adverbes de temps grammar in French

Language: French
Level: B1
Unit: Adverbes
Practice types: 0

What this grammar point covers

Adverbes de temps are French words that give information about when something happens. They tell you about time: now, before, after, soon, already, etc.

When to use it

Use adverbes de temps in French to say when an action happens, how often it happens, or if it has happened already. They answer questions like 'when?' or 'how often?'.

Key forms

aujourd'hui
demain
hier
maintenant
bientôt
toujours
souvent
déjà
encore
jamais

Examples

Je vais au marché demain.

English: I am going to the market tomorrow.

Il pleut souvent ici.

English: It often rains here.

Nous avons déjà mangé.

English: We have already eaten.

Elle n'est jamais en retard.

English: She is never late.

Je travaille encore.

English: I am still working.

Tips

Most adverbes de temps go after the verb in French.
Some adverbes, like 'hier' or 'demain', can also go at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Be careful not to confuse 'encore' (still) and 'déjà' (already).

Exceptions and edge cases

With compound tenses (like passé composé), some adverbes (like 'souvent', 'déjà', 'toujours') are placed between the auxiliary and the past participle: 'J'ai déjà fini.'