2. When we want to say how often something happens,
it is common to use frequency adverbs.
It is possible to use them when referring to the past, present or future, as
in the following examples:
We often went camping when we were children.
I usually go to the gym at lunchtime.
I will always love you.
The most common frequency adverbs are given below:
Always
Usually
Frequently
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Rarely
Seldom
Hardly ever
Never
How about and ?normally regularly And generally?
3. I always brush my teeth before I go to bed. (=every night)
I usually have toast for breakfast. (=happens most days)
I frequently watch the news before dinner. (=it's common)
I often go to the park with my dog. (=many times)
I sometimes see him down at the shops. (=at particular
occasions but not all the time)
I occasionally visit the capital. (=not happening often or
regularly)
I rarely smoke cigars. (=it is not common)
I seldom have a chance to go to the theatre. (=almost
never)
I hardly ever travel abroad. (=almost never)
I never work on the weekend. (=not at any time or not on
any occasion)
4. Adverbs of frequency can occupy different positions in
the sentence.
With most verbs, the normal position is between the
subject and the verb (mid-position). However, sometimes
these adverbs can go into initial positions in order to have
more emphasis.
I usually arrive at school before 8 o’clock.
Usually I arrive at school before 8 o’clock.
With the verb "to be", the adverb normally comes after
the verb:
Pedro occasionally visits us on Sundays.
She is often ill in winter.
Position of Frequency Adverbs
5. I always tell him to stay away from those people.
?Always I tell him to stay away from those people.
?Always stay away from those people.
?I tell him to stay away from those people always.
I sometimes heard him playing in the room next door.
?Sometimes I heard him playing in the room next door.
?I heard him playing in the room next door sometimes.
?I sometimes don’t hear him playing in the room next door.
?He has worked hard. (never)
?He has been working hard. (never)
6. Conclusions
• Frequency adverbs denote how often something
happens.
• These adverbs can go into different positions of a
sentence, namely, initial position, mid-position and end-
position.
• Yet, some of them cannot go into initial position, like
“always”; some of them cannot go into end-position,
either, like “always” and “never”.
• When a verb has several parts, the most common
position is after the first auxiliary verb (has never been…)
