Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes
In this lesson on Spanish adverbios de tiempo, you will learn to express the timing of actions with common time adverbs like ahora (now), antes (before), después (after), and luego (then). These words help you specify when something happens, as in "Ahora pinto un cuadro" (Now I paint a picture) or "Después de escuchar música vamos a la biblioteca" (After listening to music, we go to the library). You'll also explore useful adverbs like ya (already) and todavía (still/not yet), which often require the use of the present perfect, such as "Ya hemos leído este libro" (We have already read this book). The lesson highlights word order rules, showing how time adverbs can come either at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, e.g., "Ahora escucho la música," or at the end as additional information, e.g., "Escribo sobre música hoy." By mastering these expressions, you will enhance your ability to situate events in time clearly and naturally in everyday Spanish conversations.
- Adverbs of time are placed at the beginning of the sentence when the time is being emphasized. For example, Ahora escucho la música.
- Adverbs of time go at the end of the sentence when they only add additional information or the emphasis on the time is minor. For example: "Escribo sobre música hoy."
| Adverbio de tiempo (Adverb of time) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|
| Ahora (Now) | Ahora pinto un cuadro. (Now I paint a picture.) |
| Antes (Before) | Antes de ir al parque veo una película. (Before going to the park, I watch a film.) |
| Después (Afterwards) | Después de escuchar música vamos a la biblioteca. (Afterwards we go to the library after listening to music.) |
| Luego (Then) | Luego doy un paseo. (Then, I take a walk.) |
| Ya (Already) | Ya hemos leído este libro. (Already we have read this book.) |
| Todavía (Still) | Todavía no he escuchado esta música. (Still I have not listened to this music.) |
| Hoy (Today) | Hoy dibujo durante una hora. (Today I draw for an hour.) |
| Mañana (Tomorrow) | Mañana voy a sacar muchas fotos. (Tomorrow I am going to take many photos.) |
| Temprano (Early) | Temprano leo el libro para la escuela. (Early I read the book for school.) |
| Tarde (Late) | Tarde en la noche, no escucho música. (Late at night, I don't listen to music.) |
Exceptions!
- With "ya" and "todavía" we use the present perfect. For example: "Ya hemos sacado fotos en el museo."
Exercise 1: Adverbios de tiempo: "Ahora, antes, después, luego, etc..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Todavía, Ahora, Antes, Temprano, Hoy, Ya, Tarde, Después
1.
..., en este momento, escucho música en el jardín.
(Now, at this moment, I am listening to music in the garden.)
2.
... de salir, dibujo algo.
(Before leaving, I draw something.)
3.
... he leído sobre la música.
(I have already read about music.)
4.
... no he pintado nada hoy.
(I haven't painted anything yet today.)
5.
... de sacar las fotos, me voy a casa.
(After taking the photos, I am going home.)
6.
... por la mañana escucho música.
(Early in the morning I listen to music.)
7.
... por la noche veo una película.
(Late at night I watch a film.)
8.
... no he dibujado nada. A lo mejor dibujo algo mañana.
(Today I haven't drawn anything. Maybe I'll draw something tomorrow.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ahora ______ un cuadro en mi tiempo libre.
(Now ______ a picture in my free time.)2. Antes de ir al museo, ______ un libro interesante.
(Before going to the museum, ______ an interesting book.)3. Después de escuchar música, ______ fotos con la cámara.
(After listening to music, ______ photos with the camera.)4. Luego ______ un dibujo para decorar la habitación.
(Then ______ a drawing to decorate the room.)5. Ya ______ leído esa película que tanto te gusta.
(We have already ______ read that movie you like so much.)6. Todavía no ______ escuchado la música nueva del grupo.
(I still haven't ______ listened to the new music from the band.)