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The most common adverbs of frequency are always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom,
rarely, and never.
In addition to the adverbs in the chart above, other common adverbs of frequency include
constantly, generally, normally, regularly, frequently, routinely, repeatedly, occasionally,
infrequently, and hardly ever.
The basic rule is that adverbs of frequency come before the main verb but after present
and past forms of be (am, are, is, was, were). In the case of tenses that use an auxiliary,
we put the adverb between the auxiliary and the main verb.
The following tables show the position of the adverbs of frequency in affirmative,
negative, interrogative, and imperative sentences.
Affirmative Sentences
Subject
Auxiliary
Adv. of
Frequency
Main
Verb
Predicate
The side
effects
usually
go
sometimes
have
trouble accessing my
favorite web site.
Beethoven
often
went
a fan of SUVs.
Kevin
has
never
been
Brian
has
always
will
always
be
grateful to you.
BE
Adv. of Frequency
Predicate
The bus
is
usually
on time.
Some people
are
never
satisfied.
Negative Sentences
Adv. of
Frequency
Subject Auxiliary
Main Verb
Predicate
Suzanne doesn't
usually
get
involved in politics.
It
doesn't
often
snow
here at Christmas.
don't
ever
download
Iron supplements
aren't
Predicate
usually
often
Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary Subject Adv. of Frequency Main Verb
Predicate
Does
Kimberly usually
have
breakfast at home?
Do
you
always
read
Did
Chris
ever
play
basketball?
Don't
you
ever
get
tired?
Subject
Adv. of Frequency
Predicate
Are you
always
Isn't Ted
usually
Imperative Sentences
Adv. of Frequency
Verb
Predicate
Always
do
your best!
Never
forget
this rule!
Always
be
truthful!
never
will.
has.
sometimes
do.
seldom
is.
Affirmative Negative
Interrogativ
Imperative
e
always
usually
often
sometimes/occasionally
rarely/seldom/hardly
ever/scarcely ever*
never*
ever
X
X
always
usually
often
X
X
X
X
sometimes/occasionally
never**
ever
** If placed in initial position, subject-verb inversion occurs. See below for examples.
Subject-Verb Inversion
Negative
Adverb
Auxiliary Subject
Main
Verb
Predicate
Never
did
think
Seldom
have
we
had
"Scarcely
had
he
finished
Adverb of Frequency
always
usually
normally / generally
often* / frequently
sometimes
occasionally
seldom
hardly ever / rarely
never
Example Sentence
I always go to bed before 11pm.
I usually have cereal for breakfast.
I normally go to the gym.
I often surf the internet.
I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.
I occasionally eat junk food.
I seldom read the newspaper.
I hardly ever drink alcohol.
I never swim in the sea.
* Some people pronounce the 'T' in often but many others do not.
We use hardly ever and never with positive, not negative verbs:
I haven't ever been to Switzerland. (The same as 'I have never been Switzerland').
We can also use the following expressions when we want to be more specific about the
frequency:
- every day - once a month - twice a year - four times a day - every other week