The adverbios de tiempo o temporales (adverbs of time) indicate the moment in time in which the action takes place and introduce a temporary clause in a sentence. In order to identify this type of adverb in a sentence, we need to ask the verb the question “when?” as in “when does the action take place?” Some adverbs of time indicate a punctual moment in time, i.e. Hoy va a llover, while others indicate indefinite periods of time, i.e. me lavo las manos frecuentemente.
2. Aquí, ahí, allí, entonces – aquí refers to a present situation or certain moment in the present; ahí, allí and entonces refer to a past situation, “back then, in that occasion”.
3. Recién/Recientemente (recently), primero (first) – recién refers to a past period of time not too long ago; primero refers to the first action that occurs in time.
4. Ahora (now), luego/más tarde (later) – ahora indicates a present time, right at this moment while luego/más tarde indicate an action occurs at a future time.
5. Antes (de) (before), después (de) (after) – antes indicates priority in time while después indicates posteriority in time.
6. Deprisa (quickly), despacio (slowly), mucho (a while) – indicates stretching in time.
7. Nunca, jamás (never, ever), siempre (always) – never again in time, at all times.
8. Pronto (soon), tarde (late), temprano (early) – pronto indicates that an action will occur very soon; tarde indicates a late time at night, out of time, or after a deadline; temprano indicates an early time in the morning or the begining of a specific interval of time.
9. Aun, ya, todavía (still, already, yet) – aun and todavía are interchangeable and they indicate a specific moment in time since a previous moment in time. Ya can indicate past, present or future time, as well as have an emphatic value and a ultimatum use.
Adverbios de tiempo o temporales
1. Anteayer (the day before yesterday), ayer (yesterday) , hoy (today), mañana (tomorrow), pasado mañana (the day after tomorrow) – indicate past, present or future days.| Nos vamos de excursión pasado mañana. We are going on a trip the day after tomorrow. Anteayer hizo mucho calor en la ciudad. It was so hot in the city the day before yesterday. |
2. Aquí, ahí, allí, entonces – aquí refers to a present situation or certain moment in the present; ahí, allí and entonces refer to a past situation, “back then, in that occasion”.
| Y hasta aquí llega nuestro programa de hoy. Continuaremos mañana. And that’s it for today’s show. We will continue tomorrow. El Paleolítico era otra era. Ahí/Allí/Entonces, el hombre cazaba animales para poder comer y sobrevivir. The Paleolithic was a different era. Back then, the man hunted animals to eat and survive. |
3. Recién/Recientemente (recently), primero (first) – recién refers to a past period of time not too long ago; primero refers to the first action that occurs in time.
| Recientemente, Pablo se rompió la rodilla y tuvo que dejar de jugar a futbol. Recently, Pablo broke his knee and had to stop playing football. Primero Pablo se rompió la rodilla, después le llevaron a la sala de urgencias. First Pablo broke his knee, then they took him to the emergency room. |
4. Ahora (now), luego/más tarde (later) – ahora indicates a present time, right at this moment while luego/más tarde indicate an action occurs at a future time.
| No tenemos tiempo para parar en el supermercado ahora pero podemos volver luego/más tarde. We don’t have time to stop at the supermarket now but we can come back later. |
5. Antes (de) (before), después (de) (after) – antes indicates priority in time while después indicates posteriority in time.
| Puedes comer helado después de cenar pero no antes. You can eat ice cream after dinner but not before. Tengo que poner gasolina en el coche antes de ir a casa. I have to put gas in my car before I go home. Después de poner gasolina en el coche, voy directo a casa. After putting gas in my car, I am going straight home. |
6. Deprisa (quickly), despacio (slowly), mucho (a while) – indicates stretching in time.
| La tarde en la oficina se está pasando muy deprisa/despacio. The afternoon in the office is going by very quickly/slowly. Tardaremos mucho en llegar a casa porque uno de los trenes se ha averiado. It will take us a while to get home because a train broke down. |
7. Nunca, jamás (never, ever), siempre (always) – never again in time, at all times.
| Nunca (jamás) volveré a apostar dinero en el casino. I will never (ever) gamble at the casino. Siempre llevo un paraguas en mi mochila por si llueve. I always carry an umbrella in my backpack in case it rains. |
8. Pronto (soon), tarde (late), temprano (early) – pronto indicates that an action will occur very soon; tarde indicates a late time at night, out of time, or after a deadline; temprano indicates an early time in the morning or the begining of a specific interval of time.
| Empieza a recoger tus cosas, pronto nos vamos a casa. Start picking up your stuff, will go home soon. Vámonos a casa, se ha hecho tarde y mañana tenemos que despertarnos temprano. Let’s go home, it got late and we have to get up early tomorrow. |
9. Aun, ya, todavía (still, already, yet) – aun and todavía are interchangeable and they indicate a specific moment in time since a previous moment in time. Ya can indicate past, present or future time, as well as have an emphatic value and a ultimatum use.
| Aun/Todavía no has lavado los platos. You still haven’t washed the dishes. Maribel ya había cenado cuando llegó a nuestra casa. Maribel had already had dinner when she got to our house. Ya he hecho los deberes, ahora puedo salir a jugar. I have already finished my homework, now I can go out and play. Ya hablaremos de eso cuando lleguemos a casa. We’ll talk about that when we get home. ¡Queremos que el presidente dimita ya! We want the president to resign already! Ya es hora de que deje de bromear y se ponga a trabajar. It is time for you to stop joking and start working. |