengo clase.

I have class today.

Ayer llovió mucho.

It rained a lot yesterday.

Estoy ocupado ahora.

I'm busy now.

Vuelve pronto.

Come back soon.

Nos levantamos temprano.

We get up early.

Indicating Frequency

These adverbs show how often something happens. Here are the most common adverbs of frequency in Spanish:

siempre → always

nunca → never

a menudo → often

frecuentemente → frequently

a veces → sometimes

cada día/semana/mes → every day/week/month

Here are some example sentences:

Example

Nunca veo televisión.

I never watch TV.

Viajo frecuentemente por trabajo.

I travel frequently for work.

Vamos al gimnasio cada día.

We go to the gym every day.

Placement in the Sentence

Adverbs of time typically come after the verb or its object, if there is one; but they can also come at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis or stylistic effect. Here are some examples:

Example

Trabajo hoy.

I work today.

after the verb

Compré un libro ayer.

I bought a book yesterday.

after the direct obejct

Mañana viajaré.

Tomorrow I will travel.

at the beginning of the sentence

When there are other adverbs in the sentence, the adverbs of time typically come at the end, after adverbs of manner and place.

Example