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。
  • ​​​First, we went to the hotel.​
  • 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。
  • ​​​Last, we ate dessert.​
  • 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。
  • I got up early in the morning. Then, I made breakfast.
  • 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。
  • First, you slice the bread. Next, you spread the butter.
  • 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。
  • First, you slice the bread. But before that, please open the bag.
  • 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。
  • Next, you spread the butter. After that, you spread the jam.
  • 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。
  • Later, we went home.

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.
  • ときどき、わたしは　パンを　たべます。
  • わたしは、ときどき　パンを　たべます。
  • わたしは、パンを　ときどき　たべます。
  • Sometimes I eat bread.
  • I sometimes eat bread.
  • I eat bread sometimes.
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