Oxford English Grammar Course Basic

adverbs with the verb often, certainly etc

1
2 Level
Level

Some adverbs, for example always or certainly, usually go with the verb.
how often: always often usually sometimes ever hardly ever (= ‘almost never’) never
how certainly: certainly definitely probably
other: already also just still even only
These adverbs go before most verbs, but after auxiliary verbs (have, will, can, must etc) and after
am/are/is/was/were.
BEFORE MOST VERBS AFTER AUXILIARY VERBS AND AM ETC
I always read in the evenings. I have always enjoyed reading.
Andy often goes to New York. He can often get cheap flights.
She hardly ever sees him. He is hardly ever at home.
I certainly like London. It will certainly rain tomorrow.
We only want to see Barbara. We are only here to see Barbara.
Jack already knows Sophie. Jack has already met Sophie.

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1 Put the adverbs in the correct places.
X I speak French, but people know that I’m English. (often; always)
I often speak French, but people always know that I’m English.
1 Jake eats fish. He eats fish for breakfast. (always; even)

2 Ann plays tennis, but she plays in the evenings. (often; only)

3 Edward puts tomato sauce on everything. He puts it on ice cream. (usually; probably)

4 I forget names. I forget faces. (sometimes; never)

5 Jane gets angry, and she shouts at people. (hardly ever; never)

6 I get to the station on time, and the train is late. (always; always)

7 I will phone you tomorrow, and I will write next week. (definitely; probably)

8 I drink tea. I drink coffee. (usually; sometimes)

9 Your sister is a good singer. She is a very interesting person. (certainly; also)

10 My mother is asleep. I think she is ill. (still; probably)

In questions, these adverbs usually go after auxiliary verb + subject.

Do you ever write poems? Has Mary always lived here? Are you often in London?

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2 Put the adverbs in the correct places.
1 Do you play cards? (often)
2 Have you been to Tibet? (ever)
3 Are you happy? (always)
4 Does the boss take a holiday? (ever)
5 Do you eat in restaurants? (usually)
6 Is Bethany ill? (still)

214 ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

©Michael Swan and Catherine Walter 2011

44220761_OEGCBnokey.indb 214 14/9/10 15:29:00
Oxford English Grammar Course Basic

1
Longer expressions usually go at the end of a sentence. Compare:

2 Level
She often plays tennis. She plays tennis two or three times a week.
She hardly ever wins a game. She wins a game once or twice a month.
She always practises. Does she practise every afternoon?

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3 Look at the table and make some sentences with often, once a day etc.
Eva often goes swimming.
ACTIVITY EVA TOM
Eva goes swimming once a day / every day.
goes swimming 1/d* 1/m Tom goes to the theatre two or three times a year.
plays football – 3/w
plays tennis 1/w 1/y
goes skiing 5–6/y –
goes to the theatre 1/w 2–3/y
goes to the cinema 3–4/y 2/m
goes to concerts – 1/w

*1/d = once a day;

2/m = twice a month; etc

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4 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY: go with spare-time activities
Look at the pictures, and put the correct numbers with the activities.
Use a dictionary if necessary.
IN YOUR SPARE TIME YOU CAN:
go walking 6
go climbing
go swimming
go sailing 1 2 3 4
go wind-surfing
go skiing
go skating
go fishing 8
5 6 7
go shopping
go to the opera
go to the theatre
go to concerts

9 10 11 12

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5 Write some sentences about your spare-time activities. Use words from Exercises 1–4.
X I never go climbing. 4
X I go swimming every day. 5
1 6
2 7
3 8

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I’m, don’t) and full ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS 215
forms (for example I am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.

©Michael Swan and Catherine Walter 2011

44220761_OEGCBnokey.indb 215 14/9/10 15:29:00