French grammar
Avant-hier, la semaine dernière, il y a...
Say when something happened.
From the scene Avant-hier, la semaine dernière (The day before yesterday, last week)
In short
Say when: lundi, avant-hier, il y a trois jours (ago), la semaine dernière. Dernier agrees: le mois dernier.
- on Monday lundi
- the day before yesterday avant-hier
- three days ago il y a trois jours
- last week la semaine dernière
- last month le mois dernier
Your turn
Which one goes with the day before yesterday?
Options: il y a trois jours · avant-hier · lundi
Show answer
the day before yesterday → avant-hier
How it works
Time markers say when something happened.
Good to know
Lundi (on Monday — no preposition, no article), avant-hier (the day before yesterday), il y a trois jours (three days ago), la semaine dernière (last week).
Good to know
Dernier agrees: la semaine dernière, le mois dernier.
on Monday lundi
Nuria
Horrible. Lundi a mal commencé.
Terrible. Monday started badly.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Horrible. (blank) a mal commencé.
Options: Il y a trois jours · Lundi · Avant-hier
Show answer
Nuria
Horrible. Lundi a mal commencé.
Terrible. Monday started badly.
the day before yesterday avant-hier
Nuria
Non. Avant-hier, j'ai encore mangé seule.
No. The day before yesterday I ate alone again.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non. (blank), j'ai encore mangé seule.
Options: Avant-hier · Lundi · Il y a trois jours
Show answer
Nuria
Non. Avant-hier, j'ai encore mangé seule.
No. The day before yesterday I ate alone again.
three days ago il y a trois jours
Nuria
Oui. Et il y a trois jours, la patronne a volé mon idée.
Yes. And three days ago, the boss stole my idea.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oui. Et (blank), la patronne a volé mon idée.
Options: lundi · avant-hier · il y a trois jours
Show answer
Nuria
Oui. Et il y a trois jours, la patronne a volé mon idée.
Yes. And three days ago, the boss stole my idea.
last week la semaine dernière
Elena
Encore ? Comme la semaine dernière ?
Again? Like last week?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Encore ? Comme (blank) ?
Options: la semaine dernière · lundi · avant-hier
Show answer
Elena
Encore ? Comme la semaine dernière ?
Again? Like last week?
last month le mois dernier
Nuria
Oui. Et comme le mois dernier. Toujours pareil !
Yes. And like last month. Always the same!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oui. Et comme (blank). Toujours pareil !
Options: le mois dernier · lundi · avant-hier
Show answer
Nuria
Oui. Et comme le mois dernier. Toujours pareil !
Yes. And like last month. Always the same!
Watch out
Le lundi means every Monday, and il y a + time means ago.
Common mistake
Not Hier avant or Avant d'hier here. The day before yesterday.
Non. Avant-hier, j'ai encore mangé seule.
No. The day before yesterday I ate alone again.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| on Monday | lundi |
|---|---|
| the day before yesterday | avant-hier |
| three days ago | il y a trois jours |
| last week | la semaine dernière |
| last month | le mois dernier |
More lines from the story
- NuriaUne bonne chose... il y a un mois. Mes vacances !Something good... a month ago. My holidays!