Adverb of Time

What is an Adverb of Time?

Imagine your friend Sandy announces, 'I am having a big party.' After you put on your party hat and practice your best dance moves, you might have some questions. When is the party? How long will it last?

These very important questions can be answered with a special type of word called an adverb of time. Adverbs of time tell you when, for how long or how often an action happens.

Like you might have guessed by their name, adverbs of time are a special type of adverb. An adverb is a word that describes a verb, or action word. So you could say that adverbs add a description to a verb. Adverbs of time add a time, length or frequency to a verb.

So if Sandy announces, 'I am having a big party all day tomorrow,' you'd better bring your dancing shoes because you're going to dance and play party games for a long time. The adverbs of time tomorrow and all day tell us when Sandy is hosting the party and how long the dancing and playing will last.

When, How Long, How Often

Imagine you are a detective sent to investigate the destruction of the homes of three little pigs. You can use adverbs of times like clues to figure out when, how long or how frequently something happens.

Adverbs That Tell You When

Some adverbs of time answer the question 'When?'

The big, bad wolf went to the little pig's straw house yesterday. Later that night, the house was blown to the ground.

Yesterday is an adverb of time that lets you know when the wolf went to visit the little pig. Later that night is another adverb of time that answers when the crime was committed.

I bet that wolf was up to no good! Could he be your suspect?

Adverbs That Tell You How Long

Some adverbs of time are clues that let you know how long an action lasted. The wolf stayed at the pig's house for several hours.

For several hours is an adverb of time that describes how long the wolf stayed. Was he plotting his attack?

Adverbs That Tell You How Frequently

The wolf often visits pigs' homes.

Often is an adverb of time that lets you know how frequently the wolf visits pigs.

I think you found your suspect!

Examples

The train already left.

When did the train leave? Already is an adverb of time that tells us when the action of this sentence took place.

Yesterday, my family went to the movies.

Yesterday is an adverb of time that lets us know when the family went to the movies.

I sometimes go to bed very late.

Sometimes is an adverb of time that tells us how frequently, or often, the action of going to bed late happens.

It rained all day, so Fido the dog had to stay inside the house.

All day is an adverb of time that lets you know how long it rained.