Sequence Markers
& Adverbs of Time
Words for explaining when events happened and in what order
Pick and choose words from the list, as appropriate for your own writing. Similar words can be used interchangeably - using a variety of expressions adds interest and variety to your writing.
Putting events in sequence:
- さいしょ に - first
Use to say what you did or will do first. Comes at the beginning of the sentence.
さいしょに ホテルに いきました。
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- さいご に - last; at the end
Use to say what you did or will do last. Comes at the beginning of the sentence
さいごに デザートを たべました。
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- そして - (and) then
Use to add more information to the same idea. Comes at the beginning of the sentence.
わたしは あさ はやく おきました。そして、あさごはんを つくりました。
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- つぎ(に)- next
Use to add more information to the same idea. Comes at the beginning of the sentence.
さいしょ に パンを スライス します。つぎに、バターを ぬります。
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- その まえ に - before that
Use for giving background info before the main event. Comes at/near the beginning of the sentence.
さいしょ に パンを スライス します。でも、そのまえに、ふくろ を あけて ください。
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- その あと で - after that
Use for being specific about the sequence. Comes at/near the beginning of the sentence.
つぎに バターを ぬります。そのあとで、ジャムを ぬります。
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- あとで - later
Comes at/near the beginning of the sentence.
あとで、わたしたちは いえに かえりました。
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Adverbs of Time:
Adverbs of time can come at the beginning of the sentence, before the verb phrase, or directly in front of the verb. You do NOT need to use particles after adverbs of time.
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GENERAL
- ときどき - sometimes
- よく - often
- いつも - always
- ぜんぜん - never
(used with negative verb - e.g. わたしは ぜんぜん パンを たべません。I never eat bread.)
- あまり - seldom
(used with negative verb - e.g. わたしは あまり パンを たべません。I seldom eat bread.)
DAYS
- きのう - yesterday
- きょう - today
- あした - tomorrow
- まいにち - every day
- まいあさ - every morning
- まいばん - every evening/every night
WEEKS
- せんしゅう - last week
- こんしゅう - this week
- らいしゅう - next week
- まいしゅう - every week
MONTHS
- せんげつ - last month
- こんげつ - this month
- らいげつ - next month
- まいつき - every month
YEARS
- きょねん - last year
- ことし - this year
- らいねん - next year
- まいとし - every year