Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency tell how often somebody is, feels or does something.
The most common ones are:
adverb(relative frequency)
always(100%)
almostalways(99%)
usually(80%)
often(60%)
sometimes(40%)
occasionally(30%)
seldom (rarely) (20%)
almostnever(1%)
never(0%)
(The above numbers are only used to give a general, relative idea of "how often.")
In general, adverbs of frequency go before most verbs, but after auxiliary verbs.
normal verbs
He usuallytakes his son to the park on Sundays.
I sometimeseat with my sister.
She nevercomes on time.
We almost nevertake lunch to work with us.
auxiliary verbs
He isusually at the park with his son.
I wassometimes angry with my sister when I was young.
She willnever be on time.
We havealmost always seen her on the weekends.
The verbs have, has and had are auxiliary verbs only when used with past participles:
I havealwaysplayed baseball on Saturday afternoons.
She hasneverbeen to France.
We hadalwaysspoken Spanish before we moved to England.
The verbs have, has and had are normal verbs when not used with past participles:
I alwayshave trouble with my math homework.
She neverhas fun at the beach.
We alwayshad to clean the house after we had a party.
The verbs do, does, and did are auxiliary verbs only when used in questions or negatives:
Did you finish the project on time?
He didn't like the dinner, so he didn't eat it.
In other cases, do, does and did are normal verbs:
He neverdoes his homework for that class.
I alwaysdid the dishes when I was young.
They sometimesdo their office work at home.
In questions, the adverb of frequency goes after the subject:
Didyoualways do the dishes when you were younger?
Isheoften absent from class?
Areyouusually on time for work?
The adverb ever is used in questions to mean "at any time" in your life:
Willsheever finish this paper?
Hashe ever been to France?
Canyou ever forgive me for what I've done to you?
Doyou ever go to scary movies, or only romantic ones?
The adverbs sometimes, often and usually can also be used as the beginning of a sentence.
Sometimes[,] I was angry with my sister when I was young.
Often, I eat with my sister.
Usually, I'm at the park with my son.
(You don't have to put a comma after sometimes, but you may.)
Normally, the other adverbs do not sound correct at the beginning of a normal sentence.
Wrong *Seldom I go to church. *Always he eats alone.
Right I seldom go to church. He always eats alone.
Wrong *Never I eat meat.
Right I never eat meat.
Wrong *Always she's in church.
Right She's always in church.
If the auxiliary is negative, the adverb of frequency might go before or after it (and sometimes in either position). Each case is different and must be learned from examples.
okay We usuallydon't take our dog with us to the store.
okay We don'tusually take our dog with us to the store.
not okay *We alwayscan't understand him. (Say, "We can never understand him.")
okay We can'talways understand him.
okay We oftencan't understand the teacher.
okay We can'toften understand the teacher.
okay He isn'talways on time for class.
not okay *He alwaysisn't on time for class. (Say, "He's never on time for class.")
(When in doubt, it is probably safer putting the adverb after the negative auxiliary verb.)
Some other adverbs follow the same position rules as the adverbs of frequency.
The most common ones are
probably
most likely (=probably)
all
both
also
He probablyfound that in the garbage.
She mostlikelyspeaks fluent Spanish.
They allenjoyed themselves at the game.
We bothknow the president.
She sings, and she alsodances.
I am probably not going to be on time tomorrow.
He will most likely take the train to Boston.
You must all come on time for class every day.
They can both cook.
She's a singer, and she's also a dancer.
The words all and both can also be part of a subject:
All of the studentscame today. (All the students came today.)
OR The studentsallcame today.
Both of my parentsare dead. (Both my parents are dead.
OR My parentsareboth dead.
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