1. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
GrammarGrammar
Frequency adverbsFrequency adverbs

2. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
When we want to say how often somethingWhen we want to say how often something
happens, it is common to usehappens, it is common to use frequencyfrequency
adverbsadverbs. It is possible to use them when. It is possible to use them when
referring to the past, present or future:referring to the past, present or future:
 WeWe oftenoften went camping when wewent camping when we
were children.were children.
 II usuallyusually go to the gym atgo to the gym at
lunchtime.lunchtime.
 I willI will alwaysalways love you.love you.

3. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
The following list shows the most commonThe following list shows the most common
adverbs of frequencyadverbs of frequency, with the one that, with the one that
refers to things that happen most often atrefers to things that happen most often at
the top, and least often at the bottom:the top, and least often at the bottom:
 AlwaysAlways
 UsuallyUsually
 FrequentlyFrequently
 OftenOften
 SometimesSometimes
 OccasionallyOccasionally
 RarelyRarely
 SeldomSeldom
 Hardly everHardly ever
 NeverNever

4. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
 II alwaysalways brush my teeth before I go to bed. (=everybrush my teeth before I go to bed. (=every
night)night)
 II usuallyusually have toast for breakfast. (=happens most days)have toast for breakfast. (=happens most days)
II frequentlyfrequently watch the news before dinner. (=it'swatch the news before dinner. (=it's
common)common)
 II oftenoften go to the park with my dog. (=many times)go to the park with my dog. (=many times)
 II sometimessometimes see him down at the shops. (=at particularsee him down at the shops. (=at particular
occasions but not all the time)occasions but not all the time)
 II occasionallyoccasionally visit the capital. (=not happening often orvisit the capital. (=not happening often or
regularly)regularly)
 II rarelyrarely smoke cigars. (=it is not common)smoke cigars. (=it is not common)
 II seldomseldom have a chance to go to the theatre. (=almosthave a chance to go to the theatre. (=almost
never)never)
 II hardly everhardly ever travel abroad. (=almost never)travel abroad. (=almost never)
 II nevernever work onwork on the weekend. (=not at any time or not onthe weekend. (=not at any time or not on
any occasion)any occasion)

5. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
Adverbs of frequencyAdverbs of frequency can occupycan occupy
different positions in the sentence. Withdifferent positions in the sentence. With
most verbs, the normal position ismost verbs, the normal position is
between the subject and the verb. Withbetween the subject and the verb. With
the verb "to be", the adverb normallythe verb "to be", the adverb normally
comes after the verb:comes after the verb:
 PedroPedro occasionallyoccasionally visits us onvisits us on
Sundays.Sundays.
 She isShe is oftenoften ill in winter.ill in winter.

6. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
More information aboutMore information about adverbs ofadverbs of
frequencyfrequency::
 httphttp://://grammar.englishclub.comgrammar.englishclub.com//
adverbsadverbs--frequency.htmfrequency.htm
 http://esl.about.com/library/grammahttp://esl.about.com/library/gramma
r/blgr_adverbs_frequency.htmr/blgr_adverbs_frequency.htm
 http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/duhttp://www.fortunecity.com/bally/du
rrus/153/gramch24.html#2arrus/153/gramch24.html#2a

7. © Rafael Moreno Esteban 2007
Exercises and quizzes aboutExercises and quizzes about
adverbs of frequencyadverbs of frequency::
 http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/1http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/1
53/gramex24.html#153/gramex24.html#1
 http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/1http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/1
53/gramex24.html#253/gramex24.html#2
 http://quizzes.englishclub.com/quiz2000-http://quizzes.englishclub.com/quiz2000-
09q.htm09q.htm
 http://www.johnsesl.com/scrambledtxt/advhttp://www.johnsesl.com/scrambledtxt/adv
erbs/erbs/
 http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/CET/flashahttp://www.learnenglish.org.uk/CET/flasha
ctivities/frequency_adverbs_game01.htmlctivities/frequency_adverbs_game01.html