Adverbs of Frequency in English

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They help us describe habits, routines, or repeated actions.

Common Adverbs of Frequency:

• Always (100%)
• Usually
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never (0%)

How and When to Use Them

1. Present Simple:
   We use adverbs of frequency most often with the present simple to talk about regular actions.
   Example: I always drink coffee in the morning.
2. Past Simple:
   They can describe how often something happened in the past.
   Example: We rarely played outside when it rained.
3. Future Tenses:
   They can talk about plans or expectations.
   Example: I will never forget this moment.

Word Order:

1. Before the main verb:
   Most adverbs of frequency go before the main verb (except be).
   Example:
   • Correct: She often goes to the gym.
   • Incorrect: She goes often to the gym.
2. After the verb ‘be’:
   When the verb is be, the adverb comes after the verb.
   Example:
   • Correct: He is always late.
   • Incorrect: He always is late.

Modern Examples:

• I usually check my phone before breakfast.
• He never skips leg day at the gym.
• They sometimes watch YouTube videos in the evening.

Quizzes

Here are some quizzes to check if you understand this topic well:

Adverbs of frequency – rewrite sentences

Adverbs of frequency – change the verbs