Adverbs of Time Worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one and pick the best adverb of time from the list that makes sense.

The options are:
last week, before, last month, yet, now, today, tomorrow, last year, later, yesterday

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1) My uncle will come by train __________.
→ “Will come” means future. So we need a future time word.
✔ tomorrow fits best.

2) Jane hasn’t left for the party __________.
→ “Hasn’t left” is present perfect — often used with “yet” to mean “up to now.”
✔ yet is correct here.

3) I cleaned the attic __________.
→ “Cleaned” is past tense. We need a past time word.
Could be “yesterday,” “last week,” etc. But let’s see which one fits best without more context.
We’ll hold off and check others first.

4) Kevin works as a teacher __________.
→ “Works” is present simple — habitual action. Could use “now” or no adverb, but “now” implies current situation.
✔ now works well.

5) Matt will be back __________.
→ Future again. “Later” or “tomorrow” could work. “Later” is vague but okay. Let’s compare.

6) She paid her car insurance __________.
→ Past tense. Needs a past time. “Yesterday,” “last week,” etc.

7) Valerie is going to Chicago __________.
→ Future (“is going to”). So “tomorrow” or “later”.

8) We stayed at a beach resort __________.
→ Past tense. “Last summer”? Not in list. “Last year” or “last month” or “yesterday”.

9) I have never seen him __________.
→ Present perfect + “never” → usually goes with “before” (meaning up until now).
✔ before is perfect here.

10) Grace volunteered at the local library __________.
→ Past tense. Again, needs a past time.

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Now let’s assign unique answers so none repeat unless necessary (but actually, some can repeat? The instructions don’t say they must be unique — but typically in these exercises, you choose from the list and may reuse if needed. However, looking at the ladder, there are 10 blanks and 10 words — so likely each word is used once.)

Wait — count the options:

List has:
1. last week
2. before
3. last month
4. yet
5. now
6. today
7. tomorrow
8. last year
9. later
10. yesterday

That’s exactly 10 — so probably each is used once.

So we must assign each word to one sentence.

Let’s match carefully:

Sentence 1: Future → “tomorrow” ✔
Sentence 2: Present perfect negative → “yet” ✔
Sentence 3: Past → maybe “yesterday”?
Sentence 4: Present habit → “now” ✔
Sentence 5: Future return → “later” ✔ (since “tomorrow” taken)
Sentence 6: Paid insurance → recent past? “today” possible, but “paid” might imply completed action — “yesterday” or “last week”
Sentence 7: Going to Chicago → future → only “tomorrow” and “later” left? Wait, “tomorrow” already used in #1. So maybe “later” for #5, then what for #7? Hmm.

Wait — perhaps reassign.

Alternative approach:

Let’s group sentences by tense:

Future:
- 1) will come → tomorrow / later
- 5) will be back → later / tomorrow
- 7) is going to → tomorrow / later

Past:
- 3) cleaned → yesterday / last week / last month / last year
- 6) paid → same
- 8) stayed → same
- 10) volunteered → same

Present:
- 4) works → now
- 9) have never seen → before
- 2) hasn’t left → yet

Also, “today” can be present or past depending on context.

Let’s try assigning uniquely:

Start with clear ones:

2) Jane hasn’t left... → yet
4) Kevin works... → now
9) I have never seen... → before

That’s 3 done.

Remaining: last week, last month, today, tomorrow, last year, later, yesterday

Sentences left: 1,3,5,6,7,8,10 → 7 sentences

Options left: 7 words → good.

Now:

1) My uncle will come by train → tomorrow
5) Matt will be back → later
7) Valerie is going to Chicago → ??? Only future words left? “Tomorrow” and “later” taken. What about “today”? “Is going to Chicago today” is possible.

But “today” can also be used for past: “She paid today” — if it happened earlier today.

Similarly, “I cleaned the attic today” — possible.

So let’s consider:

Use “today” for a past action that happened earlier today.

Try:

3) I cleaned the attic → today
6) She paid her car insurance → yesterday
8) We stayed at a beach resort → last year (longer ago)
10) Grace volunteered → last month
Then 7) Valerie is going to Chicago → tomorrow? But we assigned “tomorrow” to #1.

Conflict.

Better:

Assign “tomorrow” to #7 (going to Chicago tomorrow sounds natural)

Then #1: “My uncle will come by train” → could be “later”

#5: “Matt will be back” → “tomorrow” taken, so “later” taken? No.

Wait — let’s list all sentences with best fit:

1) My uncle will come by train → later (vague future)
2) Jane hasn’t left... → yet
3) I cleaned the attic → yesterday
4) Kevin works... → now
5) Matt will be back → tomorrow
6) She paid... → today (if she paid earlier today)
7) Valerie is going to Chicago → tomorrow? Conflict with #5.

No — can’t use “tomorrow” twice.

Perhaps:

7) Valerie is going to Chicago → next week? Not in list.

Only options are given.

Another idea: “last week” for a past action.

Let’s do this systematically:

Make a table:

Sentence | Best Fit Adverb
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1) will come | tomorrow
2) hasn't left | yet
3) cleaned | yesterday
4) works | now
5) will be back | later
6) paid | today
7) is going to | ???
8) stayed | last year
9) have never seen | before
10) volunteered | last month

Left for #7: only “last week” remains? But “is going to” is future, “last week” is past — doesn’t fit.

Problem.

Unless... “Valerie is going to Chicago last week” — grammatically wrong.

So mistake somewhere.

Perhaps #6: “She paid her car insurance” — could be “last week”

Then #3: “I cleaned the attic” — “yesterday”

#10: “Grace volunteered” — “last month”

#8: “We stayed” — “last year”

Then #7: “Valerie is going to Chicago” — needs future. Only “tomorrow” and “later” left.

But #1 and #5 also need future.

Three future sentences: 1,5,7

Two future adverbs: tomorrow, later

And “today” can be future? “I’m leaving today” — yes, if said in morning.

So perhaps:

7) Valerie is going to Chicago → today

Then #6: “She paid” — could be “yesterday”

#3: “I cleaned” — “last week”

#10: “volunteered” — “last month”

#8: “stayed” — “last year”

Now futures:

1) will come → tomorrow

5) will be back → later

7) is going to → today

Check if all adverbs used:

Used:

- tomorrow (1)
- yet (2)
- last week (3)
- now (4)
- later (5)
- yesterday (6) — wait, I said #6 is “yesterday”, but above I said #6 is “yesterday”, #3 is “last week”

List:

1) tomorrow
2) yet
3) last week
4) now
5) later
6) yesterday
7) today
8) last year
9) before
10) last month

All 10 used! And all make sense.

Verify each:

1) My uncle will come by train tomorrow. → Good
2) Jane hasn’t left for the party yet. → Good
3) I cleaned the attic last week. → Makes sense
4) Kevin works as a teacher now. → Implies currently, good
5) Matt will be back later. → Vague future, acceptable
6) She paid her car insurance yesterday. → Past, good
7) Valerie is going to Chicago today. → If said in morning, fine
8) We stayed at a beach resort last year. → Good
9) I have never seen him before. → Perfect
10) Grace volunteered at the local library last month. → Good

All grammatical and logical.

Final Answer:

1) tomorrow
2) yet
3) last week
4) now
5) later
6) yesterday
7) today
8) last year
9) before
10) last month