Adverbs of Frequency |Meaning and Definition

Adverbs of frequency are essential tools in the English language, helping us convey how often actions occur in our daily lives. Words like always, usually, sometimes, rarely, and never allow us to express routines, habits, and occasional events with precision. Whether discussing your morning coffee habit or how often you hit the gym, these adverbs bring clarity and detail to our conversations. Understanding their usage and placement within sentences can significantly improve your English fluency. Let’s explore how adverbs of frequency function and how to use them effectively in various contexts.

What Are Adverbs of Frequency?

Adverbs of frequency are special words in English that tell us how often something happens. They help us describe if an action occurs all the time, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never. These words, like “always,” “often,” and “never,” make it easier to talk about how frequently we do things in everyday life.

Let’s dive into some examples of adverbs of frequency:

• I always have black coffee in the morning.
• John usually goes for a run after work.
• They sometimes eat out on weekends.
• He rarely watches TV.
• We never skip our English class.
• She always calls her mother on Sundays.
• They usually go hiking during summer.
• He often reads books before bed.
• We sometimes have dinner parties.
• I rarely drink soda.
• She never forgets to water her plants.
• He always arrives early for meetings.
• They usually take a walk after dinner.
• I often visit my grandparents.
• She sometimes bakes cookies for her neighbors.
• He rarely misses his morning workout.
• We never argue about money.
• I always enjoy listening to music while working.
• She usually brings homemade lunch to work.
• They often volunteer at the local shelter.

Common Adverbs of Frequency Examples

Adverbs of frequency help us paint a clear picture of the frequency of actions in our daily lives. Below are some common adverbs of frequency examples and usage. These adverbs can be your trusty companions when you want to convey how often you do something.

Adverb

Usage

Examples

Always

Indicates that something happens all the time or on every occasion.

– She always arrives at work 10 minutes early.

– He always tells the truth.

Usually

Suggests that something happens most of the time or in the general case.

– I usually have cereal for breakfast.

– They usually go to the gym on weekends.

Often

Implies frequent occurrences but not necessarily every time.

– Jack often visits his parents on weekends.

– He often forgets his keys.

Sometimes

Indicates occasional or irregular frequency, not too often.

– Sometimes it rains in the afternoon.

– I sometimes eat dessert after dinner.

Rarely

Suggests infrequent occurrences, almost the opposite of “often.”

– He rarely goes to the theater.

– We rarely see each other nowadays.

Seldom

Similar to “rarely,” signifies infrequent events or actions.

– She seldom attends social gatherings.

– He seldom takes a day off from work.

Frequently

Denotes a high degree of occurrence, happening often.

– They travel frequently for business.

– He frequently checks his emails.

Regularly

Suggests consistent and repeated actions at specific intervals.

– She exercises regularly at the gym three times a week.

– We meet regularly for team meetings.

Never

Signifies the complete absence of an action or event.

– He’s a vegetarian; he never eats meat.

– They never miss their morning walk.

Ever

Commonly used in questions to ask if something has occurred at any time.

– Have you ever travelled abroad?

– Have you ever tasted sushi?

Placement of Adverbs of Frequency

The placement of adverbs of frequency in English is important because it affects the meaning and structure of a sentence. Adverbs of frequency are typically placed in specific positions within a sentence, and their placement can vary depending on the type of sentence you’re constructing. Here’s an elaboration on the placement of adverbs of frequency in various sentence structures:

Positive Sentences: 

In positive sentences, the adverb of frequency comes before the main verb. This placement helps convey how often the action is happening. For instance, in the first sentence, “always” tells us that the action of enjoying reading books happens all the time.

• I always enjoy reading books.
• She usually arrives early for class.

Questions: 

When asking questions, we usually place the adverb of frequency after the helping verb (e.g., do, does, did, will) but before the main verb. This pattern helps us inquire about the frequency of an action.

• Do you always eat breakfast?
• Does she usually stay up late?

Negative Sentences: 

In negative sentences, the adverb of frequency also comes before the main verb. However, when we use helping verbs like “doesn’t” (short for “does not”) or “haven’t” (short for “have not”), the adverb stays close to the helping verb.

• She doesn’t usually eat fast food.
• They haven’t often visited that museum.

Imperative Sentences: 

In imperative sentences (commands), adverbs of frequency are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.

• Always remember to lock the front door when you leave.
• Never forget to turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.

Short Answers: 

In short answers, adverbs of frequency are placed after the subject and the auxiliary verb, if present.

• “Did you study for the test?” – “Yes, I always do.”
• “Have you been to London?” – “No, I never have.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While using adverbs of frequency is relatively straightforward, there are some common mistakes that English learners often make. Understanding these mistakes will help you use these adverbs more accurately.

Misplacing Adverbs: 

One of the most common mistakes is misplacing adverbs of frequency within a sentence. Remember that these adverbs typically come before the main verb:

Incorrect: “She arrives never on time.” 

Correct: “She never arrives on time.”

Incorrect: “We go always to the beach in summer.” 

Correct: “We always go to the beach in summer.”

Incorrect: “He visits usually his grandparents on weekends.” 

Correct: “He usually visits his grandparents on weekends.”

Incorrect: “They go sometimes to the cinema.” 

Correct: “They sometimes go to the cinema.”

Incorrect: “I see rarely my old friends.” 

Correct: “I rarely see my old friends.”

Incorrect: “She finishes her work always early.” 

Correct: “She always finishes her work early.”

Incorrect: “We eat never at that restaurant.” 

Correct: “We never eat at that restaurant.”

Incorrect: “He goes often to the gym.” 

Correct: “He often goes to the gym.”

Incorrect: “They travel usually in the spring.” 

Correct: “They usually travel in the spring.”

Incorrect: “I eat sometimes pizza for dinner.” 

Correct: “I sometimes eat pizza for dinner.”

Incorrect: “She finishes rarely her assignments on time.” 

Correct: “She rarely finishes her assignments on time.”

Incorrect: “We take always the bus to work.” 

Correct: “We always take the bus to work.”

Incorrect: “He cooks usually dinner for the family.” 

Correct: “He usually cooks dinner for the family.”

Incorrect: “They visit often their friends.” 

Correct: “They often visit their friends.”

Incorrect: “I exercise never in the evening.” 

Correct: “I never exercise in the evening.”

Omitting the Main Verb: 

Sometimes, learners forget to include the main verb in a sentence, leaving only the adverb:

Incorrect: “She always to the market.” 

Correct: “She always goes to the market.”

Incorrect: “We usually to the park on weekends.” 

Correct: “We usually go to the park on weekends.”

Incorrect: “They sometimes to the movies.” 

Correct: “They sometimes go to the movies.”

Incorrect: “He rarely to the library.” 

Correct: “He rarely goes to the library.”

Incorrect: “I never to the gym.” 

Correct: “I never go to the gym.”

Incorrect: “She often to the beach.” 

Correct: “She often goes to the beach.”

Incorrect: “They seldom to the restaurant.” 

Correct: “They seldom go to the restaurant.”

Incorrect: “He always to the office early.” 

Correct: “He always goes to the office early.”

Incorrect: “We frequently to the mall.” 

Correct: “We frequently go to the mall.”

Incorrect: “She never to the dentist.” 

Correct: “She never goes to the dentist.”

Incorrect: “He regularly to the gym.” 

Correct: “He regularly goes to the gym.”

Incorrect: “I usually to bed late.” 

Correct: “I usually go to bed late.”

Incorrect: “They often to the countryside.” 

Correct: “They often go to the countryside.”

Incorrect: “She sometimes to the concert.” 

Correct: “She sometimes goes to the concert.”

Incorrect: “We rarely to the theater.” 

Correct: “We rarely go to the theater.”

Using Double Negatives: 

In negative sentences, using double negatives can lead to confusion. Avoid using both “not” and a negative adverb in the same sentence:

Incorrect: “I don’t never eat breakfast.” 

Correct: “I never eat breakfast.”

Incorrect: “He doesn’t always forget his keys.” 

Correct: “He always forgets his keys.”

Incorrect: “They don’t usually take the bus.” 

Correct: “They usually take the bus.”

Incorrect: “She doesn’t often go to the gym.” 

Correct: “She often goes to the gym.”

Incorrect: “We don’t sometimes eat out.” 

Correct: “We sometimes eat out.”

Incorrect: “He doesn’t rarely drink coffee.” 

Correct: “He rarely drinks coffee.”

Incorrect: “I don’t never stay up late.” 

Correct: “I never stay up late.”

Incorrect: “They don’t always arrive on time.” 

Correct: “They always arrive on time.”

Incorrect: “She doesn’t usually read books.” 

Correct: “She usually reads books.”

Incorrect: “We don’t often visit our relatives.” 

Correct: “We often visit our relatives.”

Incorrect: “He doesn’t seldom go swimming.” 

Correct: “He seldom goes swimming.”

Incorrect: “I don’t never skip breakfast.” 

Correct: “I never skip breakfast.”

Incorrect: “She doesn’t always do her homework.” 

Correct: “She always does her homework.”

Incorrect: “They don’t sometimes play soccer.” 

Correct: “They sometimes play soccer.”

Incorrect: “He doesn’t rarely watch movies.” 

Correct: “He rarely watches movies.”

Using “doesn’t” (a negative) and “never” (also negative) together is redundant and incorrect.

Overusing Extreme Adverbs: 

While adverbs like “always” and “never” are useful, be cautious about overusing them. In many situations, actions occur with varying frequency. Try to use a variety of adverbs to express different levels of frequency:

• Instead of always saying, “I always read before bed,” you can say, “I usually read before bed,” or “I sometimes read before bed.”
• Instead of always saying, “She always drinks tea,” you can say, “She frequently drinks tea,” or “She occasionally drinks tea.”
• Instead of always saying, “He always takes the bus,” you can say, “He generally takes the bus,” or “He rarely takes the bus.”
• Instead of always saying, “They always play soccer,” you can say, “They regularly play soccer,” or “They seldom play soccer.”
• Instead of always saying, “We always visit our grandparents,” you can say, “We frequently visit our grandparents,” or “We infrequently visit our grandparents.”
• Instead of always saying, “I always write in my journal,” you can say, “I normally write in my journal,” or “I hardly ever write in my journal.”
• Instead of always saying, “She always goes jogging,” you can say, “She usually goes jogging,” or “She occasionally goes jogging.”
• Instead of always saying, “He always watches movies,” you can say, “He often watches movies,” or “He rarely watches movies.”
• Instead of always saying, “They always cook dinner,” you can say, “They usually cook dinner,” or “They hardly ever cook dinner.”
• Instead of always saying, “We always study together,” you can say, “We generally study together,” or “We sometimes study together.”
• Instead of always saying, “I always listen to music,” you can say, “I frequently listen to music,” or “I occasionally listen to music.”
• Instead of always saying, “She always cleans the house,” you can say, “She regularly cleans the house,” or “She seldom cleans the house.”
• Instead of always saying, “He always works late,” you can say, “He generally works late,” or “He rarely works late.”
• Instead of always saying, “They always walk the dog,” you can say, “They normally walk the dog,” or “They hardly ever walk the dog.”
• Instead of always saying, “We always have meetings on Monday,” you can say, “We frequently have meetings on Monday,” or “We occasionally have meetings on Monday.”

Ignoring Word Order in Questions: 

When asking questions with adverbs of frequency, maintain the correct word order. The adverb usually comes after the helping verb but before the main verb:

Incorrect: “Does she goes always to the gym?” 

Correct: “Does she always go to the gym?”

Incorrect: “Do they visits usually their relatives?” 

Correct: “Do they usually visit their relatives?”

Incorrect: “Does he watches often movies?” 

Correct: “Does he often watch movies?”

Incorrect: “Do you plays sometimes tennis?” 

Correct: “Do you sometimes play tennis?”

Incorrect: “Does she eats never junk food?” 

Correct: “Does she never eat junk food?”

Incorrect: “Do they study always together?” 

Correct: “Do they always study together?”

Incorrect: “Does he goes frequently to the library?” 

Correct: “Does he frequently go to the library?”

Incorrect: “Do you reads often before bed?” 

Correct: “Do you often read before bed?”

Incorrect: “Does she cooks always dinner for the family?” 

Correct: “Does she always cook dinner for the family?”

Incorrect: “Do they plays usually board games on weekends?” 

Correct: “Do they usually play board games on weekends?”

Incorrect: “Does he visits seldom his grandparents?” 

Correct: “Does he seldom visit his grandparents?”

Incorrect: “Do you exercises frequently in the morning?” 

Correct: “Do you frequently exercise in the morning?”

Incorrect: “Does she eats occasionally sushi?” 

Correct: “Does she occasionally eat sushi?”

Incorrect: “Do they travels always together?” 

Correct: “Do they always travel together?”

Incorrect: “Does he drinks rarely coffee?” 

Correct: “Does he rarely drink coffee?”

In questions, ensure that the adverb is in the correct position.

Using Adverbs of Frequency in Real-Life Situations

Using adverbs of frequency makes your English sound more natural and expressive in everyday conversations. Let’s dive into some real-life scenarios where adverbs of frequency shine:

At Work: 

In the workplace, adverbs of frequency help you talk about routine tasks and schedules. You can discuss how often you attend meetings, complete projects, or interact with colleagues.

• “I usually have a meeting with my boss on Wednesdays.”
• “Our team always submits expense reports on time.”

Health and Fitness: 

When discussing health and fitness routines, adverbs of frequency enable you to express habits and choices. You can describe how often you work out, eat nutritious meals, or avoid unhealthy snacks.

• “He always exercises in the morning.”
• “She never eats junk food.”

Entertainment: 

Adverbs of frequency come in handy when talking about leisure activities. You can share how frequently you engage in hobbies like going to the movies, watching TV, or playing video games.

• “They rarely go to the cinema.”
• “My wife and I often watch TV shows on weekends.”

Relationships: 

These adverbs help you navigate the terrain of personal relationships. You can express the frequency of certain behaviors or actions within your interactions with friends, family, or partners.

• “We never argue about trivial matters.”
• “She always remembers our anniversary.”

Daily Routines: 

Adverbs of frequency are perfect for describing your daily activities and habits. You can share details about your morning routines, meal preferences, and relaxation habits.

• “I usually wake up at 6 AM.”
• “They sometimes take a nap in the afternoon.”

List of Adverbs of Frequency

Here is a list of adverbs of frequency in English:

• Always
• Constantly
• Continually
• Daily
• Frequently
• Generally
• Hardly ever
• Infrequently
• Never
• Normally
• Occasionally
• Often
• Rarely
• Regularly
• Seldom
• Sometimes
• Usually

FAQs

How do you explain adverbs of frequency?

Adverbs of frequency are words that tell us how often something happens. They help describe whether an action occurs regularly, rarely, or somewhere in between. These words include always, usually, sometimes, rarely, and never.

Is daily an example of adverb of frequency?

Yes, daily is an example of an adverb of frequency. It indicates that something happens every day, showing the frequency of an action.

What really is an adverb of frequency?

An adverb of frequency is a word that helps us express how often an action happens. It gives us information about the frequency of events or actions in everyday life.

What do we use adverbs of frequency to say?

We use adverbs of frequency to talk about routines, habits, or how often we do things. They help us convey whether something happens all the time, usually, occasionally, rarely, or never.

Is suddenly an adverb of frequency?

No, suddenly is not an adverb of frequency. It is an adverb of manner, which describes how something happens rather than how often.

Final words

In conclusion, adverbs of frequency are essential tools in English that help us articulate how often actions occur in our daily lives. Whether expressing regular routines with always and usually, or occasional events with sometimes and rarely, these adverbs provide clarity and detail to our conversations. Understanding how to use adverbs of frequency effectively enhances our ability to communicate about habits, schedules, and personal behaviors. By mastering their usage, we can convey nuances of frequency in a natural and precise manner, enriching our language and interactions.