adverbs of frequency

1. Grammar pre-intermediate

2. The most common adverbs of
frequency…
always never normally occasionally often
rarely seldom sometimes usually

4. •We usually put adverbials of frequency in front of
the main verb:
•We often spend Christmas with friends.
•I have never enjoyed myself so much.

5. •but they usually come after the verb be:
•He was always tired in the evening.
We are never late for work.

6. Auxillary or modal verbs
•With auxillary or modal verbs, we usually put the adverb
after the auxillary or modal
•She doesn’t usually stay here.
•We have never visited them.

7. Longer frequency phrases
•Longer frequency phrases, like every year or
three times a day usually come at the end of the
clause:
I have an English lesson twice a week.
She goes to see her mother every day.

8. Be careful!
•Once a week – one time a week
•Twice a month – two times a month
•Three times..
•Four times…

9. A lot
•We use the adverbial a lot to mean often or
frequently. It comes at the end of the clause:
•We go to the cinema a lot.

10. •but before another time adverbial:
•We go to the cinema a lot at the weekend.

11. Much
•We use much with a negative to mean not
often:
• We don’t go out much. (=We don’t go out
often)

12. Questions?
• We use how often or ever to ask questions about frequency.
How often comes at the beginning of the clause:
• How often do you go to the cinema?
How often have you been here?
• ever comes before the main verb:
• Do you ever go to the cinema at the weekend?
Have you ever been there?