Adverbs of Frequency

by | Feb 11, 2025 | Vocabulary Tips | 0 comments

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action happens. They add more detail about the regularity of an event and make sentences clear and informative.

What are Adverbs of Frequency?

Adverbs of frequency are words that describe how often an action takes places. They modify verbs to provide more information about the freuqency of an event. 

For example:

  • She always arrives early.
  • He usually takes the bus.
  • They often go for a walk.
  • We sometimes eat out.

Common Adverbs of Frequency in English 

  • Always
  • Usually
  • Often 
  • Sometimes
  • Rarely
  • Never

Types of Adverbs of Frequency

Two types of adverbs of frequency are used in English grammar.

  • Definite adverbs of frequency
  • Indefinite adverbs of frequency

Let’s discuss each type with examples to understand both types.

1. Definite Adverbs of Frequency

Definite adverbs of frequency describe an exact time frame for how often something happens.

Examples:

  • I go to the gym daily.
  • She called her parents weekly.
  • We visit our grandparents annually.

2. Indefinite Adverbs of Frequency

Indefinite adverbs of frequency do not give an exact time frame but show the general frequency of the happening of an event.

Examples

  • He always wakes up early.
  • They sometimes watch movies at night.
  • I never drink soda.

How to Use Adverbs of Frequency Correctly

Adverbs of frequency are usually placed before the main verb. However, in the case of the verb to be, we place an adverb of frequency after the verb to be. Sometimes we use adverbs of frequency at the beginning or end of the sentence to add emphasis. Let’s see the examples below:

1. Before the Main Verb

Adverbs of frequency are usually placed before the main verb.

Examples

  • She often reads books.
  • They usually go for a walk in the evening.

2. After the verb “to be”

If there is the verb ‘to be’ in the sentence, then the adverb of frequency usually comes after the verb to be. 

For example:

  • He is always happy.
  • They are sometimes late for class.

3. At the beginning or end of the sentence

To add emphasis in the sentence, an adverb of frequency is sometimes placed at the end or start of the sentence.

For example:

  • Sometimes, I forget my keys.
  • I go to the gym twice a week.

Conclusion

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action happens. The purpose of using adverbs of frequency is to make sentences more clear and informative by adding extra detail about the action.

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