Adverbs of Frequency (A2).

1.What you already know

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens.
From most often to least often:

• always
• usually
• often
• sometimes
• rarely / hardly ever
• never

You also know the basic position rules:

Verb	Position	Example
be	After be in statements; after the subject in questions	He is always friendly. / Are you often tired after work?
Other main verbs	Before the main verb	She usually drinks coffee.

In this lesson, you will use these rules in longer sentences and with auxiliary verbs and modals.

You will also use frequency adverbs in negative sentences, questions and short texts.

2.Frequency adverbs in longer sentences and frequency expressions

We often use frequency adverbs together with extra information such as:

• time
• place
• a reason

The position of the adverb usually stays the same.

• I usually have breakfast at home before I go to work.
• She rarely goes to the cinema because she is busy.
• We often eat at that restaurant on Friday evenings.
• My brother sometimes studies in the library after school.
• They hardly ever travel in winter because flights are expensive.

These extra details help you make longer, more natural sentences. The frequency adverb normally stays in its usual position before the main verb.

Frequency expressions such as once a week, twice a month, every day, and three times a year are different. They usually go at the end or the front of the sentence, not in the middle:

• I study English every day.
• Twice a month, we visit my grandparents.
• They travel three times a year.
• I drink coffee every day, not I every day drink coffee.

3.Auxiliary verbs, modals, and negative sentences

With an auxiliary verb or a modal, put the frequency adverb after the first auxiliary or modal and before the main verb:

• I have often thought about it.
• She can never come on Tuesdays.
• You should always check your work.

In negative sentences with be, put the negative form of be before the adverb: She isn’t usually tired after class. With don’t or doesn’t, put the adverb after not and before the main verb: I don’t often buy lunch at work.

4.Using sometimes in different positions

Sometimes is the most flexible frequency adverb. It can go before the main verb, at the beginning, or at the end.

• I sometimes take a walk after dinner.
• Sometimes, I take a walk after dinner.
• I take a walk after dinner sometimes.

Usually and normally can also go at the beginning: Usually, I cook at home. / Normally, we eat at seven. Fronted often is mostly used in formal or literary writing: Often, we ate at seven. Always and never do not normally go at the beginning in this way.

In a short text, changing the position can help you avoid repeating the same sentence pattern: I usually cook at home. Sometimes, I meet friends at a café after work.

5.Negative meaning and double negatives

Some adverbs already have a negative meaning:

• never
• hardly ever
• rarely

6.Questions about frequency

6.1How often questions

We use How often ...? to ask about habits and routines.

• How often do you cook for your family?
• How often does Maya work from home?

Answers:

• I usually cook for them at weekends.
• She rarely works from home during the week.
• We sometimes meet for coffee on Saturdays.

6.2Yes/no and ever questions

In questions with do or does, the adverb goes after the subject and before the main verb:

• Do you often play football?
• Does she usually cook dinner?

Use ever to ask whether something has happened at any time. It goes after the subject and before the main verb or after have/has:

• Do you ever work at weekends?
• Have you ever visited London?

7.Using frequency adverbs in short texts

Example 1

Maria usually takes the bus to work, but she sometimes walks when the weather is nice. She rarely drives because parking in the city is expensive.

Notice that usually, sometimes, and rarely all come before the main verb; the reason clause comes at the end.

Example 2

My friends and I often meet at a café after class. We usually stay there for an hour, but we sometimes stay longer on Fridays.

Notice that often, usually, and sometimes stay before the main verb, while time expressions such as after class and on Fridays add extra detail.

8.Quick recap

• Put frequency adverbs after be, before other main verbs, and after the first auxiliary or modal.
• In negative sentences, put the adverb after isn’t/aren’t or after don’t/doesn’t.
• Put frequency expressions such as every day at the end or the front, not in the middle.
• Do not use not with never, rarely, or hardly ever.