Adverbs of Frequency: The Position of The Adverb in A Sentence

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These are also known as Adverbs of INDEFINITE

Adverbs of Frequency frequency as the exact frequency is not defined.

The Position of the Adverb in a


Sentence
An adverb of frequency goes before a main verb
(except with To Be).

Subject + adverb + main verb

I always remember to do my homework.
He normally gets good marks in exams.

An adverb of frequency goes after the verb To Be.

Subject + to be + adverb

They are never pleased to see me.


She isn't usually bad tempered.

When we use an auxiliary verb (have, will, must,


might, could, would, can, etc.), the adverb is placed
English Grammar Rules between the auxiliary and the main verb. This is
also true for to be.
We use some adverbs to describe how frequently
we do an activity.
These are called adverbs of frequency and Subject + auxiliary + adverb + main verb
include:

She can sometimes beat me in a race.
Frequenc Adverb of
Example Sentence I would hardly ever be unkind to someone.
y Frequency
They might never see each other again.
I always go to bed They could occasionally be heard laughing.
100% always
before 11 p.m.
I usually have cereal We can also use the following adverbs at the start of
90% usually a sentence:
for breakfast.
normally / I normally go to the Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes,
80%
generally gym. occasionally
often* / I often surf the
70%  Occasionally, I like to eat Thai food.
frequently internet.
I sometimes forget
50% sometimes BUT we cannot use the following at the beginning
my wife's birthday.
of a sentence:
I occasionally eat
30% occasionally
junk food. Always, seldom, rarely, hardly, ever, never.
I seldom read the We use hardly ever and never with
10% seldom
newspaper. positive, not negative verbs:
hardly ever / I hardly ever drink
5%
rarely alcohol.  She hardly ever comes to my parties.
I never swim in the  They never say 'thank you'.
0% never
sea.
* Some people pronounce the 'T' in often but many We use ever in questions and negative statements:
others do not.
 Have you ever been to New Zealand?
 I haven't ever been to Switzerland. (The beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the
same as 'I have never been Switzerland'). middle.

Adverbs 
a while.
once in a while: I go to the cinema once in

of Definite Frequency  every now and again: She drinks wine


every now and again.
We can also use the following expressions when we
 from time to time: From time to time I visit
want to be more specific about the frequency:
my mother.

 every day To say how often something happens, you can use
 once a month a number or 'several' or 'many', followed by 'times'.
 twice a year
( If the number is one, use 'once' instead of 'one
 four times a day
time'. If the number is two use 'twice,' instead of 'two
 every other week
times') Then add 'a' and a period of time:
 daily
 monthly
 I go to the cinema twice a week.
 She takes these tablets three times a day.
These are also known as Adverbs of DEFINITE
frequency as the exact frequency is specified.  I change the sheets once a
fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).
 I meet him several times a year.
With the present simple, we often use adverbs of
 I visit my parents once a month.
frequency to say 'how often' we do something.
Here's a list of common adverbs: We can also use 'every' + period of time:

 always  every morning


 frequently  every day
 generally  every Tuesday
 hardly ever  every week
 infrequently  every month
 never
 normally A day of the week with 's' at the end (for example
 occasionally 'on Tuesdays') means the same as 'every Tuesday':
 often
 rarely  I take a dance class on Wednesdays.
 regularly  I relax on Saturdays.
 seldom
 sometimes
 usually

We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the


sentence, between the subject and the verb:

 I often go to the cinema.


 She sometimes visits me at home.
 We usually drink coffee.

We can also put them at the very beginning or end


of the sentence. This makes them stronger:

 Often I go to the cinema.


 I go to the cinema often.
 But never: I go often to the cinema.

Here are some other expressions we can use to say


'how often'. All of these longer phrases go at the

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