Some Italian adverbs of time

Learning a foreign language isn’t easy. It requires at least strong commitment, a good amount of curiosity, and the will to reduce shyness.

When learning a language, each person encounters different difficulties. Some people struggle to learn new vocabulary. Others, instead, find it more difficult to talk using the right rhythms and tones.

If there’s one thing I’ve quickly learnt while teaching Italian is that you should assume nothing. Sometimes, a topic you think will be easy for a student, in reality will be not, and viceversa.

Usually, the topic that people who’re learning Italian consider one of the most difficult is grammar.

So, today, I’m going to talk about a grammar topic: Italian adverbs of time. In fact, for some Italian learners this is a topic which raises some doubts.

Italian adverbs of time tell us when an action takes place – in the present, in the past, or in the future.

Some Italian adverbs of time are: ora, adesso, mò, finora, dopo, poi, prima, presto, subito, tardi, talvolta, talora, spesso, sempre, mai, già, ormai, ancora, and allora.

ORA, ADESSO, MO’

Ora, adesso and mò are synonyms – mò is the informal dialect version. They are used to talk about an action that is happening in the exact moment I’m speaking.

Es:
Adesso/ora/mò telefono a Nadia
I’m going to phone to Nadia now

FINORA

It indicates that an action lasted up to the present time.

Es:
Finora non ci sono stati problemi
There have been no problems so far

DOPO, POI

They are synonyms and indicate that an action happens after the moment I’m speaking.

Es:
Dopo/poi leggo un libro
I’m going to read a book later

PRIMA

They are synonyms and indicate that an action happened before the moment I’m speaking.

Es:
Prima non era così antipatica!
She wasn’t so unpleasant once!

PRESTO; SUBITO

They indicate that an action happens within a short time from now – both in the past and in the future.

Es:
Ti scriverò presto
I’ll write to you soon

Non appena mi chiamò, corsi subito a casa di Maria
As soon as she called me, I ran straight to Maria’s

TARDI

They indicate that an action happens at some time in the future, or after the time that you’ve been talking about.

Es:
Tornerò a casa più tardi stasera
I’ll get home later this evening

TALVOLTA, TALORA

They are synonyms – talvolta is a little bit commoner than talora – and indicate that an action happens only in some occasions – both in the present, in the past and in the future.

Es:
Talvolta/talora è un po’ acida
She’s a little bit snippy sometimes

SPESSO

It indicates that an action happens on many occasions – both in the present, in the past and in the future.

Es:
Guardo molto spesso il telegiornale
I watch very often the news

SEMPRE

It indicates that an action happens on every occasion – both in the present, in the past and in the future.

Es:
Giorgio ride sempre
Giorgio always smiles

MAI

It indicates that an action never happens – both in the present, in the past and in the future.

Es:
Non mi sono mai piaciute le pesce
I never liked peaches

GIA’; ORMAI

They are used to indicate that an action did already take place.

Es:
Cosa? E’ già qui?
What? Is he already here?

Ormai non c’è nulla che tu possa fare
There’s nothing you can do now

ANCORA

It indicates that a situation continues to exist up to and including a particular time.

Es:
E’ ancora arrabbiata con te?
Is she still angry with you?

ALLORA

It’s used to talk about a period of time in the past and means back then.

Es:
Allora non avevamo molte cose, ma eravamo felici
We didn’t have many things back then, but we were happy

 

Did you know all these Italian adverbs of time? Do you find Italian adverbs of time difficult?
In your opinion, what’s the topic you find the most difficult to learn in Italian?

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Credits

Original image by 422737