LoginAdverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency show us how often an action takes place. They are commonly used in daily English so it is essential to learn them.
What Are Adverbs of Frequency?
Adverbs of frequency are a type of adverb used to indicate how often an action or event occurs. They modify the verb in a sentence and provide information about the frequency or number of occurrences of an action or event.
Adverbs of Frequency: Types
We have two main categories of adverbs of frequency:
- Indefinite adverbs of frequency
- Definite adverbs of frequency
Indefinite Adverbs of Frequency
Indefinite adverbs of frequency describe the frequency of an action or event in a general, approximate way. They do not provide a specific percentage or number of occurrences, but rather give a sense of how often something happens. We have six main adverbs of frequency that are commonly used in English:
| Adverbs of Frequency | Percent of Frequency |
|---|---|
| always | 100% |
| usually | 90% |
| often | 70% |
| sometimes | 50% |
| rarely | 5% |
| never | 0% |
Other, less common adverbs of frequency are:
- normally → 80%
- generally → 80%
- frequently → 70%
- occasionally → 30%
- seldom → 10%
- hardly ever → 5%
I
I've
I
Definite Adverbs of Frequency
Definite adverbs of frequency provide a specific number of times an action or event occurs. They give a precise measurement of the frequency of an action or event rather than a general sense of how often something happens. These adverbs include:
using an adverb of frequency in a sentence
- every day
- once a week
- twice a month
- three times a day
- every other day
- daily
- monthly
- weekly
Now pay attention to some examples:
You should water these plants
We meet
The meeting takes place
Adverbs of Frequency: Placement
Adverbs of frequency are placed before the main verb.
I
If the main verb is 'to be', the adverb of frequency must be placed after it.
She is
If the sentence contains an auxiliary verbs like 'do' and 'have,' the adverb of frequency must be placed between the auxiliary and the main verb.
He has
I will
Tip!
The table below shows which adverbs can be placed at the beginning of a sentence, as well as those that are generally better not to appear at the beginning of the sentence unless used for emphasis or literary purposes.
| ✓ | ✗ |
|---|---|
| usually | always |
| normally | seldom |
| often | rarely |
| frequently | hardly |
| sometimes | ever |
| occasionally | never |
I Always I travel with my friend.)
Making Questions and Negatives
To make a sentence negative or to form a question all you need to do is add 'not' to the auxiliary or to move it to the beginning of the sentence. So the adverb does not undergo any changes.
I am
Review
Adverbs of frequency indicate how often an action is done.
They are placed after the auxiliary verbs and before the main verbs.
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Types of Adverbs
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of Probability
