Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They help describe daily habits, repeated actions, or events. Some adverbs show something happens a lot, while others show it happens rarely or never.
These words make sentences clearer and more natural in English. Knowing how to use them correctly will improve both speaking and writing skills. They are easy to learn and very useful in everyday
What is an Adverb of Frequency?
An adverb of frequency is a word that tells us how often something happens. They answer the question How often? and help to clarify the timing of the events described by the verbs they modify.
Examples:
- She always brushes her teeth before bed.
- We usually have dinner at 7 PM.
- He often goes for a run in the morning.
- They sometimes play chess in the park.
- I never drink coffee after 3 PM.
Common Adverbs of Frequency Words:
- Always
- Usually
- Often
- Sometimes
- Occasionally
- Rarely
- Seldom
- Hardly ever
- Never
Types of Adverbs of Frequency
- Adverb of Definite Frequency:
- Adverb of Indefinite Frequency:
Adverb of Definite Frequency:
These adverbs specify exactly how often something happens. They usually include time expressions like:
Example Words: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, once a day, twice a week, every hour.
Example Sentences:
- Fatima prays five times a day.
- Ahmed visits his grandparents every Sunday.
- We have an English test once a month.
- Bilal goes to the gym three times a week.
Adverb of Indefinite Frequency:
These adverbs do not give an exact time but show how often something happens. Common examples are:
Example Words: always, usually, frequently, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never.
Example Sentences:
- He always takes his coffee black.
- I usually go to bed around 10 PM.
- They sometimes travel abroad for their holidays.
- She rarely eats fast food.
- He never smokes.
Rules for adverbs of frequency
Rule 1:
You need to Place adverbs of frequency before the main verb.
- I sometimes watch Chinese films.
- She never eats vegetables.
- I always read comic books.
- They rarely watch music channels.
Rule 2:
You need to use adverbs of frequency after the forms of the verb be (am, is, are, was, were).
- I am always worried about my study results.
- She is usually very happy.
- She is always cooking spaghetti.
- You are seldom anxious about my health.
Rule 3:
When a verb has a helping verb, place the adverb after the first part of the verb.
- Drivers should always wear a seat belt.
- Richard doesn’t usually smoke.
Rule 4:
Adverbs of frequency can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.
- Always wash your hands before the meal!
- Often he walked.
- Sometimes I go skating.
Rule 5:
Adverbs of frequency can also be placed at the end of the sentence.
- We read books occasionally.
- They like to watch TV often.
- We go to school by bike sometimes.
Frequency Adverbs Examples:
- I eat chocolate for dessert always.
- They go to the gym usually after work.
- We watch movies together often.
- She checks her email daily.
- We visit the museum occasionally.
- He reads books always before bed.
- The bus comes usually on time.
- She always reads before going to bed.
- I never skip breakfast.
- They frequently visit their grandparents.
- We sometimes go hiking on weekends.
- He rarely watches TV.
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