Les adverbes de temps et de fréquence – French adverbs of time and frequency explained

Key takeaways

Adverbs of time (adverbes de temps) indicate when something happens (e.g., aujourd’hui, demain).
Adverbs of frequency show how often an action happens (e.g., souvent, toujours, rarement).
They usually follow the verb, but placement can vary with compound tenses.
Learning them boosts fluency by helping you describe routines and timelines.
Many adverbs are easy to spot because they end in -ment.

What Are Adverbs of Time and Frequency?

Adverbs of time (adverbes de temps) answer the question “when?”, while adverbs of frequency answer “how often?”. They add precision and detail to sentences.

Examples:

Je pars demain. → I’m leaving tomorrow.
Il travaille toujours. → He always works.

Common Adverbs of Time (Adverbes de Temps)

Adverb	Meaning	Example
aujourd’hui	today	Je travaille aujourd’hui.
demain	tomorrow	Nous partirons demain.
hier	yesterday	Il est venu hier.
maintenant	now	Fais-le maintenant.
bientôt	soon	Elle reviendra bientôt.
déjà	already	J’ai déjà mangé.
encore	still/again	Il est encore à la maison.

Common Adverbs of Frequency (Adverbes de Fréquence)

Adverb	Meaning	Example
toujours	always	Je suis toujours en retard.
souvent	often	Ils voyagent souvent.
parfois	sometimes	Nous sortons parfois.
rarement	rarely	Elle regarde rarement la télé.
jamais	never	Il ne mange jamais de viande.
de temps en temps	from time to time	Je lis de temps en temps.
chaque jour	every day	Ils étudient chaque jour.

Placement of Adverbs in French Sentences

Simple tenses → after the verb

Je travaille souvent ici.

Compound tenses → between the auxiliary and past participle

J’ai toujours aimé le français.

Negative sentences → adverb goes after pas

Je ne sors jamais. → I never go out.

Adverbs of Time vs Frequency – Key Difference

Time adverbs → specify when → hier, demain, maintenant.
Frequency adverbs → specify how often → souvent, rarement, toujours.

Together they enrich your storytelling and everyday speech.

Examples of Adverbs in Action

Nous irons au cinéma demain. → We will go to the cinema tomorrow.
Elle est toujours gentille. → She is always kind.
Ils sortent rarement le soir. → They rarely go out in the evening.
Tu es déjà allé à Paris ? → Have you already been to Paris?

Practice Sentences

1. Fill in the blanks

Je vais au marché ________ (every day).
Elle est ________ (never) en retard.
Nous sortons ________ (tomorrow).

2. Translate into French

He always studies in the evening.
We sometimes watch TV.
I’m leaving soon.

3. Correct the mistakes

❌ Je toujours lis un livre.
❌ J’ai aimé déjà ce film.

Answers

chaque jour | jamais | demain
Il étudie toujours le soir | Nous regardons parfois la télé | Je pars bientôt
Je lis toujours un livre | J’ai déjà aimé ce film

Tips for Mastering French Adverbs of Time and Frequency

Memorize them in groups (time vs frequency).
Pay attention to their position in compound vs simple tenses.
Use them daily to describe routines, habits, and timelines.
Practice with flashcards by placing the adverb in full sentences.

For more grammar insights, check our French verb tenses overview. For strategies, explore learning French effectively. And if you’re curious about your learning journey, see how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

Adverbs of time and frequency (aujourd’hui, demain, toujours, souvent, jamais) help describe when and how often actions happen. They are key to sounding fluent and natural in French.

Resources like Lawless French’s guide on Adverbs of Frequency and Perfect French’s list of time and frequency adverbs are excellent for practice. Over time, you’ll easily add precision to your sentences as you learn French with Promova.