Adverbs of Time

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Simple Definition with Examples

Adverbs that qualify or change the meaning of a sentence by telling us when things happen are called Adverbs Of Time. An adverb of time is just what you expect it to be – a word that describes when, for how long, how often an incident does happen. In some cases it also describes the relationship between the happenings of two incidents. E.g. – before, after, formerly etc.

Explanation

Adverb of time tells you the time of occurrence of an incident and also its duration and frequency. It also describes the relationship in time between two occurrences. Consider the below given sentences to get a better idea-

  1. Aarushi went to school yesterday.
  2. We played chess all day.
  3. Atharva never drinks milk.
  4. I went to my house earlier.

Consider the first sentence. The word ‘yesterday’ tells you an exact point of time when actually Aarushi went to school. The word ‘all day’ in second sentence states the duration of the event telling its definite frequency of occurrence while ‘never’ in third sentence tells you the indefinite frequency of the incident. The adverb ‘earlier’ in the fourth example states an indefinite relationship in time.

What is Interrogative Adverbs of Time

When an interrogative adverb is used to ask for a time related matter it is called an interrogative adverb of time. ‘When’ is an interrogative adverb of time, but ‘how’ can also be used in some cases. Consider the below sentences for example.

  • When is your Grandfather arriving?
  • When did you get your appointment confirmed?
  • How long does it take to go from Mumbai to Pune by bus?
  • How long do you wish to stay at the hotel?
  • When did you submit your project report?

List/Words

Examples of Adverb of time are- today, yesterday, tomorrow, last year, next year, gone month, coming month, now, then, annually, daily, often, everyday, all day, never, ever, occasionally, fortnightly etc.

Examples and Use in the Sentence

Find out the Adverbs of Time in the given sentences; also assign their types- point of time, definite frequency, indefinite frequency or relationship in time.

  1. I went to the doctor yesterday.
  2. Rahul will go to his hometown tomorrow.
  3. Sandeep completed his graduation last year.
  4. I am going to the market now.
  5. I was roaming in the market all day.
  6. I searched about you for a year.
  7. I am doing social work since 1985.
  8. Rahul never pays his rent on time.
  9. It often rains in Bangalore.
  10. You should always be polite.
  11. Manoj seldom talks.
  12. I rarely read Hindi newspapers.
  13. I completed my work earlier.
  14. I will visit my grandparents soon.
  15. I got my payment recently.

In the first four sentences the words- yesterday, tomorrow, last year and now tells you the time when the incident happened. Such adverbs are usually placed at the end of a sentence.

In examples 4, 5 and 6 the words- all day, for a year and since 1985 tell you the duration of the incident or its definite frequency of occurrence. Now consider examples 7 to 12. Words- never, often, always, seldom and rarely tell you how often the incidents occur specifying their indefinite frequency. The adverbs earlier, soon and recently in the last examples state the relationship adverbs in time.

Types of Adverbial Clauses/Adverbs of Time

Adverb of the time mainly modifies verbs and tells you when, how long and how often the incident happened. Here are three types of Adverbial Clauses/Adverbs of time-

  1. Adverb telling you a definite point of time of the occurrence of an incident. For example- now, today, yesterday and tomorrow as used in the sentences below-
  • I will do it now.
  • I will visit my doctor today.
  • I visited my brother yesterday.
  • I will get my payment tomorrow.
  1. Adverbs stating definite frequency of the occurrence of the incident. For example – hourly, daily, yearly and quarterly as used in the sentences below-
  • I drink water hourly.
  • I go to the gym daily.
  • I visit my grandparents yearly.
  • Rahul gets his payment quarterly.
  1. Adverbs having indefinite frequency of the occurrence of an incident. For example always, never, regularly and rarely as used in the sentences below-
  • I always go to school.
  • Vishal never completes his homework.
  • Mahesh regularly attends classes.
  • Tripti rarely misses the lectures.
  1. The fourth type of adverb of time is relationship in time (indefinite). This time clause of adverb defines the relationship between two verbs. Some examples are- previously, formerly, earlier, before.
  • Rohan was previously elected as vice captain before becoming captain.
  • Pandit Deen Dayal Nagar was formerly named as Mughalsarai.
  • To complete his assignment, he reached school earlier than others.
  • I stayed in Agra, before leaving for Delhi.

How to Differentiate between Adverbs of Place and Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of Place (With Definition Types and Example Sentences)

Adverb of place is a verb modifier which tells the place of the occurrence of the action or verb. The types of adverb of places with examples are given below.

Adverb of places can be directional, like up, down, around, away, south etc. Below are few examples –

  • I went up the stairs.
  • Mohit’s world revolves around his books.
  • The car sped away after honking.
  • Rohit went to south on his expedition.

Adverb of place can refer to the distance. For example nearby, far away, miles apart etc.

  • The hotel I was looking for was nearby.
  • My school is far away from my house.
  • They are staying miles apart from one another.
  • Exams are closer to what I thought.

Adverb of places may indicate the relative position between two objects. For E.g.- below, between, above, behind.

  • Rohit’s class is below Sujeet’s.
  • Nagpur lies midway between Bangalore and Lucknow.
  • My office is above Bank of India.
  • Sandeep was standing behind his class teacher.

Many adverbs of places also indicate movement in a particular direction and end with ‘ward’. E.g. – forward, backward, toward, southward etc.

  • Rohit moved forward and greeted his teacher.
  • Suddenly the train started moving backwards.
  • The plane started moving towards the hanger.
  • The ship sailed southwards from the shore.

Adverbs of Manner (With Definition, Types and Example Sentences)

Adverb of manner tells us how something happens. Usually placed after the main verb or after the object. Slowly, faster, steadily are some of the examples of adverbs of manners. We will better understand the ‘adverbs of manners’ using different examples-

  • Mohit swims slowly.
  • Rajeev runs faster than others.
  • Tortoise walks steadily than the Hare.
  • She sings loudly.
  • He spoke softly.

In the above examples words like slowly, faster, steadily, loudly and softly describe how the verb happens and are called ‘Adverbs of Manner’.

Worksheet/Activities/Exercises with Answers (For Grades 1 to 8)

Adverbs Clause of Time Worksheet with Solved Answers

Try completing the given sentences first on your own, using adverbs of time to fill the blanks. Once done refer to the answers provided in the end of the exercise and check your progress.

  • Adverbs of Time (Definite Point of Time)

Try doing the exercises by filling in the words having definite time.

  1. I will complete my homework _______.
  2. I was late for the meeting _________ .
  3. Rohit got his salary credited _______.
  4. I will visit my doctor _______.
  5. To improve his skills, Rohan is attending weekend classes _______.
  6. Open your books and start reading ______.
  7. My friend completed his studies _______.

Answers– today, yesterday, yesterday, tomorrow, on Saturday, now and last year.

  • Adverbs of Time (Definite Frequency)

Try filling in the words with definite frequency in time

  1. I go to the School _______.
  2. I visit my home town _______.
  3. A newspaper arrives _________.
  4. There is a ________ flight from Delhi to Mumbai.
  5. I visit my grandparents’ _________.
  6. Some news magazines are published _______ while some are published ___________.
  7. The financial state of farmers depends on the ________ crop yield.

Answers-: daily, weekly, everyday, daily, weekly, weekly and fortnightly, yearly.

  • Adverbs of Time (Indefinite Frequency)

Complete the exercise with words having indefinite frequency in time.

  1. Rohan ________ completes his homework.
  2. My son ______ drinks milk.
  3. Rohit _______ falls ill.
  4. I ________ eat outside.
  5. Rohit ________ visits my house.
  6. Mohini is ______ to appear for her exams.

Answers-: rarely, never, frequently, seldom, occasionally, yet.

  • Adverbs of Time (Relationship in Time)

Try completing the sentences by filling in Adverbs of Time describing Relationship in Time.

  1. The Chief Minister of a state must ______ be elected as a member of Legislative Assembly.
  2. Abdul Kalam started his carrier as a scientist, _______ he went on to become the President of India.
  3. The plane taxied on runway _____ taking off.
  4. Bombay was _____ changed to Mumbai.
  5. I ______ got my home work completed before time.

Answers-:  formerly, later, before, later, already.

What is the Difference between Adverbs of Frequency, Adverbs of Intensity and Adverbs of Degree?

Adverb of frequency describes how often an incident happens. The adverb of frequency can be of two types- definite frequency like- weekly, daily, yearly, fortnightly, everyday etc. and indefinite frequency like- often, occasionally, rarely, sometimes etc.

There is actually no difference between the adverb of intensity and adverb degree. Both modify adjectives or other adverbs and are placed directly before them. They tell us about the intensity or degree of an item. E.g. – Almost, nearly, quiet, enough, too, hardly, completely etc.

What is the Difference between Adverbs of Time and Adverbs of Place

Adverb of time tells you about the time or frequency of happening of the verb. For E.g.- daily, routinely, weekly, often, since, occasionally, sometimes etc.

Adverb of place always talks about the place where the action of the verb is being carried out. It is usually placed immediately after sentence’s main verb. Some examples of adverb of place are – nearby, far away, miles apart, above, below, between etc.

Exercise 1 – For Class 1 to 8

Try completing the sentences by filling in appropriate adverb of time into the sentences given below. Please refer to the answers provided in the braces after sentence.

  1. I went to school _______. (Yesterday- definite time)
  2. My father resigned _______ from his job. (last year- definite time)
  3. I am expecting my grandparents’ _______. (today- definite time)
  4. I am going to do that ________. (now)
  5. I ______ go to the market. (rarely- indefinite frequency)
  6. My accountant ______ settles my liabilities. (quarterly-definite frequency)
  7. I ________ do yoga.( regularly- indefinite frequency)
  8. I ________ go to movie.( seldom- indefinite frequency)
  9. Rohan is leaving for Bombay _______.( tonight- definite time)
  10. He is _____ to pay the examination fee.(yet)
  11. You can visit the doctor _______. (later)
  12. I ______ take public transport to my school. (usually)

Exercise 2 – (Multiple Choices Questions with Answers) For Class 1 to 8

Adverbs of Time exercises for exact point of time. Fill in the blanks with adverb of exact point of time from the choices given.

  1. I went to the school _______.
    1. weekly
    2. Yearly
    3. nightly
    4. yesterday
    5. Rohan has to go to the doctor ______.
  2. today
  3. every week
  4. quarterly
  5. fortnightly
  6. I am going to resolve the issue ________.
  7. Often
  8. occasionally
  9. seldom
  10. now

Answers-: 1(d), 2(a), 3(d)

Adverbs of Time: Exercise – (Having Definite Frequency Adverbs)

  1. Rohan visits his grandparents’ ________.
  1. weekly
  2. often
  3. never
  4. now
    1. The school was doing ______ assessment of the teachers.
  5. daily
  6. yearly
  7. regular
  8. Nightly
    1. Everyone has to attend the ________ lectures.
  9. hourly
  10. regular
  11. occasional
  12. often

 

Answers– 1 (a), 2(b), 3(a)

Adverbs of Time: Exercise – (With Adverbs having Indefinite Frequency)

  1. I ______ visit my grandparents.
  1. daily
  2. often
  3. hourly
  4. last week
    1. Rajeev _______ falls ill.
  5. yesterday
  6. today
  7. seldom
  8. tonight
    1. Aarush ______ wants to drink milk.
  9. never
  10. does not
  11. tomorrow
  12. absolutely

 

Answers-: 1(b), 2(c), 3(a)

More Information:

Adverb of Place

Adverb of Manner

Adverb of Degree or Quantity

Adverb of Frequency

Adverb of Affirmation and Negation

Adverb of Comment

Adverb of Conjunction

Adverbs of Reason

Adverbs of Comparison

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