Adverbs of Frequency: Word Order, Examples and Exercises

What are adverbs of frequency?

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action, event or situation occurs.

Compare:

I go to the gym.

This tells us what happens.

I often go to the gym.

This also tells us how frequently it happens.

Adverbs of frequency are especially common when talking about:

• daily routines
• habits
• work and study
• hobbies
• food
• exercise
• travel
• behaviour

They are often used with the present simple because this tense commonly describes repeated actions and habits.

For example:

I always check my emails in the morning.

He sometimes works from home.

They rarely watch television.

Common frequency adverbs and percentages

Percentages can help you understand the general meaning of frequency adverbs, but they are only approximate. There is no exact mathematical difference between usually and often.

Quick Tip: Lots of English learners learn the word seldom', but this is rarely used by native English speakers!

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Also, notice that never already has a negative meaning.

Correct:

I never drink coffee.

Incorrect:

I don’t never drink coffee.

In standard English, do not normally use another negative with never.

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Word order with ordinary verbs

With most ordinary verbs, put the adverb of frequency before the main verb.

Structure:

subject + frequency adverb + main verb

Examples:

I usually eat lunch at home.

She often goes to the gym.

We sometimes watch films together.

He rarely cooks.

They never travel in winter.

The same rule applies when the verb is in the present simple third person:

She always starts work at eight.

Not:

She always start work at eight.

The adverb does not change the verb form.

Negative sentences

With do not / does not, the frequency adverb normally comes after the auxiliary and before the main verb:

I don’t usually eat breakfast.

She doesn’t often drive to work.

Compare:

I usually eat breakfast.

I don’t usually eat breakfast.

The position of usually remains directly before the main verb.

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Word order with be and auxiliary verbs

The verb be follows a different pattern.

With the verb be

Put the frequency adverb after be.

Structure:

subject + be + frequency adverb

Examples:

I am usually tired after work.

She is always friendly.

They are often busy on Fridays.

He is never late.

Incorrect:

She always is friendly.

More natural:

She is always friendly.

With auxiliary verbs

If the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the frequency adverb normally comes after the first auxiliary.

Examples:

I have often wondered about that.

She can usually help us.

They will probably arrive later.

He has never visited Scotland.

You should always check your work.

Structure:

subject + auxiliary + frequency adverb + main verb

For example:

She has often visited London.

Not usually:

She often has visited London.

Questions with how often

Use How often...? to ask about frequency.

Structure:

How often + auxiliary + subject + main verb?

Examples:

How often do you exercise?

How often does she travel?

How often do they eat out?

Possible answers include:

I exercise every day.

I usually exercise three times a week.

I rarely eat out.

You can also use more specific frequency expressions:

once a week

twice a month

three times a year

every day

every weekend

from time to time

For example:

How often do you call your parents?

Usually two or three times a week.

Questions with be

When the main verb is be, you do not need do or does.

How often are you late for work?

How often is she at home in the evening?

Not:

How often does she be at home?

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Sometimes at the beginning or end

Sometimes is more flexible than many other frequency adverbs.

It can appear in the usual middle position:

I sometimes work at weekends.

It can also appear at the beginning:

Sometimes, I work at weekends.

Or at the end:

I work at weekends sometimes.

All three are possible, although the middle position is extremely common.

Beginning position can give the word slightly more emphasis:

Sometimes, I just want to stay at home and relax.

Other adverbs such as occasionally can also appear at the beginning or end:

Occasionally, we go out for dinner.

We go out for dinner occasionally.

However, always and never are much less flexible.

Natural:

I always eat breakfast.

Unnatural in normal speech:

Always I eat breakfast.

Natural:

He never complains.

Not normally:

Never he complains.

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Common mistakes

Putting the adverb after an ordinary verb

Incorrect:

I go usually to work by bus.

Correct:

I usually go to work by bus.

Putting the adverb before be

Less natural:

She always is tired.

Correct:

She is always tired.

Remember:

ordinary verb → adverb before the verb
be → adverb after the verb

Using a double negative with never

Incorrect:

I don’t never eat meat.

Correct:

I never eat meat.

Or:

I don’t ever eat meat.

Confusing sometimes and sometime

Sometimes means on some occasions:

I sometimes work from home.

Sometime means at an unspecified time:

Let’s meet sometime next week.

They do not have the same meaning.

Saying every days

Incorrect:

I exercise every days.

Correct:

I exercise every day.

Compare:

every day

with:

daily

Both can describe frequency.

Confusing how often and how long

How often asks about frequency:

How often do you exercise?

Three times a week.

How long asks about duration:

How long do you exercise?

About an hour.

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Exercises and answers

Exercise 1: Put the adverb in the correct position

1. I drink coffee in the morning. (usually)
2. She is late for class. (never)
3. We go to the cinema at weekends. (sometimes)
4. He has forgotten my birthday. (never)
5. They are tired after work. (often)
6. I can remember people’s names. (rarely)
7. Sarah walks to work. (always)
8. We eat at restaurants during the week. (hardly ever)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence

a) I often go running.
b) I go often running.

a) She usually is busy.
b) She is usually busy.

a) He has never seen snow.
b) He never has seen snow.

a) We sometimes meet after work.
b) We meet sometimes after work.

a) They don’t usually drive.
b) They usually don’t drive.

Exercise 3: Complete the questions

1. __________ do you go to the gym?
2. How often __________ she work from home?
3. How often __________ they late?
4. How often __________ you visit your family?
5. How often __________ he travel for work?

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Answers and explanations

Exercise 1

1. I usually drink coffee in the morning.
2. She is never late for class.
3. We sometimes go to the cinema at weekends.
4. He has never forgotten my birthday.
5. They are often tired after work.
6. I can rarely remember people’s names.
7. Sarah always walks to work.
8. We hardly ever eat at restaurants during the week.

Exercise 2

1. a) I often go running. — before an ordinary verb
2. b) She is usually busy. — after be
3. a) He has never seen snow. — after the auxiliary has
4. a) We sometimes meet after work. — standard middle position
5. a) They don’t usually drive. — after the auxiliary and before the main verb

Exercise 3

1. How often do you go to the gym?
2. How often does she work from home?
3. How often are they late?
4. How often do you visit your family?
5. How often does he travel for work?

The most important rule for adverbs of frequency is word order. Put words such as always, usually, often, sometimes and never before ordinary verbs, but after the verb be. With auxiliary verbs, they usually come after the first auxiliary. Once these three patterns are clear, talking about habits and routines becomes much easier.

Related grammar lessons

• Past Simple Tense: Rules and Exercises
• Modal Verbs in English
• Gerunds and Infinitives: Rules and Exercises