Spanish time markers: Ayer…, hoy…, mañana…

Talking about past events would be almost impossible without time markers.

In Spanish, we use time markers to talk about different past events. After all, there are several Spanish tenses you could use to do it.

When the speaker uses time markers, it becomes easier for the listener to understand what the speaker is saying. Also, identifying the time context isn’t a challenge.

Since time markers help you provide clearer information, they have become a must-have in your Spanish vocabulary.

Today, we will teach you how to use them and what things you need to keep in mind.

What are time markers?

Time markers are Spanish words that refer to a moment in time when a subject carries out an action.

For example, if you say “La semana pasada, compré un carro” = (Last week, I bought a car), you’re using “La semana pasada…” as a time marker.

In Spanish, there are many types of past tenses and these all are used in different ways. In general, all Spanish past sentences must have a time marker. Otherwise, the listener should recognize what time the speaker is talking about by understanding the context.

Let’s see the sample conversation below to get a better idea:

As you can see, Juan is providing a time context by saying “El mes pasado…”. On the other side, Carlos isn’t providing information about the time he moved. Still, you can assume that he’s talking about last month.

That assumption is valid unless Carlos says the contrary. For this case, the assumption made is valid because Juan reaffirmed that “El mes pasado fué un gran mes para los dos”.

Now, with all of this said, let’s see when should we use each Spanish past tense.

When do we have to use present perfect?

We use present perfect to express a past event that still has a connection with the present time or is near the present time. For this case, you should use time markers like “esta tarde”, “hoy”, and “este año”.

Let’s look at the following examples:

When do we have to use indefinite past?

In Spanish, we use indefinite past when we talk about specific events in the past that have already ended. Some time markers for this past tense are: “anoche”, “ayer”, and “en” + day/month/year/date.

Let’s see some good examples below to better understand how you should use these time markers:

 When do we have to use imperfect past?

Spanish speakers use imperfect past for three main purposes. First, to describe a situation in the past. Second, to describe a repeated action in the past. And third, to describe people or things in the past.

Some time markers we use in this past tense are: “mientras”, “siempre”, “con frecuencia”, and “generalmente”.

The following examples will help you understand how to use these time markers:

 How to use time markers

At this point, you already have an idea of how to use time markers. But, in this section, we will teach you a few other things you have to keep in mind.

First, since the present perfect describes situations in the past that have a connection with the present time, we need to use time markers with the same purpose.

Time markers that Spanish speakers typically use with present perfect are listed below:

On the other hand, when we talk about past events using indefinite past, we must use time markers that describe moments that have already ended.

Keep in mind that these past events do not have a connection with the present time. Consequently, the most common time markers used with this tense are:

You can also use any other expression that describes a concrete day:

Finally, the time markers we use with imperfect past are those that describe events that last in time. They do not describe punctual moments.

The typical time markers Spanish speakers use with this tense are listed below:

The last thing you should learn is how to place time markers in a sentence.

In general, you can place time markers at the beginning of the sentence, in the middle, or at the end. Usually, Spanish speakers place time markers before the main verb if they use present perfect or imperfect past.

Nevertheless, when using the indefinite past, the time marker could go before or after the main verb.

You can practice with some activities, click here!

Time markers in Spanish

In summary, as you may realize, using time markers is quite simple. However, there are lots of them. For that reason, you’ll need to start practicing as soon as possible.

Adding time markers to your vocabulary will help you improve not only your speaking skills but how you communicate.

Providing clear information is important to avoid misunderstandings. So, don’t hesitate to use time markers when speaking Spanish.