# Time words go first in Vietnamese (A1)

> In Vietnamese the time usually comes first, before the person: Hôm nay tôi đi làm. I'm going to work today.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/time-before-verb/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**time at the start**

Pattern: `[time] + [person] + [verb] · [person] + [verb] + (lúc / vào) + [time]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

In Vietnamese the time usually comes first, before the person: *Hôm nay tôi đi làm.* I'm going to work today. English tends to put the time at the end; Vietnamese puts it up front, where it sets the time for the whole sentence. That's one reason verbs don't need to change: *Hôm qua tôi đi làm* is "I went to work yesterday".

This works for any point in time: a day (*thứ bảy*), a part of the day (*tối nay*), a clock time (*bảy giờ*), or words like *hôm qua* and *tuần sau*. Questions keep the same order: *Mai anh làm gì?* What are you doing tomorrow?

No word is needed in front of the time. In particular, don't use *ở* before a day or a clock time: *Bảy giờ tôi ăn sáng.*

A time can also go at the end, usually with *lúc* before a clock time or *vào* before a day: *Tôi ăn sáng lúc bảy giờ.* That's an ordinary place for it too, and it fits well when the time is the answer to "when?". Words like *mai*, *hôm qua* and *tuần sau* take nothing in front at the end: *Tôi đi Huế tuần sau.* I'm going to Huế next week.

A length of time is different: *hai tiếng* or *ba ngày* goes after the verb.

## Examples

- Sáng nay em uống cà phê với bạn. — This morning I had coffee with a friend.
- Mai anh làm gì? — What are you doing tomorrow?
- Thứ bảy tôi không đi làm. — I don't work on Saturdays.
- Tôi ăn sáng lúc bảy giờ. — I have breakfast at seven.

## Compare

- [How long goes after the verb: học hai năm, no 'for'](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duration-after-verb/): duration after the verb
- [At a time: lúc / vào lúc, vào + day](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vao-luc-at-time/): at / on (time)

Previous in Time and when things happen: [This, last, next: tuần này, tuần trước, tuần sau](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/this-last-next/)
Next in Time and when things happen: [Weekdays: thứ hai … chủ nhật](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thu-weekdays/)

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