Time adverbials

Post date: Dec 4, 2014 11:46:29 AM

Time adverbials show a relationship between one event and another (or others). They help the speaker or writer to show the sequence of events in a narrative.

Initially, at first, at the beginning, to begin with

are used to show the situation near the start of a story (or part of a story) and suggest that things might be different later on. There is often this suggestion of a contrast between the beginning and later events, e.g. Initially everything was fine already suggests that further on in the story we might read something like ... but later we had some problems.

Eventually, finally, in the end

all have a similar meaning when used to tell a story. All three suggest that there has been a long story, probably with delays, difficulties and problems. the final event or action is probably the result of a long process leading up to it.

Subsequently

tells us that an event happened after (and possibly because of) something that came before it, e.g. Mary said she couldn't come and subsequently the picnic was cancelled.

Later on

means 'at a later time, after the time that has just been mentioned'. In this example: Peter stayed for tea until four o'clock. Later on he called in at the garage. Peter did not go to the garage at four o'clock, but went some time after that. In most cases, later on means exactly the same as later.

Afterwards

means that something happened after something else. Although we can say After the party.... or After visiting the museum..., etc. we do not use the word after on its own (i.e. if we do not name what something was after). Instead we use the longer word afterwards which has the same meaning. So the following example is incorrect: Mary enjoyed the visit to the swimming pool. After she walked along the lakeside. But this small correction would make it fine: Mary enjoyed the visit to the swimming pool. Afterwards she walked along the lakeside.

After a while

means 'after a (usually short) period of time'. this typically means after some minutes or hours. In other contexts it can mean after some months or years.

Word order with time adverbials

The schema below shows three possible positions (A,B and C) in a sentence for the time adverbials.

A They B went to the cafe C .

The list below shows which words can normally go where, e.g. the word eventually is (ABC) which means that you can say Eventually they went to the cafe or They eventually went to the cafe or They went to the cafe eventually.

For single word items the end of the sentence position (C) is less likely than the others.

ABC

eventually, finally, initially, subsequently

AC

afterwards, after a while, at first, at the beginning, in the end, later on, to begin with.