Adverbs of Frequency with Example Sentences

In the world of English language learning, an Adverb of Frequency is a helpful guide to express how often an action takes place. These adverbs are like the heartbeat of a sentence, giving life and rhythm to our words and ideas.

Adverbs of Frequency Rules

When using adverbs of frequency in English, there are several important rules to follow:

1. Position in a sentence: Adverbs of frequency usually come before the main verb, except with the verb “to be”. For example:
   • “I always arrive on time.” (before the main verb “arrive”)
   • “He is often late.” (after the verb “to be”)
2. Placement with auxiliary verbs: If the sentence has an auxiliary verb, the adverb of frequency is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb. For example:
   • “They have rarely missed a class.” (between the auxiliary “have” and the main verb “missed”)
3. Position in negative sentences: In negative sentences, the adverb of frequency comes before the main verb. For example:
   • “He doesn’t usually eat breakfast.”
4. Position in question sentences: In question sentences, the adverb of frequency comes after the subject. For example:
   • “Do you often go to the gym?”
5. Use with ‘always’: The adverb ‘always’ is often used with the present simple tense to talk about habitual actions. For example:
   • “She always takes the bus to work.”
6. Use with ‘never’: The adverb ‘never’ is used to express that something does not happen at any time. It is also used in the present simple tense. For example:
   • “I never drink coffee in the evening.”

The Adverbs of Frequency, “always,” “usually,” “often,” “sometimes,” “rarely,” and “never,” represent different levels of frequency. Here’s a brief overview along with illustrative sentences:

1. Always (100% frequency): This adverb indicates that an action is constant and occurs all the time.
   • “He always drinks coffee in the morning.”
   • “They always take their dog for a walk after dinner.”
   • “I always brush my teeth before going to bed.”
2. Usually (80% frequency): This adverb indicates that an action happens most of the time.
   • “She usually reads a book before bedtime.”
   • “We usually go to the park on Sundays.”
   • “He usually eats breakfast at 8 a.m.”
3. Often (60% frequency): This adverb shows that an action happens frequently, but not all the time.
   • “I often listen to music while working.”
   • “They often visit their grandparents on the weekend.”
   • “She often goes for a jog in the morning.”
4. Sometimes (50% frequency): This adverb indicates that an action happens half of the time or occasionally.
   • “He sometimes forgets his keys.”
   • “We sometimes have ice cream after dinner.”
   • “I sometimes watch movies on weekend nights.”
5. Rarely (20% frequency): This adverb shows that an action does not happen often.
   • “She rarely eats fast food.”
   • “They rarely arrive late for meetings.”
   • “I rarely watch horror movies.”
6. Never (0% frequency): This adverb indicates that an action does not happen at all.
   • “He never misses a day of school.”
   • “We never skip breakfast.”
   • “She never forgets her friend’s birthday.”

Adverbs of Frequency List

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They can either be definite, providing a specific frequency, or indefinite, providing an approximate frequency.

Here’s a list of some common adverbs of frequency:

Definite Adverbs of Frequency:

1. Daily
2. Weekly
3. Monthly
4. Yearly
5. Hourly

Indefinite Adverbs of Frequency:

1. Always
2. Usually
3. Frequently
4. Often
5. Sometimes
6. Occasionally
7. Seldom
8. Rarely
9. Hardly ever
10. Never

Adverbs of Frequency Quiz

Below is a simple quiz to test your understanding of adverbs of frequency. Read each sentence and choose the correct adverb of frequency to fill in the blank.

1. “I _____ go to the gym.” (often / always)
2. “She _____ cooks at home.” (never / usually)
3. “They _____ watch TV after dinner.” (sometimes / never)
4. “We _____ visit our grandparents on the weekends.” (rarely / often)
5. “He _____ forgets his keys.” (always / sometimes)

Solutions:

1. The correct answer is “often”. The sentence should read: “I often go to the gym.”
2. The correct answer is “usually”. The sentence should read: “She usually cooks at home.”
3. The correct answer is “sometimes”. The sentence should read: “They sometimes watch TV after dinner.”
4. The correct answer is “often”. The sentence should read: “We often visit our grandparents on the weekends.”
5. The correct answer is “sometimes”. The sentence should read: “He sometimes forgets his keys.”

In summary, an Adverb of Frequency tells us how often something happens. By using these adverbs accurately, you can make your English sentences much more expressive and clear. So, keep practicing and soon you’ll find that these adverbs have become a natural part of your English language use.