- Do you ever wonder if you should say “today morning” or “this morning”?
- Are you unsure whether to use “on today” or just “today” in a sentence?
- Do you want to sound more natural and fluent when talking about plans and events happening right now?
Understanding English collocations is a cornerstone of achieving true fluency. Instead of translating word-for-word, learning how words naturally pair together, like with “today,” helps you speak more smoothly, understand native speakers better, and express yourself with greater accuracy and confidence. This comprehensive guide will help you master the most common and essential Today Collocations, ensuring your English sounds natural and precise.
Common Collocations with Today as an Adverb
When “today” functions as an adverb, it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that an action or state is happening on the current day. It tells us when something occurs.
Indicating Timeframes and Schedules
- Earlier today: Refers to a time during the current day that has already passed.
- I spoke with her earlier today about the upcoming deadline.
- The package arrived earlier today than expected.
- Later today: Refers to a time during the current day that is yet to come.
- Let’s catch up later today to discuss the new proposal.
- The weather forecast predicts rain later today.
- All day today: Emphasizes that something lasts for the entire duration of the current day.
- I’ve been working on this presentation all day today.
- It’s been raining all day today, non-stop.
- Today at [time]: Specifies a particular time on the current day.
- Our team meeting is scheduled for today at 10 AM.
- The doctor’s office opens today at 9:30 AM.
Describing Actions and Events
- Meet today: To have an appointment or gathering on the current day.
- Can we meet today to finalize the project details?
- I’m hoping to meet today with the new client.
- Start today: To begin an activity, project, or process on the current day.
- The new marketing campaign will start today.
- I decided to start today with my new exercise routine.
- Finish today: To complete an activity or task on the current day.
- I need to finish today‘s report before I leave.
- Do you think we can finish today, or will it carry over?
- Arrive today: To reach a destination on the current day.
- My international flight is expected to arrive today.
- The delivery should arrive today, according to the tracking.
- Leave today: To depart on the current day.
- They plan to leave today for their family vacation.
- I need to leave today before rush hour starts.
- Due today: Indicates a deadline or payment date for the current day.
- The essay is due today by 5 PM.
- Your library books are due today.
- Work today: To perform one’s job or duties on the current day.
- I don’t have to work today; it’s my day off.
- Are you planning to work today from the office or home?
- Cancel today: To call off or postpone an event or appointment scheduled for the current day.
- Unfortunately, we had to cancel today‘s outdoor event due to heavy rain.
- Did they cancel today‘s training session?
Essential Collocations using Today as a Noun
When “today” functions as a noun, it refers to the current day itself, often accompanied by a possessive (‘s) or used in phrases describing the day’s characteristics, events, or plans.
Possessive Forms and Characteristics
- Today’s [noun]: Indicates something belonging to or related to the current day. This is a very common and versatile collocation.
- Today’s weather forecast predicts sunshine and warmth.
- What’s on today’s agenda for the team?
- Have you read today’s headlines in the newspaper?
- I’m looking forward to today’s special at the cafe.
- Today’s news is full of surprising developments.
- The events of today: Refers to everything that happened on the current day.
- The events of today have been quite dramatic.
- Let’s reflect on the events of today before planning for tomorrow.
- Today is [adjective/noun]: Describes the nature or quality of the current day.
- Today is a beautiful day for a walk in the park.
- Today is an important milestone for our company.
Phrases Indicating Start or Continuation
- From today onwards / From today on: Starting from the current day and continuing into the future.
- From today onwards, I’m committed to learning a new language.
- The new policy takes effect from today on.
Master Summary Table: Key Collocations with TODAY
This table summarizes the most important collocations to help you quickly review and reinforce your learning for these common Today Collocations.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier today | Adverbial phrase | A past time on the current day |
| Later today | Adverbial phrase | A future time on the current day |
| All day today | Adverbial phrase | Throughout the current day |
| Meet today | Verb + Adverb | Have a meeting on the current day |
| Start today | Verb + Adverb | Begin something on the current day |
| Due today | Adjective + Adverb | Deadline is the current day |
| Today’s weather | Noun (possessive) + Noun | The weather of the current day |
| Today’s agenda | Noun (possessive) + Noun | The plan for the current day |
| From today onwards | Prepositional phrase | Starting now and continuing into the future |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common errors to sound more like a native speaker and improve your fluency. These are phrases that learners often translate directly from their first language but are not used in standard modern English.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| This morning | |
| This evening | |
| Tonight | |
| Today (e.g., “I will call you today”) | |
| I have a lot of work today / I’m busy today | |
| Make plans today / Plan something today | |
| Nowadays / In today’s society / In this day and age |
Subject: Urgent Project X Update & Next Steps
Hi Team,
Just a quick update on Project X. I finalized the client brief earlier today, and it seems the deadline for the first phase has been moved up. The final design mock-ups are now officially due today. I know we’ve been working incredibly hard all day today, but it’s crucial that we push to finish today‘s tasks. I’ve scheduled a brief sync-up for later today at 4 PM to discuss today’s agenda and ensure everyone is aligned. From today onwards, our focus must be solely on this project to ensure its success. Let me know if you can meet today before the 4 PM call for any urgent questions.
Best,
Sarah
Frequently Asked Questions about Today Collocations
Can I say “today morning” or “today evening”?
No, these are common learner errors. The correct and natural English collocations are “this morning” and “this evening.” For the night, we say “tonight.” These phrases are fixed and should not be replaced with “today” + time of day.
Is “today” capitalized in a sentence?
Generally, “today” is only capitalized if it is the first word of a sentence (e.g., “Today is a good day.”) or part of a proper noun (like a newspaper title “USA Today”). In the middle of a sentence, it is typically lowercase.
What’s the difference between “today” and “this day”?
“Today” is the most common, natural, and idiomatic way to refer to the current day in everyday speech and writing. “This day” is grammatically correct but sounds more formal, emphatic, or slightly archaic in most contexts. You might hear “this day” in literary works, speeches, or for strong emphasis, but “today” is preferred for general use.
How do prepositions work with “today”?
When “today” functions as an adverb of time, you generally *do not* use a preposition with it (e.g., “I will see you today,” not “I will see you on today“). However, you can use prepositions in specific phrases like “from today onwards” or “due by today.” The most common error is adding “on” before “today.”
Can “today” refer to the modern era, not just the current day?
Yes, absolutely! While its primary meaning is the current day, “today” can also refer to the present time, current age, or modern era, especially when used in phrases like “in today’s society,” “today’s youth,” “the challenges of today,” or “today’s technology.” This usage often implies a contrast with the past or a general reference to contemporary times.
Regarding 'earlier today,' does it imply a specific time or just 'at some point before now today'? For instance, can I say 'I saw him earlier today, around 10 AM,' or is it better to separate them?
Excellent question, Sven! 'Earlier today' usually implies 'at some point before now today' without specifying the exact time, but you can absolutely combine it with a specific time for clarity. Saying 'I saw him earlier today, around 10 AM' is perfectly natural and common. It adds precision without sounding redundant.
I loved this! Simple explanations for complicated things. My English is getting better thanks to Translateen!
Great article! Any chance you'll do a follow-up on collocations with 'yesterday' or 'tomorrow'? I often make similar mistakes there.
That's an excellent suggestion, Ricardo! We're always looking for topics that help our learners. We'll certainly keep 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow' collocations in mind for future articles. Thank you for the idea!
I admit, 'today morning' was a persistent error for me. It's so ingrained from how I think in my first language. This breakdown makes it much clearer why it's wrong.
It's completely understandable, Maya! Overcoming ingrained habits from your native language is one of the biggest challenges in language learning. The fact that you're recognizing and working on these distinctions shows incredible dedication and will lead to great improvements!
This article makes a fantastic teaching point for the importance of 'chunks' of language rather than individual words. Collocations are key to fluency!
Are there any regional differences in how these 'today' collocations are used, perhaps between US and UK English? Or are these generally universal?
That's a perceptive question, Anya! For the collocations discussed here ('this morning,' 'earlier/later today,' using 'today' as an adverb), the usage is remarkably consistent across major English dialects like US and UK English. These are fundamental patterns. While some idioms or specific vocabulary might vary, these basic temporal adverbs are quite universal.
This is a game-changer for my speaking! I feel like I can finally sound more native. Thank you, Translateen!
What about 'today night'? Is that acceptable or should it always be 'tonight'? I hear both sometimes, but 'tonight' sounds more correct to me.
You're spot on, Sofia! The standard and most natural English collocation is 'tonight' (meaning 'this night' or 'the night of the current day'). While 'today night' might be understood, it's not grammatically standard and sounds unnatural to native speakers. Always opt for 'tonight'!
The 'later today' section was great! Could you perhaps add a few more conversational examples? Sometimes I struggle to use it naturally in casual chats.
Absolutely, Lars! Here are a few more casual examples: 'I'll text you later today,' 'Let's grab coffee later today if you're free,' or 'I need to finish that report later today.' It's very versatile for future plans within the current day!
In Chinese, we say '今天早上' (jīntiān zǎoshang) which literally means 'today morning.' It's so hard to break that habit! This article really highlighted the importance of collocations.
Thank you for sharing that linguistic insight, Li Wei! It perfectly illustrates why learning collocations is so crucial – direct translation doesn't always work. Recognizing these differences is the first step to mastering natural English. Keep up the great work!