Time Expressions
In this guide, you will learn how to use common time expressions in the language with code. Time expressions are essential when talking about the present, future, and past. They provide context and clarity to your statements. We will cover the following time expressions:
- oggi (today)
- domani (tomorrow)
- ieri (yesterday)
- la mattina (in the morning)
- il pomeriggio (in the afternoon)
- la sera (in the evening)
Let's explore each of these time expressions in detail.
oggi (today)
Use oggi to refer to the current day. It indicates the present moment and is often used to talk about activities happening today. Here are a few examples:
- Ho una riunione importante oggi. (I have an important meeting today.)
- Oggi è il mio compleanno. (Today is my birthday.)
- Ho fatto una passeggiata oggi pomeriggio. (I took a walk this afternoon.)
domani (tomorrow)
When you want to talk about events or actions happening in the future, use domani (tomorrow). It is a forward-looking time expression. Consider the following examples:
- Verrò a trovarti domani. (I will come to visit you tomorrow.)
- Domani sarà una giornata impegnativa. (Tomorrow will be a busy day.)
- Domani mattina andremo al mercato. (Tomorrow morning, we will go to the market.)
ieri (yesterday)
To discuss events that have already taken place in the past, use ieri (yesterday). It refers to the day before the current day. Have a look at these examples:
- Sono andato al cinema ieri sera. (I went to the cinema yesterday evening.)
- Abbiamo mangiato una pizza deliziosa ieri. (We ate a delicious pizza yesterday.)
- Sono tornato a casa tardi ieri notte. (I came back home late last night.)
la mattina (in the morning)
When you want to specify actions happening during the morning hours, use la mattina (in the morning). It provides a temporal context for the activities you are describing. Consider the following examples:
- Mi piace fare una passeggiata la mattina presto. (I like to take a walk in the early morning.)
- La mattina mi sveglio sempre alle 7. (I always wake up at 7 in the morning.)
- Studio italiano la mattina prima di andare al lavoro. (I study Italian in the morning before going to work.)
il pomeriggio (in the afternoon)
To talk about activities happening during the afternoon, use il pomeriggio (in the afternoon). It helps specify the time frame in which something occurred. Here are a few examples:
- Nel pomeriggio, ho incontrato degli amici al parco. (In the afternoon, I met some friends at the park.)
- Mi piace prendere un caffè nel pomeriggio. (I like to have a coffee in the afternoon.)
- Oggi ho una lezione di danza nel pomeriggio. (Today, I have a dance class in the afternoon.)
la sera (in the evening)
When you want to talk about activities happening during the evening, use la sera (in the evening). It helps convey the temporal context of your actions. Consider the following examples:
- Usciamo a cena stanotte con gli amici. (We are going out for dinner tonight with friends.)
- Guardo la televisione la sera dopo cena. (I watch TV in the evening after dinner.)
- Il concerto inizierà la sera tardi. (The concert will start late in the evening.)
Conclusion
In this guide, we covered common time expressions in the language with code. By mastering these expressions, you will be able to talk about the present, future, and past with confidence. Remember to use them appropriately to provide temporal context to your statements. Practice using these time expressions in different sentence structures to enhance your language skills.