Adverbs of definite time

Adverbs of definite time answer the question When? and are generally used with past tenses, or refer to the future

/ started my job last Monday I'II ring tomorrow Two main categories can be defined 1 'Points of time' such as today tomorrow yesterday [> App 48]

These can be modified by the words early earlier late and later

e g earlier today late later this year

Adverbs of time

2 Prepositional phrases which function as adverbials of time [> 8.11-14] They often begin with at in or on e g at five o clock [> App 47.5] at Christmas in July on November 20th Some of these can be modified early in July punctually at 5

Position of adverbs of definite time

The most usual position is at the very end of a sentence [> 1.3] We checked in at the hotel on Monday/yesterday etc

Definite time references can also be made at the beginning [> App 48] This morning I had a telephone call from Sheila

If there is more than one time reference we usually progress from the particular to the general i e time + day + date + year Gilbert was born at 11.58 on Monday November 18th 1986

Adverbs of indefinite time

Some common adverbs of indefinite time are afterwards already [> 7.26, 7.28] another day another time at last at once early eventually formerly immediately just [> 7.29] late lately (= recently) now nowadays once one day presently recently some day soon still [> 7. 25] subsequently suddenly then these days ultimately and yet [> 7. 27-28]