Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency are some of the most useful words in English. They tell us how often something happens — perfect for talking about your daily life and routines.
⏰ When do we use Adverbs of Frequency?
We use adverbs of frequency to:
Talk about habits and routines: How often we do something.
- I always brush my teeth in the morning.
- She usually has tea after dinner.
Describe general truths about people or things:
- Cats rarely swim.
- It sometimes rains in summer.
Answer the question “How often?”:
- Do you exercise? — I sometimes exercise.
- Does he cook? — He never cooks.
📌 Structure
Adverbs of frequency come before the main verb, but after the verb “to be”
Subject + adverb of frequency + main verb.
Subject + verb "to be" + adverb of frequency
Here is the full frequency scale:
| Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Always | 100% of the time | I always wake up early. |
| Usually | Most of the time | She usually walks to school. |
| Often | Many times | They often watch TV at night. |
| Sometimes | Some of the time | He sometimes eats pizza. |
| Rarely | Not very often | We rarely go to the cinema. |
| Never | 0% of the time | I never drink coffee. |
📅 Frequency Expressions
Some expressions tell us exactly how often something happens. These always go at the end of the sentence.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Once a day | One time every day | I brush my teeth once a day. |
| Twice a week | Two times every week | She goes to the gym twice a week. |
| Three times a month | Three times every month | We have a meeting three times a month. |
| Once a year | One time every year | They visit their grandparents once a year. |
| Every day | All days without exception | He walks the dog every day. |
| Every weekend | Each Saturday and Sunday | We cook together every weekend. |
📝 Notes
This is the most important rule!
| Rule | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| With a main verb | Subject + adverb + verb | I always eat breakfast. |
| With verb “to be” | Subject + to be + adverb | She is always happy. |
| With frequency expressions | Subject + verb + expression | I go to the gym twice a week. |
💬 Examples
✅ Positive Examples
- I always do my homework.
- He usually listens to music in the car.
- They sometimes play board games on Friday.
❌ Negative Examples
- She never eats meat.
- We rarely go to bed before midnight.
- He doesn’t usually drink soda.
❓ Question Examples
- Do you often cook at home?
- Are you always on time?
- How often does she go to the gym?
🔔 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ I eat always breakfast. → ✅ I always eat breakfast.
- ❌ She is never late. → ✅ Actually, this one is correct! (adverb after “to be” ✔)
- ❌ He plays never football. → ✅ He never plays football.
Take It Further
A curated list of complementary articles and exercises to reinforce your understanding of this topic. Recommended for self-paced study.
Resource 1↗
Resource 2↗
Resource 3↗
Ready to — in English?
Description
Let’s plan your English success together!
Click here to find out more and book your trial class today!