Examples of circumstantial complement of time

Within a sentence, the verb can be accompanied by a series of complements that provide extra information about the action carried out by the verb itself. These complements are known as verbal complements. Depending on the type of information they add, some of these supplements are mandatory; that is, the verb requires its presence in the sentence.

However, there are also other verbal complements whose presence is not necessary and can be omitted without any inconvenience: they are called circumstantial complements, in charge of detailing the circumstances in which the verbal action takes place. The circumstantial accessories have a very diverse typology. In this lesson from a teacher we are going to focus on giving you examples of circumstantial complement of time in order to better understand the explanation.

As we have previously indicated, circumstantial complements are characterized, fundamentally, because are not needed within the sentence so that this has a complete sense but they are used with the aim of expanding the verbal information by providing more details.

In the case at hand, the snap circumstance of time is used to describe or specify the time in which the action of the verb is carried out. Therefore, to easily recognize this complement, the verb is asked When?:

• We're going to the beach weekend? - When are we going to the beach?

"The weekend" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Want to see you now. - When do I want to see you?

"Now" is the circumstantial complement of time.

Note that, in both examples, it is possible to omit both circumstantial time complements without the verb losing its meaning; that is, the resulting sentences by removing the circumstantial complements, are perfectly understandable: We're going to the beach? or Want to see you.

In a Professor we discover all the verb complementsso that you know the ones that exist.

Next, through a series of examples, we show you some of the most common circumstantial time complements in Spanish:

• Juan missed the train this morning.

"This morning" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Every Friday I play soccer with my classmates.

"Every Friday" is the circumstantial complement of time. Keep in mind that it is not mandatory that the circumstantial complements always go at the end of the sentence but they can also be placed at the beginning or in the middle of it:

• My grandfather always drinks a glass of wine with every meal.

"Always" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• When I was little, my brother fell off his bike.

"When I was little" works as a circumstantial complement of time.

• See you in the square in half an hour.

"In half an hour" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Your friends came yesterday asking for you.

"Yesterday" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Then I have something very important to tell you.

"After" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• We will go to the park later.

"Later" works as a circumstantial complement of time.

• Still haven't done your homework?

"Still" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• My partner will see you right away, sir.

"Immediately" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Today is the cloudy day.

"Today" is the circumstantial complement of time.

• Are you going to come later for a drink?

"Then" is the circumstantial complement of time.

There are many more circumstantial time add-ons. Would you be able to find any more? Share it with us!

In this video of a teacher you will discover everything about the Circumstantial Complement and in this other we help you to know differentiate the circumstantial complement from the indirect one.