Adverb word order

1. Word order rules

A frequency adverb tells how often (always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never).
A place phrase tells where (at home, in the park). A time phrase tells when (in the morning, on Saturday).

When a sentence has a frequency adverb, a place phrase, and a time phrase, the usual learner-friendly order is:

Subject + frequency adverb + main verb + object + place + time. This is a useful default pattern for learners. Time can also go at the beginning for emphasis: In the morning, I usually eat breakfast at home. If there is no object, put place/time after the verb: I usually study at the library in the evening.

Examples

“I usually eat breakfast at home in the morning.”
“She often studies English at the library in the evening.”

Frequency adverbs

Frequency adverbs: always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never.
They usually go before the main verb (I usually drink water).
With be and other auxiliary verbs (can, will, have), the frequency adverb usually goes after the auxiliary: I am usually tired. / I can usually swim. / She has often visited London.

2. Place and time together

When you use place and time together, place usually comes before time: at home in the morning.
You can combine frequency adverbs with time and place phrases to make full sentences:

Examples

“I always drink coffee at home in the morning.”
“They sometimes play football at the park on Saturday.”

3. Negative sentences with multiple adverbs

Adverb word order is similar in negative sentences, but the position changes slightly after do / does / did + not.

Now let's look at two special cases: (1) negatives with do/does/did, and (2) negative frequency adverbs like never and hardly ever.

Negative sentences with do / does / did

When forming negative sentences, use this structure:

do / does / did + not + base verb

If you include a frequency adverb (e.g. usually, often), place it between not and the main verb:

do / does / did + not + frequency adverb + base verb

Examples:

“I do not usually watch TV in the evening.”
“She does not often eat chocolate at school.”

Negative adverbs: never, rarely, hardly ever

In standard English, we usually avoid a double negative. Don’t + hardly ever/never is not used in standard English.

Words like never, rarely, and hardly ever are not normally used with another negative word such as don’t / doesn’t / didn’t.