We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the

verb:

I often go to the cinema.

She sometimes visits me at home.

We usually drink coffee.

We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them
stronger:

Often I go to the cinema.

I go to the cinema often.

But never: I go often to the cinema.

Adverbs of frequency
With the present simple, we often use adverbs of frequency to say how often we do
something. Heres a list of common adverbs:

always

frequently

generally

hardly ever

infrequently

never

normally

occasionally

often

rarely

regularly

seldom

sometimes

usually

We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the verb:

I often go to the cinema.

She sometimes visits me at home.

We usually drink coffee.

We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them stronger:

Often I go to the cinema.

I go to the cinema often.

But never: I go often to the cinema.

Here are some other expressions we can use to say how often. All of these longer phrases go at
the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.

once in a while: I go to the cinema once in a while.

every now and again: She drinks wine every now and again.

from time to time: From time to time I visit my mother.

To say how often something happens, you can use a number or several or many, followed by
times.( If the number is one, use once instead of one time. If the number is two use twice
instead of two times) Then add a and a period of time:

I go to the cinema twice a week.

She take these tablets three times a day.

I change the sheets once a fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).

I meet him several times a year.

I visit my parents once a month.

Here are some other expressions we can use to say how often. All of these longer
phrases go at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.
Sometimes I am so tired I cant get out of bed!
He sometimes plays tennis instead of going to the gym.
We like to go to the beach on vacation sometimes.

Adverbs of frequency appear between the subject and the verb in a sentence:For example:
I always update the calendar at the beginning of the month.
Poetria often takes notes during the Skype sessions.
Adverbs of frequency appear after a form of the to be - am, are, is (was, were) in a sentence:For example:

I am never late.
IVisit was occasionally frustrating.
They were always noisy.
Adverbs of frequency go between an auxiliary verb and the main verb:For example:
Anne doesn't usually smoke.
If there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb of frequency goes between them:For example:
I have never been to Asia.
The adverbs of frequency often, usually, sometimes and occasionally can go at the beginning of a
sentence:For example:
Usually I don't give personal advice. = I don't usually give personal advice.
Occasionally we go for a drive on a Sunday. = We occasionally go for a drive on a Sunday.
Adverbs of frequency go before the verbs used to or have to:For example:
I always used to celebrate bonfire night.
I usually have to get up early to walk Laika.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Instructions: In each sentence, circle the adverb and underline the word it
modifies.
The class will finish this worksheet now. (now-will finish)
The officer readily accepted the new job. (readily-accepted)
I want a perfectly clean room. (perfectly-clean)
Children like to play outside. (outside-play)
Please play your music quietly. (quietly-play)

6.
7.

He kicked the soccer ball forward. (forward-kicked)

She immediately jumped when they yelled, Surprise!
(immediately-jumped)
8.
That is an entirely new idea. (entirely-new)
9.
He is an amazingly strong athlete. (amazingly-strong)
10.
I finally received my bonus. (finally-received)

requency

Adverb of Frequency

Example Sentence

100%

always

I always go to bed before 11pm.

90%

usually

I usually have cereal for breakfast.

80%

normally / generally

I normally go to the gym.

70%

often* / frequently

I often surf the internet.

50%

sometimes

I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.

30%

occasionally

I occasionally eat junk food.

10%

seldom

I seldom read the newspaper.

5%

hardly ever / rarely

I hardly ever drink alcohol.

0%

never

I never swim in the sea.

Tom usually goes to work by car.

Janet never flies. She always goes by bus.
Adverbs of frequency come after the verb 'be':
Examples
I am never late for work.
Peter is often at school.

Frequency Adverbs Multiple Choice

Created with JBC

1 Carlos is an excellent student. He _________ goes to class.

always
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
2 I hate vegetables. I _________ eat carrots.
always
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
3 Robert goes to the gym only two or three times a year. He ________ goes to
the gym.
always
never
usually
seldom

4 Harold never leaves the college on Friday. He ________ eats at the cafeteria
on Fridays.
always
never
seldom

5 Ms. Biethan is always in a good mood. She is _________ sad.

always
usually
never

6 Teresa is not a pleasant person. She is ___________ in a bad mood.

never
seldom
always

7 My sister usually drives to work with a friend. She _________ drives alone.
never
always
usually
seldom

8 I never lend money to Curtis. He ______ pays me back.

sometimes
always
never
usually

9 Susan goes to the beach whenever she can. She _______ misses a chance to go
to the ocean.
never
always
usually

10 It almost always rains in Seattle. The sun ________ shines there.

always
usually
seldom

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
al

breakfast. Harold only eats breakfast once or twice a month.

Harold
eats breakfast. Next, he went downstairs and got into
se

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
never

school, everyone was wondering where he was. Harold makes sure

the Multimedia Classroom is open at 8 AM. Harold is
late. He
never

is

alw ays

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

usu

checks his mail. The first class was scheduled to arrive at 8:30.
Harold
makes sure that the room is ready on time.
a

Fortunately, Harold was able to get things ready. He hopes that

this
happens again!
n

. The gymnast gracefully completed the routine.

gracefully
routine

2. The game went horribly for the home team.

game
horribly

3. She reached awkwardly for the book on top of the shelf.

reached
awkwardly

4. He faithfully helped his mother with chores.

faithfully
helped

5. The boy whistled cheerfully.

whistled
cheerfully

6. He calmly drove through the storm.

calmly
drove

7. We filled out our forms improperly.

forms
improperly

8. The television blared loudly.

loudly
blared

9. The violinist played softly

violinist
softly

10. We strongly made our case.

strongly
case