Adverbs of Frequency
Some adverbs tell you how often something happens: Always / sometimes / never / usually
These usually go before the main verb.
• We never eat breakfast.
• He usually walks to work.
They come after the verb 'be'.
• He is always early.
• She is often hungry.
If there is an auxiliary verb, they come after it.
• She is always losing her keys.
'Sometimes' and 'usually' can also come at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
• Sometimes he is early.
• He is early usually.
'Never' and 'always' don’t come at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
• He is never early. (NOT: Never he is early.)
• He is always early. (NOT: He is early always.)
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We also use longer phrases like ‘once a week’ to say how often something happens.
• Once a day / week / month / year
• Twice a day / week / month / year
• Three times a day / week / month / year
• A few times a day / week / month / year
• Every day / week / month / year / morning / afternoon / evening / night
These phrases usually go at the end of the sentence.
• I play the piano every day.
• He calls his mother once a week.
• She goes to the dentist twice a year.
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Let's review!
Put the adverb in the correct place.
1. always: He brushes his teeth before work.
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2. every day: William does his homework.
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3. a few times a year: I meet Julia.
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4. never: She is angry.
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5. once a week: I am in the office.
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6. sometimes: We go for a walk in the evening.
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7. twice a month: She sees her mother.
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8. usually: I have coffee and eggs for breakfast.
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9. always: He has been very kind to us.
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10. never: They are late.
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Answers
1. He always brushes his teeth before work.
2. William does his homework every day.
3. I meet Julia a few times a year.
4. She is never angry.
5. I am in the office once a week.
6. We sometimes go for a walk in the evening / Sometimes we go for a walk in the evening / We
go for a walk in the evening sometimes.
7. She sees her mother twice a month.
8. I usually have coffee and eggs for breakfast / Usually I have coffee and eggs for breakfast / I
have coffee and eggs for breakfast usually.
9. He has always been very kind to us.
10. They are never late.
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