Grammar: Adverbs of Frequency
A2 Lesson 8: Saying How Often
What are Adverbs of Frequency? 🗓️
Adverbs of frequency are simple words that tell us how often something happens. They answer the question "How many times?". Here are the most common ones, from most frequent (100%) to least frequent (0%).
- always (100%)
- usually (~80%)
- often (~60%)
- sometimes (~40%)
- rarely / seldom (~10%)
- never (0%)
The Rules of Placement (Word Order) 📖
The most important thing to learn is where to put these words in a sentence. There are two simple rules.
Rule 1: With the verb 'be' (am, is, are)
The adverb comes AFTER the verb 'be'.
- I am never late for class.
- The weather in Siem Reap is usually hot.
- They are often tired after work.
Rule 2: With all other Action Verbs
The adverb comes BEFORE the action verb.
- She always drinks coffee in the morning.
- We rarely eat pizza.
- He sometimes plays football with his friends.
💡 Key Tip: The Flexible Friend 'Sometimes'
The word 'sometimes' is special. For emphasis, it can also be used at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
- Sometimes I walk to work. (Beginning)
- I walk to work sometimes. (End)
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Correct Word Order
Put the adverb in the correct place in the sentence.
- She is happy. (always)
→ She is always happy. - He drinks tea. (never)
→ He never drinks tea. - They are busy on Mondays. (usually)
→ They are usually busy on Mondays. - I listen to music. (often)
→ I often listen to music.
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Write About Your Habits
Write three true sentences about yourself. Use a different adverb of frequency in each sentence and make sure it is in the correct position.
Example: I am always on time. I rarely eat hamburgers. I sometimes watch a movie on Sunday.
Key Vocabulary
- Adverb of Frequency A word that tells how often an action happens.
- Placement The position or location of something in a sentence; word order.
- Rarely / Seldom Not happening often.