Adverbs of time: dopo, prima, poi, etc...

Gli avverbi di tempo: dopo, prima, poi ecc...

Gli avverbi di tempo indicano quando accade qualcosa.

(Adverbs of time indicate when something happens.)

Teacher explanation

What these words do (time adverbs)

These words help you answer: When? and In what order?

Italian	Main idea	Typical English
prima	before / earlier	before
poi	next step in a sequence	then / next
dopo	after (something)	after / afterwards
già	already (completed/known)	already
ora / adesso	now (at this moment)	now

Where to place them in the sentence (the practical rule)

At the start = you highlight the time frame (good for storytelling).
At the end = you add time information as an extra detail.

Position	Italian example	Meaning
Start	Adesso lavoro.	Now (right now) I’m working.
End	Lavoro adesso.	I’m working now. (less emphasis)
Middle (common)	Studio e poi esco.	I study and then I go out.

Tip: In A1 Italian, aim for the “natural” positions above. Italians also move these words for emphasis, but you don’t need to force it.

“Poi” vs “Dopo”: the difference learners mix up

poi = “then / next” in a sequence. It often connects two actions.
dopo = “after” a reference point (often after + noun or after + clause).

Use	Correct Italian	What it means
Sequence	Leggo e poi disegno.	I read and then I draw.
After + noun	Disegno dopo cena.	I draw after dinner.
After + “that” moment	Prima finisco la riunione, e dopo ti chiamo.	First I finish the meeting, and after that I call you.

Self-check: If you can replace it with “after dinner / after the meeting”, choose dopo. If you mean “next”, choose poi.

“Prima” in real sentences: two common patterns

prima di + infinitive = “before doing …”
prima alone = “first” (often paired with poi)

Pattern	Italian	English
prima di + infinito	Prima di uscire, mando un’email.	Before going out, I send an email.
prima … poi …	Prima lavoro, poi faccio sport.	First I work, then I work out.

Avoid: ~~Prima uscire~~ → say Prima di uscire.

“Già”: where it goes and what it implies

già signals: “this is done/true earlier than expected” or “you don’t need to tell me”.
Very common position: after the auxiliary (ho, sono).

Structure	Correct Italian	Meaning
ho/sono + già + participio	Ho già letto il documento.	I have already read the document.
già with “know”	Questo lo so già.	I already know that.

Self-check: Are you communicating “already” (completed/known)? If yes, già is the right choice (not ora/adesso).

“Ora” / “Adesso”: choosing and placing them

ora and adesso usually mean the same: “now”.
Use them to contrast with prima (before/earlier): Prima… adesso…

Contrast	Italian	English
past habit vs now	Prima guardo la TV. Adesso leggo.	Before I used to watch TV. Now I read.
right now (emphasis)	Ora non posso: sono in riunione.	I can’t now: I’m in a meeting.

Mini checklist (before you speak)

Order? Use prima and poi.
After a reference point? Use dopo (+ noun/clause).
Already done/known? Use già (often after ho/sono).
Right now? Use ora/adesso (start of the sentence for emphasis).

Goal for A1: Make your timeline clear. Perfect word order can come later.

Adverbs of time are placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the moment.
Adverbs of time are placed at the end to add additional information.

Avverbio	Esempio
Poi	Leggo e poi disegno un po'. (I read and then* I draw a little.*)
Dopo	Disegno dopo cena. (I draw after* dinner.*)
Prima	Disegno prima di uscire. (I draw before* going out.*)
Già	Ho già letto quel libro. (I have already* read that book.*)
Ora / adesso	Adesso sto disegnando. (Now I am drawing.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. _____ lavoro in ufficio, poi vado al corso di danza.

2. Ceno con la mia famiglia e _____ guardo un film.

3. _____ del corso di fotografia leggo un libro, poi faccio le foto al parco.

4. _____ ascolto musica, ho già fatto i compiti di italiano.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rephrase the sentences using the adverb of time indicated in parentheses (then, after, before, already, now/at the moment). Change the position of the adverb when necessary.

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints

Hint Hint (poi) Vado in palestra. Faccio la doccia.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Vado in palestra e poi faccio la doccia.
(I go to the gym and then I take a shower.)
Hint Hint (dopo) Ceniamo. Guardiamo un film.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Dopo cena guardiamo un film.
(After dinner we watch a movie.)
Hint Hint (prima) Esco. Scrivo le email importanti.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Prima di uscire scrivo le email importanti.
(Before going out I write the important emails.)
Hint Hint (già) Ho letto questo documento? Ho letto questo documento.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Ho già letto questo documento.
(I have already read this document.)
Hint Hint (ora) Studio italiano. Parlo con la mia collega italiana.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Ora studio italiano e poi parlo con la mia collega.
(Now I study Italian and then I talk with my colleague.)
Hint Hint (adesso) Faccio una pausa caffè. Lavoro.

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Adesso faccio una pausa caffè e poi lavoro.
(Now I take a coffee break and then I work.)

Exercise 3: Grammar in action

Instruction: With a partner, tell each other the activities you do before and after work.

Show/Hide translation

Situation

Sei a un aperitivo con colleghi e parlate dei vostri hobby.

Discuss

Cosa fai prima di andare al lavoro e cosa fai dopo il lavoro? (What do you do before going to work and what do you do after work?)
Quali hobby fai adesso e quali facevi prima? Usa frasi semplici. (Which hobbies do you do now and which did you do before? Use simple sentences.)

Useful words and phrases

Nel tempo libero leggo e poi disegno. (In my free time I read and then I draw.)
Dopo il lavoro ascolto musica o suono uno strumento. (After work I listen to music or play an instrument.)
Prima di cenare passo tempo con la famiglia, adesso guardo un film. (Before dinner I spend time with my family; now I watch a film.)

Use in conversation

prima di + infinito (before + infinitive)
poi / dopo + frase (then / after + sentence)
adesso / ora + presente (now / currently + present tense)