diff --git a/opal-task/TIME.md b/opal-task/TIME.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..511288f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/opal-task/TIME.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Time parsing
+
+## Time formats
+- mon, monday - sun, sunday
+- 21jan, 30dec etc
+- 2015-12-21
+- jan, feb, etc. - Sets to first of month
+- now, current date and time
+- today, tomorrow, yesterday - at time 00:00
+- sod, sow, som, soy - start of X at time 00:00
+- eod, eow, eom, eoy - end of X at time 23:59
+- later, someday - 2150-01-01 at time 00:00
+
+All time formats should also support time of day, mon:15:35 and mon:1535. 24-hour format. Mind the ':', must be seperated from the attribute:value syntax.
+
+## Duration formats
+- 5sec, second, seconds
+- 5min, minute, minutes 
+- 5hrs, hour, hours 
+- 3d[ays], 2w[eeks], 4m[onths], 1y[ear]. Singular if 1, plural >1
+- daily, weekly, monthly (30days), yearly
+
+There is indirect support for durations everywhere that a date value is expected.
+No ordinal assumes 1 (hours = hrs = hour = 60min)
+
+## Relative formats
+One attribute can be relative to another:
+`opal add Buy milk due:mon wait:due-1d`
diff --git a/opal-task/internal/engine/dateparse.go b/opal-task/internal/engine/dateparse.go
index ed5a542..d91ee69 100644
--- a/opal-task/internal/engine/dateparse.go
+++ b/opal-task/internal/engine/dateparse.go
@@ -2,34 +2,199 @@ package engine
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
-// ParseDate parses date strings with smart interpretation
-// Supports: ISO dates, relative (tomorrow, today), weekdays (sun, monday)
-func ParseDate(s string) (time.Time, error) {
-	s = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(s))
-	now := timeNow()
+// DateParser handles all date/time/duration parsing with configurable options
+type DateParser struct {
+	base      time.Time
+	weekStart time.Weekday
+}
 
+// NewDateParser creates a new DateParser with the given base time and week start
+func NewDateParser(base time.Time, weekStart time.Weekday) *DateParser {
+	return &DateParser{
+		base:      base,
+		weekStart: weekStart,
+	}
+}
+
+// NewDefaultDateParser creates a DateParser with current time and Monday week start
+func NewDefaultDateParser() *DateParser {
+	return &DateParser{
+		base:      timeNow(),
+		weekStart: time.Monday,
+	}
+}
+
+// ParseDate is the main entry point for date parsing
+// Handles: ISO dates, weekdays, month names, day+month, period boundaries, durations, time of day
+func (p *DateParser) ParseDate(s string) (time.Time, error) {
+	s = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(s))
+
+	// Check for time of day component (e.g., "mon:15:35" or "21jan:0800")
+	if dateStr, timeStr, hasTime := p.splitDateTime(s); hasTime {
+		dateVal, err := p.parseDateOnly(dateStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, err
+		}
+		return p.parseTimeOfDay(dateVal, timeStr)
+	}
+
+	return p.parseDateOnly(s)
+}
+
+// parseDateOnly parses just the date component without time
+func (p *DateParser) parseDateOnly(s string) (time.Time, error) {
 	// Try ISO format first
 	if t, err := time.Parse("2006-01-02", s); err == nil {
 		return t, nil
 	}
 
 	// Relative dates
-	switch s {
-	case "today":
-		return time.Date(now.Year(), now.Month(), now.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, now.Location()), nil
-	case "tomorrow":
-		tomorrow := now.AddDate(0, 0, 1)
-		return time.Date(tomorrow.Year(), tomorrow.Month(), tomorrow.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, tomorrow.Location()), nil
-	case "yesterday":
-		yesterday := now.AddDate(0, 0, -1)
-		return time.Date(yesterday.Year(), yesterday.Month(), yesterday.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, yesterday.Location()), nil
+	if t, ok := p.parseRelative(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
 	}
 
 	// Weekday names
+	if t, ok := p.parseWeekday(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	// Month names (jan, january, feb, etc.)
+	if t, ok := p.parseMonthName(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	// Day+month format (21jan, Jan21, etc.)
+	if t, ok := p.parseDayMonth(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	// Period boundaries (sod, eod, sow, eow, etc.)
+	if t, ok := p.parsePeriodBoundary(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	// Special keywords (later, someday)
+	if t, ok := p.parseSpecialKeyword(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	// Duration as date offset (2d, 3w, etc.)
+	if t, ok := p.parseDurationAsDate(s); ok {
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("unable to parse date: %s", s)
+}
+
+// splitDateTime checks if the string contains a time component
+// Returns dateStr, timeStr, hasTime
+func (p *DateParser) splitDateTime(s string) (string, string, bool) {
+	// Look for time patterns: HH:MM or HHMM at the end
+	// Examples: "mon:15:35", "21jan:0800", "15:35" (just time)
+
+	parts := strings.Split(s, ":")
+	if len(parts) < 2 {
+		return s, "", false
+	}
+
+	// Check last part for time pattern (2-4 digits)
+	lastPart := parts[len(parts)-1]
+	if len(lastPart) == 2 || len(lastPart) == 4 {
+		// Could be minutes (HH:MM) or HHMM format
+		if _, err := strconv.Atoi(lastPart); err == nil {
+			// Last part is numeric, could be time
+			if len(parts) == 2 {
+				// Format: "15:35" (just time, no date)
+				return "", s, true
+			} else if len(parts) >= 3 {
+				// Format: "mon:15:35" or similar
+				secondLast := parts[len(parts)-2]
+				if _, err := strconv.Atoi(secondLast); err == nil {
+					// HH:MM format
+					dateStr := strings.Join(parts[:len(parts)-2], ":")
+					timeStr := secondLast + ":" + lastPart
+					return dateStr, timeStr, true
+				} else if len(lastPart) == 4 {
+					// HHMM format
+					dateStr := strings.Join(parts[:len(parts)-1], ":")
+					return dateStr, lastPart, true
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return s, "", false
+}
+
+// parseTimeOfDay applies time to a date
+func (p *DateParser) parseTimeOfDay(date time.Time, timeStr string) (time.Time, error) {
+	var hour, minute int
+	var err error
+
+	if strings.Contains(timeStr, ":") {
+		// HH:MM format
+		parts := strings.Split(timeStr, ":")
+		if len(parts) != 2 {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid time format: %s", timeStr)
+		}
+		hour, err = strconv.Atoi(parts[0])
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid hour: %s", parts[0])
+		}
+		minute, err = strconv.Atoi(parts[1])
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid minute: %s", parts[1])
+		}
+	} else {
+		// HHMM format
+		if len(timeStr) != 4 {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid time format: %s (expected HHMM)", timeStr)
+		}
+		hour, err = strconv.Atoi(timeStr[0:2])
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid hour: %s", timeStr[0:2])
+		}
+		minute, err = strconv.Atoi(timeStr[2:4])
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid minute: %s", timeStr[2:4])
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Validate ranges
+	if hour < 0 || hour > 23 {
+		return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("hour must be 0-23: %d", hour)
+	}
+	if minute < 0 || minute > 59 {
+		return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("minute must be 0-59: %d", minute)
+	}
+
+	return time.Date(date.Year(), date.Month(), date.Day(), hour, minute, 0, 0, date.Location()), nil
+}
+
+// parseRelative handles relative date keywords
+func (p *DateParser) parseRelative(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	switch s {
+	case "now":
+		return p.base, true
+	case "today":
+		return time.Date(p.base.Year(), p.base.Month(), p.base.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, p.base.Location()), true
+	case "tomorrow":
+		tomorrow := p.base.AddDate(0, 0, 1)
+		return time.Date(tomorrow.Year(), tomorrow.Month(), tomorrow.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, tomorrow.Location()), true
+	case "yesterday":
+		yesterday := p.base.AddDate(0, 0, -1)
+		return time.Date(yesterday.Year(), yesterday.Month(), yesterday.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, yesterday.Location()), true
+	}
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// parseWeekday handles weekday names (mon, monday, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) parseWeekday(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
 	weekdays := map[string]time.Weekday{
 		"sun": time.Sunday, "sunday": time.Sunday,
 		"mon": time.Monday, "monday": time.Monday,
@@ -41,16 +206,52 @@ func ParseDate(s string) (time.Time, error) {
 	}
 
 	if targetWeekday, ok := weekdays[s]; ok {
-		return nextWeekday(now, targetWeekday), nil
+		return p.nextWeekday(targetWeekday), true
 	}
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
 
-	return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("unable to parse date: %s", s)
+// parseMonthName handles month names (jan, january, feb, february, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) parseMonthName(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	// Placeholder for Phase 2
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// parseDayMonth handles day+month formats (21jan, Jan21, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) parseDayMonth(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	// Placeholder for Phase 2
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// parsePeriodBoundary handles period boundary keywords (sod, eod, sow, eow, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) parsePeriodBoundary(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	// Placeholder for Phase 2
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// parseSpecialKeyword handles special keywords (later, someday)
+func (p *DateParser) parseSpecialKeyword(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	// Placeholder for Phase 2
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// parseDurationAsDate handles duration as date offset (2d, 3w, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) parseDurationAsDate(s string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	// Placeholder for Phase 2
+	return time.Time{}, false
+}
+
+// ParseDuration parses duration strings (1d, 2w, 5min, etc.)
+func (p *DateParser) ParseDuration(s string) (time.Duration, error) {
+	// Use existing ParseRecurrencePattern for now (will expand in Phase 2)
+	return ParseRecurrencePattern(s)
 }
 
 // nextWeekday returns the next occurrence of the target weekday
 // Smart logic: if today is Thursday and target is Sunday, returns this Sunday
 // If today is Sunday and target is Sunday, returns next Sunday
-func nextWeekday(from time.Time, target time.Weekday) time.Time {
+func (p *DateParser) nextWeekday(target time.Weekday) time.Time {
+	from := p.base
 	// Calculate days until target
 	daysUntil := int(target - from.Weekday())
 
@@ -61,3 +262,9 @@ func nextWeekday(from time.Time, target time.Weekday) time.Time {
 	next := from.AddDate(0, 0, daysUntil)
 	return time.Date(next.Year(), next.Month(), next.Day(), 0, 0, 0, 0, next.Location())
 }
+
+// ParseDate is the public API that uses default settings
+func ParseDate(s string) (time.Time, error) {
+	parser := NewDefaultDateParser()
+	return parser.ParseDate(s)
+}
diff --git a/opal-task/internal/engine/modifier_test.go b/opal-task/internal/engine/modifier_test.go
index 19e12b8..cf9992d 100644
--- a/opal-task/internal/engine/modifier_test.go
+++ b/opal-task/internal/engine/modifier_test.go
@@ -199,7 +199,8 @@ func TestParseDateWeekday(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNextWeekday(t *testing.T) {
 	// Test case: Thursday -> next Sunday should be this Sunday
 	thursday := time.Date(2026, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC) // Jan 1, 2026 is a Thursday
-	nextSun := nextWeekday(thursday, time.Sunday)
+	parser := NewDateParser(thursday, time.Monday)
+	nextSun := parser.nextWeekday(time.Sunday)
 
 	if nextSun.Weekday() != time.Sunday {
 		t.Error("Should return Sunday")
@@ -214,7 +215,8 @@ func TestNextWeekday(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Test case: Sunday -> next Sunday should be 7 days later
 	sunday := time.Date(2026, 1, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC) // Jan 4, 2026 is a Sunday
-	nextSun2 := nextWeekday(sunday, time.Sunday)
+	parser2 := NewDateParser(sunday, time.Monday)
+	nextSun2 := parser2.nextWeekday(time.Sunday)
 
 	expectedDays = 7
 	actualDays = int(nextSun2.Sub(sunday).Hours() / 24)