LBCC E-ESL Online Learning

Adverbs of Frequency

Introduction Common Adverbs of Frequency & How to Use Them

Interactive Quizzes Links

Introduction

Adverbs are words that are used to describe things. More specifically, adverbs give more detail. Adverbs and adjectives are NOT the same thing. Adjectives describe only nouns. Adverbs describe verbs. Adverbs tell you how?, when?, and where? In the sentence, "The man ran quickly," quickly is an adverb that tells you how the man ran. In English, we use a special group of adverbs called either frequency adverbs or adverbs of frequency to describe how often something happens. This lesson will demonstrate how to use common adverbs of frequency.

Common Adverbs of Frequency & How to Use Them

The seven most common adverbs of frequency are:

Always - 100% - If something always happens, it happens every time. It is certain.
Usually - 99%-80% - If something usually happens, it happens most of the time. It is not certain.
Often - 80%-60% - If something often happens, it happens a lot of the time.
Sometimes - 60%-30% - If something sometimes happens, it happens occasionally.
Seldom - 30%-10% - If something seldom happens, it does not happen very often.
Rarely - 20%-1% - If something rarely happens, it usually does not happen.
Never - 0% - If something never happens, it does not happen.

The percentages refer to how often something will happen if this adverb is used. The percentages are only there to give you an idea of how often something occurs and, with the exception of always and never, different people will have different percentages with the adverbs.

In proper grammar, adverbs of frequency are placed in between the subject and the verb of the sentence.

Subject + Adverb of Frequency + Verb + Rest of the Sentence

For example, let's say that Steve hates onions and he refuses to eat them. The correct way to say that using adverbs of frequency follows.

Steve nevereats onions.

As you can see, the adverb fits between the noun and verb. However, the adverb sometimes can be placed either between the noun and the verb or at the beginning or the end of the sentence. This is the only one of the seven adverbs of frequency that can do this.

Harold sometimesworks in the afternoons.
Sometimes Haroldworks in the afternoons.
Harold works in the afternoons sometimes.

Introduction	Common Adverbs of Frequency & How to Use Them
Interactive Quizzes	Links