We use adverbial phrases of time, place, and frequency to describe where, when, or how often an action takes place.
Adverbial Phrases of Frequency
- In describing how often something happens, you need an adverbial phrase of frequency.
every day (daily); every week (weekly); every month (monthly); every year (annually); once a day; twice a year; five times a month; all the time
Form
- Adverbial phrases of frequency often go in present simple sentences.
He hunts rabbits every weekend.
They train every other day.
She takes classes five times a month.
Adverbial Phrases of Time
- To talk about when something happens, you need an adverbial phrase of time.
today; tomorrow; tonight; yesterday; nowadays; now; first of all; beforehand; soon; afterwards; later; next; then
Forms
- Adverbial phrases of time usually go either at the beginning or the end of a sentence or clause.
Tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to the free cities.
I’m going to the free cities tomorrow afternoon.
First of all, let’s have ale at an inn.
Let’s have ale at an inn first of all.
I’m going to the flea market and afterwards, I’m going to the citadel.
I’m going to the flea market and I’m going to the citadel afterwards.
- Use then at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
Then, we saw the pier.
She’s going to finish cooking and then she’s going to sew some dresses.
- Use soon and now at the end of a sentence.
She’s going to quit her job soon.
Arya is calling home now.
Adverbial Phrases of Place
- To describe where something happens, you need an adverbial phrase of place.
outside; inside; indoors; outdoors; upstairs; downstairs; (over) here; (over) there; abroad; overseas
Forms
- Adverbial phrases of place usually go after a verb.
They were exiled in another country.
Let’s keep them under this desk.
- They also go after the object of the sentence.
The maester works in the library upstairs.
Your horse is on the stable over there.
Adverbial Phrases Exercise
Answer this exercise on adverbial phrases.
1. She sees him ______.
a. always
b. once in a while
c. hardly
2. Jake plays football ______.
a. every week
b. all the days
c. Saturdays
3. His family lives ______.
a. in the flat upstairs
b. in the upstairs flat
c. in the above flat
4. Mrs. Jones ______ late for lessons.
a. never is
b. is never
c. always are
5. I hardly ever go shopping _______.
a. soon
b. these days
c. today
6. I _____ my homework on time.
a. do always
b. always do
c. do never
7. She ______ her mobile phone.
a. almost always leaves
b. always almost leaves
c. leaves always
8. Tim always goes cycling ___ Sundays.
a. every
b. all the
c. on
9. I’m going to visit my family ______.
a. tomorrow tomorrow
b. the day after tomorrow
c. next next day
10. They only go out ______.
a. during occasions
b. on occasions
c. on special occasions
Find the answers to this exercise here.
See also: Adverbial Phrases of frequency, time and place and Inversion with Negative Adverbials.
For additional information on this topic, check out this Cambridge Grammar Lesson.
For other English grammar lessons, go to this page.