Adverbials and time expressions

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Adverbials of frequency

A range of adverbials can be used to express how often an event occurs or something is done.
• Always, seldom, rarely, hardly ever, almost never and never are used in mid-position in a sentence:
– before the main verb in a sentence, and after the auxiliary or modal verb.

They always plan the events of the month in advance.

We have seldom spent the weekend in the office.
His line manager can rarely keep a meeting short.

– between two auxiliary verbs (e.g. has and been).

She has hardly ever been given a sensible answer when she asked how to manage her workload.

– after the verb be.

Employees at our company are almost never trained in time management.

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Normally and usually come in mid-position or at the beginning of a sentence.

Our manager normally plans the assignments for the month.

Usually, we look over the timetable when we get to work in the morning.

Note: When normally & usually are used at the beginning of a sentence, they are followed by a comma.

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• Frequently, occasionally, often and sometimes come in mid-position or at the beginning or end of a sentence.

They frequently reassign jobs.

Occasionally, upper management suggests timemanagement seminars to our boss.
We don’t often work from home.
I see him in the breakroom sometimes.

Note: When frequently, occasionally, often and sometimes are used at the beginning of a sentence, they are followed by a
comma.

• From time to time and now and then come at the beginning or end of a sentence.

From time to time, they attend extra courses.

I manage to leave the office early now and then.

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Time expressions
Time expressions can be used to indicate events taking place in the past/future and to specify the timeframe.

• At first is used to talk about the beginning of a situation in the past, especially when the situation is different in the
present. It can come at the beginning or end of a sentence or after the phrase it defines. When it comes at the beginning
of a sentence, it is followed by a comma.

I felt overwhelmed with the job at first. Now I really enjoy it.

• Recently is used to indicate events which happened in the near past or not long ago. It can be used with the Past or
Present Perfect tense. It can come in mid-position or at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Our boss recently gave us news about our new schedule.

• In a few … is used to indicate a particular period of time in the future. It can be combined with any noun in its plural
form indicating time, e.g. minutes, hours, days, months, years, etc. It can come at the beginning or end of a sentence.
In a few months this project will be finished.
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• At the latest is used to indicate that something must happen or be finished not later than the time mentioned.
It can come at the beginning or end of a sentence or after the phrase it defines. When it comes at the beginning of
a sentence, it is followed by a comma.

At the latest, this work needs to be completed by tomorrow.

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Expressions with day

Various expressions with day are used to indicate different periods of time.

• All day is used for events, actions or situations which takeplace from the morning to the evening. It can come in
midposition or at the end of a sentence.
It isn’t good to sit all day at a desk.

• Any day is used to indicate an event or action which can take place at an unspecified day and time in the future. It
can come in mid-position or at the end of a sentence.
You can call me any day at my office number.

• Every day is used to indicate events, actions or situations which take place throughout the week. It can refer to the
work week or all seven days of the week. It can come at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Every day, we start with a ‘to-do’ list.

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• On a daily basis is used to indicate events, actions or situations which take place every day of the week. It can
refer to the work week or all seven days of the week. It usually comes at the end of a sentence.
We all put in too many hours on a daily basis.

When a sentence has more than one clause, we may use more than one adverbial or time expression. In such cases,
each adverbial or time expression is positioned according to the rules above in the part of the sentence it relates to.

Some of my colleagues work overtime on a daily basis, but I almost never have to stay in the office after 5 p.m. (on a daily
basis refers to how often the colleagues work overtime; almost never refers to how often the person stays in the office past
5 p.m.)

In a few weeks, the system will be going live, but there are always problems for the first few days. (In a few weeks refers to
when the system goes live; almost never refers to how often there are problems)

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