Common Adverbs of Frequency & How to Use Them

The seven most common adverbs of frequency are: 1. Always - 100% - If something always happens, it happens every time. It is certain. 2. Usually - 99%-80% - If something usually happens, it happens most of the time. It is not certain. 3. Often - 80%-60% - If something often happens, it happens a lot of the time. 4. Sometimes - 60%-30% - If something sometimes happens, it happens occasionally. 5. Seldom - 30%-10% - If something seldom happens, it does not happen very often. 6. Rarely - 20%-1% - If something rarely happens, it usually does not happen. 7. Never - 0% - If something never happens, it does not happen. The percentages refer to how often something will happen if this adverb is used. The percentages are only there to give you an idea of how often something occurs and, with the exception of always and never, different people will have different percentages with the adverbs. In proper grammar, adverbs of frequency are placed in between the subject and the verb of the sentence. Subject + Adverb of Frequency + Verb + Rest of the Sentence For example, let's say that Steve hates onions and he refuses to eat them. The correct way to say that using adverbs of frequency follows. Steve never eats onions. As you can see, the adverb fits between the noun and verb. However, the adverb sometimes can be placed either between the noun and the verb or at the beginning or the end of the sentence. This is the only one of the seven adverbs of frequency that can do this. Harold sometimes works in the afternoons. Sometimes Harold works in the afternoons. Harold works in the afternoons sometimes.

Adverb Frequency Fill-In-The-Blank

Please fill in the blanks with always, usually, seldom, or never. The alarm clock beeped at 6:30 AM. Harold got up quickly because he gets up at 6:30 AM. After getting ready, Harold ate breakfast. Harold only eats breakfast once or twice a month. Harold eats breakfast. Next, he went downstairs and got into his car. The car wouldn't start so he had to take the bus. Harold hadn't taken the bus in five years. He takes the bus. At the school, everyone was wondering where he was. Harold makes sure the Multimedia Classroom is open at 8 AM. Harold is late. He is on time. Harold arrived at the school at 8:15 AM but he didn't check his mail. Harold checks his mail most days. He checks his mail. The first class was scheduled to arrive at 8:30. Harold makes sure that the room is ready on time. Fortunately, Harold was able to get things ready. He hopes that this happens again!