Adverbs of frequency: how to use, examples, exercises

To express how often someone does something, the adverbs of frequency, in English. They indicate routine or when we do some action over and over again.

In addition, the adverbs of frequencycan appear in any tense, that is, in the past, at the gift and in the future. To understand its use, read the following topics! Are you ready?

Read too: Do or Does?

What are the adverbs of frequency?

Note, in the following table, the main adverbs of frequency, with the percentage on the left side to get an idea of ​​the “amount” they can express.

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
100% 50% 0%	always	Ever	she sometimes speaks to her friends. / She speaks sometimes with your friends. they will seldom travel abroad. / They rarely will travel abroad. I usually have coffee for breakfast. / Me normally I drink coffee for breakfast.
usually	Normally
Regularly	Regularly
Normally	Normally
Often	Often
sometimes	sometimes/sometimes
Occasionally	Occasionally
Rarely	Rarely
Seldom	Rarely
Never	Never

How to use the adverbs of frequency?

You adverbs they usually indicate the way in which something is done. Soon,

you adverbs of frequencythey express the frequency, the number of times something is done or not done. In English, it is common that these adverbs are also related to the question: how often? (How often?)

"Often", "rarely" and "never" are examples of "adverbs of frequency" and indicate the frequency of some action.

rules of use

Therefore, observe the rules for using the adverbs of frequency:

• You adverbs of frequency precede the main verb.

I usually wake up full of energy.
Me normally wake up full of energy.

he never listens to my advice.
He Never listen to my advice.

• Except in front of the verb to be:

they are always late.
They are ever delayed.

she it is sometimes very hot in the summer.
Attimes, it is very hot in summer.

• In verb tenses with auxiliary verbs or when there is Modal verbs, you adverbs of frequency appear after the auxiliary/modal verb:

I have always been very shy.
Me ever I was very shy.

she can rarely forgive mistakes.
Is it over there rarely forgive mistakes.

• In negative sentences, adverbs are between the auxiliary + not and the main verb:

He doesn’t usually get sick.
He normally don't get sick.

It doesn’t often stop to rain in January.
not used to stop raining in January.

• Some adverbs can come either at the beginning of the sentence or at the end (frequently, generally, normally, occasionally, sometimes):

Normally, she leaves home by car.
Normally, she leaves the house by car.

Occasionally, I like to have ice cream for desert.
Occasionally, I like having ice cream for dessert.

she writes often.
She writes often.

• with the adverb never, don't put it not in negative sentences:

she has never worked.
Is it over there Never has worked.

they never eat vegetables.
They Never eat vegetables.

• It is very common to use the adverbs of frequency to describe the routine:

I always get up early.
Me ever I get up early.

she often goes to work by bus.
Is it over there often goes to work by bus.

• We also use the adverbs of frequency to answer the question how often?

how often do you go to the gym?
How often, are you going to the gym?

I never go to the gym.
Me Never I'm going to the gym.

Read too: What is the difference between to and for?

Summary

• You adverbs of frequencyindicate how often something is done;
• They are also used to talk about the routine and to answer the question “how often?”;
• Must come before the main verb;
• Some may come at the beginning or end of a sentence;
• For tenses with auxiliaries, the adverb of frequencymust come right after the helper;
• with the verb to be, the adverb must come after him;
• In negative sentences, it must come after the negation and before the main verb;
• not used not with never.

solved exercises

question 1

Put the words in the correct order:

1. team. / series / my / free / always / I / TV / watch / in
2. sometimes / weekends. / works / He / on
3. They / punctual. / are / seldom
4. her / never / is / rude / friends. / She / with

Resolution

1. I always watch TV series in my free time.
2. He sometimes works on weekends.
3. They are seldom punctual.
4. She is never rude with her friends.

question 2

Complete the following sentences, using the tips in parentheses:

1. They ___________ their relatives in the USA. (rarely/pres. profile visit)
2. ___________ do you go to the movies? (question about frequency)
3. He ___________ late for dinner (be/always)
4. She __________ sports (practice/frequently)

Resolution

1. they have rarely visited their relatives in the USA. (Adverb must be between the auxiliary and the past participle.)
2. how often do you go to the movies? (To ask about frequency.)
3. he she is always late for dinner. (The adverb of frequency follows the verb to be.)
4. she Frequently practices sports. (The adverb of frequency comes before the main verb.)

By Patricia Verônica Moreira
English teacher

Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/adverbs-of-frequency.htm