37.    Adverbs of time

A.     afterwards, eventually, lately, now, recently, soon, then, today, tomorrow etc. and adverb phrases of time: at once, since then, till (6.00 etc.)

These are usually placed at the very beginning or at the very end of the clause, i.e. in front position or end position. End position is usual with imperatives and phrases with till:

Eventually he came/He came eventually.

Then we went home/We went home then.

Write today.       I'll wait till tomorrow.

With compound tenses, afterwards, eventually, lately, now, recently, soon can come after the auxiliary:

We'll soon be there.

B.     before, early, immediately and late come at the end of the clause:

He came late.       I'll go immediately.

But before and immediately, used as conjunctions, are placed at the beginning of the clause:

Immediately the rain stops we'll set out.

C.     since and ever since are used with perfect tenses.

since can come after the auxiliary or in end position after a negative or interrogative verb; ever since (adverb) in end position. Phrases and clauses with since and ever since are usually in end position, though front position is possible:

He's been in bed since his accident/since he broke his leg.

D.     yet and still (adverbs of time)

yet is normally placed after verb or after verb + object:

He hasn't finished (his breakfast) yet.

But if the object consists of a large number of words, yet can be placed before or after the verb:

He hasn't yet applied/applied yet for the job we told him about. still is placed after the verb be but before other verbs:

She is still in bed.

yet means 'up to the time of speaking'. It is chiefly used with the negative or interrogative.

still emphasizes that the action continues. It is chiefly used with the affirmative or interrogative, but can be used with the negative to emphasize the continuance of a negative action:

He still doesn't understand. (The negative action of 'not

understanding' continues.)

He doesn't understand yet. (The positive action of 'understanding'

hasn't yet started.)

When stressed, still and yet express surprise, irritation or impatience. Both words can also be conjunctions (see 327).

E.     just, as an adverb of time, is used with compound tenses: