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Learn how to express specific moments in time in French with key phrases like "hier", "demain", "la semaine dernière", and "le mois prochain". This lesson explains the usage of these expressions with examples, showing how to indicate past and future events clearly and naturally in French conversation.
  1. The words "dernier" and "prochain" conjugate with the noun and specify the time.
  2. Adding the words "avant" and "après" allows you to talk about the day before yesterday and the day after tomorrow.
  3. They can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
Expressions (Expressions)Exemples (Examples)

Hier

Avant-hier

Demain

Après-demain

Je t'ai vu en ville hier. (I saw you in town yesterday.)

Tu as perdu ton match avant-hier. (You lost your match the day before yesterday.)

Je vais venir te voir demain. (I am going to come and see you tomorrow.)

Tu vas gagner ton match après-demain. (You are going to win your match the day after tomorrow.)

La semaine dernière

La semaine prochaine

Je te l'ai dit la semaine dernière. (I told you last week.)

Tu vas faire du foot la semaine prochaine. (You are going to play football next week.)

Le mois dernier

Le mois prochain

Nous sommes allés au cinéma le mois dernier. (We went to the cinema last month.)

Vous allez à un concert le mois prochain. (You are going to a concert next month.)

L'année dernière

L'année prochaine

Tu as eu 5 ans l'année dernière. (You were 5 years old last year.)

Tu vas avoir 7 l'année prochaine. (You are going to be 7 next year.)

Exercise 1: Expression des moments

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

le mois prochain, Le mois dernier, Avant-hier, Hier, L'année prochaine, la semaine dernière, la semaine prochaine, Après-demain

1. Le jour d'avant hier :
..., j'ai traversé le passage piéton.
(The day before yesterday, I crossed the pedestrian crossing.)
2. Le mois d'après :
Je vais traverser le pays ....
(I am going to travel across the country next month.)
3. La semaine d'après :
Elle va voir sa famille ....
(She is going to see her family next week.)
4. La semaine d'avant :
Paul a fait du foot ....
(Paul played football last week.)
5. Le jour d'avant :
..., j'ai cherché ma direction.
(Yesterday, I looked for my direction.)
6. L'année d'après :
..., elle va avoir douze ans.
(Next year, she will be twelve years old.)
7. Le jour d'après demain :
..., tu vas voir un nouveau panneau.
(The day after tomorrow, you will see a new sign.)
8. Le mois d'avant :
..., j'ai pris plusieurs rond-points.
(Last month, I took several roundabouts.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Je cherche la place ___ la rue.

(I am looking for the square ___ the street.)

2. Traverse la rue tout droit puis prends à ___ gauche.

(Cross the street straight ahead then take a ___ left.)

3. Tu trouveras le panneau juste ___ le rond-point.

(You will find the sign just ___ the roundabout.)

4. ___, j’ai demandé mon chemin à un passant.

(___, I asked a passerby for directions.)

5. La semaine ___, je vais demander des directions dans le centre-ville.

(The week ___, I am going to ask for directions in the city center.)

6. Fais demi-tour ___ le panneau et prends à ta droite.

(Make a U-turn ___ the sign and take a right.)

Understanding Expressions of Time in French

In this lesson, you will learn how to express specific moments in time using common French phrases. These expressions are essential for talking about when events happen, such as "hier" (yesterday), "demain" (tomorrow), or more specific phrases like "la semaine dernière" (last week) and "le mois prochain" (next month).

Key Time Expressions

  • Hier (yesterday) and Avant-hier (the day before yesterday)
  • Demain (tomorrow) and Après-demain (the day after tomorrow)
  • La semaine dernière (last week) and La semaine prochaine (next week)
  • Le mois dernier (last month) and Le mois prochain (next month)
  • L'année dernière (last year) and L'année prochaine (next year)

How to Use These Expressions

These words often accompany nouns to define a precise time. Words like "dernier" and "prochain" change according to the noun they describe, clarifying the exact timing. To talk about days before or after a reference point, add "avant" (before) or "après" (after). For example, "avant-hier" means the day before yesterday, and "après-demain" means the day after tomorrow.

Additionally, these expressions can appear either at the beginning or the end of a sentence, giving flexibility in conversation or writing.

Practical Examples

For instance, consider these sentences: "Je t'ai vu en ville hier." or "Tu vas faire du foot la semaine prochaine." Learning to recognize and use these phrases accurately will help you talk about past and future events with confidence.

Comparing French and English Time Expressions

English time expressions like "yesterday" or "next week" are straightforward and mostly unchanging. In French, however, modifiers like "dernier" and "prochain" must agree with the noun they modify, and the word order can be more flexible. Also, adding "avant" and "après" helps specify days surrounding a reference day, which is less common in English.

Useful phrases to remember include:

  • "Hier" – Yesterday
  • "Demain" – Tomorrow
  • "La semaine dernière" – Last week
  • "La semaine prochaine" – Next week
Mastering these will greatly improve your ability to discuss timing and events in French.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 27/06/2025 00:38