Adverbs of Frequency

Hook

“I always drink coffee in the morning. I never drink tea.” How often do you do things? Six small words answer that question, and they have a fixed place in the sentence.

Notice

  • I always get up early. (100%)
  • She usually walks to work.
  • We often eat out on Fridays.
  • They sometimes play football.
  • He rarely watches TV.
  • I never eat meat. (0%)
  • She is always happy. He is never late.

Where is the frequency word with a normal verb? Where is it with is?

Rule

always (100%) → usually → often → sometimes → rarely / hardly ever → never (0%)

  • Before the main verb: I often go to the park.
  • After the verb be: She is usually tired on Mondays.
  • With don’t/doesn’t: I don’t usually eat breakfast.
  • Questions: How often do you go to the gym? — Twice a week. / Every day. / Once a month.
  • Never is already negative: I never smoke (not I don’t never smoke).

Watch Out

  • ✗ I go always to school by bus. → ✓ I always go to school by bus. (before the main verb)
  • ✗ She always is late. → ✓ She is always late. (after be)
  • ✗ I don’t never eat meat. → ✓ I never eat meat.
  • ✗ How many often do you swim? → ✓ How often do you swim?

Practice

  1. I ___ (always / drink) coffee in the morning.
  2. He ___ (be / never) late.
  3. Put in order: go / usually / I / to bed / at 10
  4. Put in order: is / sometimes / she / tired
  5. Which is more often: often or sometimes?
  6. Correct it: “They play never tennis.”
  7. Question for: “I go swimming twice a week.”
  8. 0% = ___
Show the answers
  1. always drink
  2. is never
  3. I usually go to bed at 10.
  4. She is sometimes tired.
  5. often
  6. They never play tennis.
  7. How often do you go swimming?
  8. never

Your Turn

Write one true sentence about yourself with each frequency word: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. Then ask a friend: How often do you…?

Connect

Put frequency words in the right place with our Sentence Builder.

Try our Sentence Builder →

Our Grammar Quiz has more A1 questions on routines and frequency.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Production / Writing: I can describe my habits and how often I do things.

Azizul Hakim
Latest posts by Azizul Hakim (see all)

Printable worksheet (PDF) Pro

PreviousNext