FREQUENCY ADVERBS

Definition
Uses
Word order
Exercises

Presented by:
Dante Navarro

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Definition: Frequency adverbs are words
that modify a verb.

Uses: They are usually used to indicate

routine or repeated activities, so they are
often used with the simple present tense.
They tell us how often people do things.

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% Adverbs Example
100% Always I always study English
90% Usually. I usually send e-mails
80% Normally I normally get good grades
70% Often. I often drive to school
50% Sometimes. I sometimes take a bath
30% Occasionally. I occasionally go to bed late
10% Seldom I seldom put salt on my food
5% Hardly ever I hardly ever come late
0% Never Vegetarians never eat meat

Normally = generally, often = frequently, hardly ever =

rarely
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Other frequency adverbs:
Continually, regularly, infrequently, constantly, fortnightly,
quarterly, scarcely, ever, periodically, ever

When something happens 100% of a time we use the adverb

always, i.e without exception. I always go to church. The opposite
is never (0% of the time). If it is in the middle would mean half the
time I go to church, and half the time I don’t.

Normally = generally, often = frequently, hardly ever =

rarely

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 Position of the adverbs of frequency. (Word order)

Subject + adverb + main verb

He always studies English.
Eve and Mary never listen to me.

Subject + be + adverb
He is always happy.
Sandy and I are always on time.

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 EXERCISES

1. I ________________ late on Sundays.

a. get up usually b. get usually up c. usually get up
 
2. Jane ______________ late for work.
a. never is b. is never
 
3. _______________ on weekends?
a. Often do you work b. Do you often work c. Often you do work
 
4. Mary________________ early for class.
a. often is b. are often c. is often
 
5. When do you ____________ go on vacation?
a. never c. usually

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 EXERCISES

- Tim and Ann rarely go to the movies on the weekend.

- Betty seldom goes to parties.
- There are always many guests in that hotel.
- It’s often worrying to hear their complains.
- I usually don’t feel well after drinking Pisco sour..
- Peter often does his homework with friends.
- He hardly ever studies in the morning.
- Tom and Sarah often go for lunch together.
- In the summer Joe sometimes goes Skiing in Huaraz.

You must always try your best.

We can usually find a seat on our train.
They should never be rude to customers.

N.B.: The adverb of frequency goes between the auxiliary

verb and the main verb, or after the modal verb.

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Questions with “How often”?
Often means with what frequency. i.e I want to know the
frequency you do something.

How can we express the frequency of an action?

a. With frequency adverbs.

b. With the word “times”: 3 times a day, 4 times a month…

c. Every + a time period. Every day (you can also say

daily), every week (you can say weekly)…

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 QUESTIONS
1.How often do you eat ceviche?
2.How often do you play the piano?
3.How often do the planes arrive early?
4.How often do you watch the news?
5.How often does he play soccer?
6.How often do you visit your parents?

7.Are you sometimes tired after work?

8.Is he a absent today?

9.Do you often take out your dog?

10.Does he usually work at night?
11.Do they ever go to Chosica? (‘ever’ is used instead of ‘never’ in questions)
12.Do you ever go to the movies?
13.Do you ever watch TV?

14.What do you often do on Sunday mornings?

15.What time do you usually go to the dentist?

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 Conclusions:

- Frequency adverbs are words we use to

r main
indicate routine verbsactivities.
or repeated

- Frequency adverbs ususally go after the

verb “to be”, or before other main verbs.

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THANKS

Dante Navarro
June 28th, 2019

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