Objetivos
Identify the correct adverb of time for the context
Adverbios de frecuencia
In Spanish, word order may be more flexible than it is in English. These adverbs of time and frequency may be used at the beginning or end of the sentence. However it is more common to see them at the beginning.
To say what someone does before or after another activity, use the expressions “antes de” + infinitive and “después de” + infinitive.
- Antes de cepillarme los dientes, yo tomo café.
(Before brushing my teeth, I drink coffee.) - Tengo que ducharme después de hacer ejercicio.
(I need to shower after exercising.)
Without the preposition “de”, “antes” and “después” change to mean “beforehand” and “afterwards”. They are followed by the conjugated verb.
- Usualmente hago ejercicio y después trabajo.
(Usually I exercise and afterwards I work.) - Tengo que hacer mi tarea pero antes voy a echarme una siesta.
(I have to do my homework but beforehand, I am going to take a nap.)
To express that you do something once, many times, or a couple of times you use the word “vez” (time, instance). Below are a few ways to use this expression, and it comes after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
- Me lavo el pelo tres veces a la semana. (I wash my hair three times a week.)
- Mi novio se afeita la barba una vez a la semana. (My boyfriend shaves his beard once a week.)
- Celebramos tu cumpleaños una vez al año. (We celebrate your birthday once a year.)
“Cada” + a day of the week, month, or another time expression also expresses “every”.