Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of Frequency are adverbs of time that answer the question "How
frequently?" or "How often?". They tell us how often something happens.
Here are some examples:
a. daily, weekly, yearly
b. often, sometimes, rarely

Adverbs of Definite Frequency

Examples:

hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly

every second, once a minute, twice a year

once, twice, once or twice, three times

Adverbs of definite frequency, like all adverbs of definite time, typically go in

END position. Look at these examples:

Most companies pay taxes yearly.

The manager checks the toilets every hour.

The directors meet weekly to review progress.

Sometimes, usually for reasons of emphasis or style, some adverbs of

definite frequency may go at the FRONT, for example:

Every day, more than five thousand people die on our roads.

points of time (definite)

yesterday

frequency (definite)

now

then

annually

today

daily

tomorrow

fortnightly

tonight

hourly

monthly

nightly

quarterly

weekly

yearly

Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency

Look at these examples of adverbs of indefinite frequency:
100%

50%

0%

always, constantly
usually, normally
frequently, regularly
often
sometimes
occasionally
rarely, infrequently
seldom
hardly ever
never

Adverbs of indefinite frequency mainly go in MID position in the sentence.

They go before the main verb (except the main verb "to be"):

We usually go shopping on Saturday.

I have often done that.

She is always late.

Occasionally, sometimes, often, frequently and usually can also go at the

beginning or end of a sentence:

Sometimes they come and stay with us.

I play tennis occasionally.

Rarely and seldom can also go at the end of a sentence (often with "very"):

We see them rarely.

John eats meat very seldom.

frequency (indefinite)

normally

always

occasionally

constantly

often

ever

rarely

frequently

regularly

generally

seldom

infrequently

sometimes

never

regularly

usually

relationships
in time
(indefinite)

already

before

early

earlier

eventually

finally

next

first

previously

formerly

recently

just

since

last

soon

late

still

later

yet

lately

Rewrite the complete sentence using the adverb in brackets in its usualposition.

1.

He listens to the radio. (often)

2.

They read a book. (sometimes)

3.

Pete gets angry. (never)

4.

Tom is very friendly. (usually)

5.
6.

I take sugar in my
coffee. (sometimes)
Ramon and Frank are hungry. (often)

7.

My grandmother goes for a walk in the

evening. (always)

8.

Walter helps his father in the

kitchen. (usually)

9.

They watch TV in the

afternoon. (never)

10.

Christine smokes. (never)

1. Order the adverbs:

never, usually, often, hardly ever, always, sometimes

0%

100%

2. Rewrite the sentences placing the adverb in its correct position:

a) Mary goes shopping to the mall (usually)

b) Amalia helps her parents with the housework

(sometimes)
.
c) We are late to school (never)
d) Mark is sad (hardly ever)
e) My sister goes swimming (often)

.
.
.

f) Our teacher is very friendly (usually)

g) David doesn't study the grammar reference before his tests

(often)
.
h) I am happy (always)

i) Elena reads the newspaper (hardly ever)

j) Laura has breakfast with her family

(usually)
.
k) My friends are quite punctual (often)

l) The girls buy new clothes at Christmas

(always)
.
m) Mike and his sister are fighting for the remote.
(always)
3. Correct the sentences:
a) My sister is punctual always.

b) David sometimes is a bit sad.

c) Our teacher gives often us a lot of
homework.

.
.

d) We write usually our composition for the English

class.
.
e) She is late to work never.
f) Hardly ever I go to the cinema.
g) We revise for our tests usually.

.
.
.

4. Order the sentences:

a) Mary / punctual / always / is / to school.

b) often / I / revise / don't / my homework.

c) We / visit / hardly ever / at weekends /

museums.
.
d) My parents / never / travel / in summer /
abroad.
.
e) celebrate / my birthday / I / usually / with my
friends.
.
f) grandmother / our / at home / always / is / in the
evenings.
.
g) Mike / never / is / at home / at weekends.