Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They go from 100% (always) to 0% (never).
| Adverb | Frequency | Example |
|---|---|---|
| always | 100% | She always arrives on time. |
| usually / normally | ~80–90% | I usually have coffee in the morning. |
| often / frequently | ~60–70% | We often go for walks at the weekend. |
| sometimes | ~40–50% | He sometimes works from home. |
| occasionally | ~20–30% | I occasionally eat meat. |
| rarely / seldom / hardly ever | ~5–10% | She rarely watches TV. |
| never | 0% | He never drinks alcohol. |
Position in the sentence
| Sentence type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| with main verb "to be" | AFTER "be" | She is always late. · They are never happy. |
| with all other verbs | BEFORE the main verb | I usually eat breakfast. · He never smokes. |
| with modal verbs | AFTER the modal | You should always check. · I can never remember. |
| "Sometimes" also at start or end | start OR end (for emphasis) | Sometimes I feel lonely. · I feel lonely sometimes. |
Never = already negative:
"Never" is negative, so don't add another negative: ✓ "I never drink coffee." ✗ "I don't never drink coffee." The same applies to "rarely", "seldom" and "hardly ever".
Frequency expressions (go at the end)
These longer expressions always go at the end of the sentence (or sometimes at the start).
I go to the gym every day / twice a week / three times a month / once a year.
She visits her parents every other weekend.
He checks his email all the time.
Every Monday, we have a team meeting.
She visits her parents every other weekend.
He checks his email all the time.
Every Monday, we have a team meeting.
Exercises
Choose the sentence with the correct word order.
1. She is late for work.
2. I eat breakfast before 8.
3. He drinks beer. (= 0%)
4. You should back up your files.
5. I call my grandmother.