Adverbs of time in Portuguese provide information about when an action occurs. They can clarify timing, frequency, or the sequence of events. Here’s how to effectively use them in sentences.

Expressing Time with Adverbs

• Agora: Use agora to express that something is happening at the present moment.

  • Estou estudando agora.

• Ainda: Use ainda to indicate continuity or that something is still happening.

  • Eu ainda estou aqui.

• Amanhã: Use amanhã to talk about actions that will occur the next day.

  • Vou ao médico amanhã.

• Anteontem: Use anteontem for actions that occurred two days prior to today.

  • Anteontem foi meu aniversário.

• Depois: Use depois when referring to something happening later or after another event.

  • Vamos ao cinema e depois jantar fora.

• Hoje: Use hoje for events occurring during the current day.

  • Hoje tenho uma reunião importante.

• Ontem: Use ontem for actions that occurred one day before today.

  • Ontem encontrei um amigo.

• Passado: Use passado to refer to events that occurred in a time that has already been completed. Often combined with nouns such as 'mês' (month) or 'ano' (year).

  • Na semana passada, viajei para o Rio.

• Recentemente: Use recentemente for actions that have taken place not long ago.

  • Recentemente comecei a aprender francês.

• Sempre: Use sempre to indicate that something happens all the time or continuously.

  • Eu sempre leio antes de dormir.

Understanding how these adverbs structure time can help in both speaking and comprehension when discussing schedules, routines, or narrating events. Comprehending these adverbs makes following and describing events proactively in conversations a lot more manageable.