ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

We use adverbs of frequency  to describe how frequently or how often we do an activity or something happens.

These are also known as Adverbs of INDEFINITE frequency as the exact frequency is not defined.

Frequency	Adverb of Frequency	Example Sentence
100%	always	I always go to bed before 11 p.m.
90%	usually	I usually have cereal for breakfast.
80%	normally / generally	I normally go to the gym.
70%	often* / frequently	I often surf the internet.
50%	sometimes	I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.
30%	occasionally	I occasionally eat junk food.
10%	seldom	I seldom read the newspaper.
5%	hardly ever / rarely	I hardly ever drink alcohol.
0%	never	I never swim in the sea.

* Some people pronounce the 'T' in often but many others do not.

The Position of the Adverb in a Sentence

An adverb of frequency goes BEFORE a main verb (except with TO BE).

SUBJECT + ADVERB + MAIN VERB
I always remember to do my homework.
He normally gets good marks in exams.

An adverb of frequency goes AFTER the verb TO BE. 

SUBJECT + TO BE + ADVERB
They are never pleased to see me.
She isn't usually bad tempered.

We can also use the following adverbs at the beginning or at the end of a sentence:

Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally.

Eg.  Sometimes I go swinming.

       We read books occasionally.

Adverbs of Definite Frequency

We can also use the following expressions when we want to be more specific about the frequency:

• every day
• once a month
• twice a year
• four times a day
• every other week
• daily
• monthly

These are also known as Adverbs of DEFINITE frequency as the exact frequency is specified.