Adverbs of Frequency

Read a part of a radio show. Why

do you think some words are red?
 do the shopping do the dishes wash the clothes

make the bed clean the bathroom take out the rubbish

H: Hello, and welcome to our show. Men
usually doesn’t like the housework. Who does
the housework in your house? What’s your
name?
R: Ralph.
H: How often do you do the housework, Ralph?
R:I sometimes do the shopping. I always do the
dishes.
H: OK, and what’s your name?
T: Hello, I am Tom.
H: Tom, how often do you do the housework?
T: Always. Every day. Seven times a week. 
H: What housework do you do?
T: I usually make the bed and always wash the
clothes. But I never take out the rubbish. My
wife always takes out the rubbish.
H: Good! How about you…?
A: Hello, I’m Anne. I’m Tom’s wife.
H: Anne, you have a very nice husband!
A: No! He rarely does the housework. I do it!
H: Oh no!
A: He never makes the bed. And the clothes?
He washes them once a year.
H: What does he do?
A: He is often on the phone to boring radio
shows!
Adapted fromStraightforward Elementary, p. 142
• Men don’t usually like the housework.
• How often do you do the housework, Ralph?
• I sometimes do the shopping.
• I always do the dishes.
• I usually make the bed and always wash the
clothes, but I never take out the rubbish. My
wife always takes out the rubbish.
• He rarely does the housework.
• He never makes the bed, and the clothes? He
washes them once a year.
• He often listens to boring radio shows!
 Adverbs of Frequency

• always
• usually
• often
• sometimes
• rarely
• never

 We use adverbs of frequency to talk about how often we

do something.
 Adverbs of Frequency
always usually often sometimes rarely never
 Position of adverbs of frequency
*We put adverbs of frequency after the verb to be.
*We put adverbs of frequency before the main verb.

-Our teacher is never late to class.

-I usually meet my friends on Friday evenings.
Adverbs of Frequency with Affirmative Sentences

• He always comes late.

• I usually drink milk for breakfast.
• Mark rarely tidies up his room.
• I often go shopping.
• Carol sometimes tells lies.
• I never smoke.
 Adverbs of Frequency with Negative Sentences

• I don’t usually get up early.

• Sue doesn’t often eat in restaurants.
• Mark and Jenny don’t always shop
online.
 Adverbs of Frequency with Questions

• Do you always go to school by school bus?

• Does Karen often cook for the dinner?

• What do you usually do in the evenings?

 Adverbs of Frequency with the verb TO BE

• John is always late for school.

• Children are usually happy.
• Our teacher is never angry.
• People are sometimes strange.
• Your room isn’t often dirty.
 HOW OFTEN.......?
How often asks the frequency of an action

How often do you go out?

- I go out once
twice a day/week/month/year
three times
 HOW OFTEN........?
How often does your wife cook?
- She cooks every day.

How often do you go on holiday?

-I go on holiday twice a year.

How often does your boyfriend call you?

-He calls me three times a day.
Exercise: Put the “adverbs of frequency” in the
correct place.
1.He is hungry. (always)
2.I don’t go out on Monday evenings.(usually)
3. She has cereal for breakfast.(often)
4.My friend is sick in winters. (usually)
5. He does his homework. (rarely)
6. She smokes because she hates it.(never)
7. Tom cries when he watches a romantic film.
(sometimes)
8. You are not careful. ( often)
9. Susan doesn’t share her clothes with her sister. (always)
 Answer Key:
1.He is always hungry.
2.I don’t usually go out on Monday evenings.
3. She often has cereal for breakfast.
4.My friend is usually sick in winters.
5. He rarely does his homework.
6. She never smokes because she hates it.
7. Tom sometimes cries when he watches a romantic film.
8. You are not often careful.
9. Susan doesn’t always share her clothes with her sister.