Adverbs of Frequency: Telling 'How Often'

Adverbs of Frequency

Telling How Often

FREQUENCY	SENTENCE
These adverbs tell how often something is done.	The exact frequency indicated by these words will vary from speaker to speaker. A word such as customarily suggests a frequency set by culture, routinely suggests a frequency set as part of a job, as a rule suggests a scheduled or understood code for frequency.
always routinely (customarily) as a rule in general normally usually	We always take the garbage out at night. We routinely take the garbage out at night. As a rule, we take the garbage out at night. In general, we take the garbage out at night. (There are few exceptions.) We normally take the garbage out at night. (Unless something unexpected prevents this.) We usually take the garbage out at night. (Sometimes we're too tired.)
most of the time often frequently half of the time	Most of the time, we take the garbage out at night. (Sometimes we forget to.) We often take out the recylables. recyclables (n.) – bottles, plastics, paper We frequently take out the recylables. (We take it out when the container is full.) Half of the time, we take out the recylables.
sometimes occasionally on occasion rarely seldom hardly ever	We sometimes take batteries out. We occasionally take batteries out. On occasion , we take batteries out. We rarely take batteries out. (We don't use many batteries.) We seldom take batteries out. We hardly ever take batteries out. (Use ever after a negative word.)
never	We never take hazardous waste out. (We use them up and then recycle the containers.) We don't ever take hazardous waste out. (Use ever after a negative word.)

FREQUENCY

SENTENCE

These adverbs tell how often something is done.

The exact frequency indicated by these words will vary from speaker to speaker. A word such as customarily suggests a frequency set by culture, routinely suggests a frequency set as part of a job, as a rule suggests a scheduled or understood code for frequency.

always

routinely (customarily)

as a rule

in general

normally

usually

garbage We always take the garbage out at night.

We routinely take the garbage out at night.

As a rule, we take the garbage out at night.

In general, we take the garbage out at night. (There are few exceptions.)

We normally take the garbage out at night. (Unless something unexpected prevents this.)

We usually take the garbage out at night. (Sometimes we're too tired.)

most of the time

often

frequently

half of the time

Recylable items

Most of the time, we take the garbage out at night. (Sometimes we forget to.)

We often take out the recylables. recyclables (n.) – bottles, plastics, paper

We frequently take out the recylables. (We take it out when the container is full.)

Half of the time, we take out the recylables.

sometimes

occasionally

on occasion

rarely

seldom

hardly ever

We sometimes take batteries out.

We occasionally take batteries out.

On occasion , we take batteries out.

We rarely take batteries out. (We don't use many batteries.)

We seldom take batteries out.

We hardly ever take batteries out. (Use ever after a negative word.)

never

Hazardous waste

We never take hazardous waste out. (We use them up and then recycle the containers.)

We don't ever take hazardous waste out. (Use ever after a negative word.)

Sentence Position

Emphasizing Time with Adverbs of Frequency

INITIAL: Usually, my family eats dinner together. Emphasis position
MID: My family usually eats dinner together. Standard word order
FINAL: My family eats dinner together usually.

Select one position for the adverb:

my family eats dinner together

Initial, Medial or Final Adverb Placement

ADVERB	SUBJECT	AUX	ADVERB	VERB	OBJECT PHRASE	ADVERB
INITIAL (emphasis) Most of the time, Usually, Normally Often, Half of the time, Sometimes, Frequently, Occasionally, Once in a while	my family	— (no aux.) can will doesn't is has had		recycles recycle recycling recycled	household garbage.	household (adj.) – related to the operation of a house
	My family	— (no aux.) can will doesn't is has had	MEDIAL always usually often sometimes frequently occasionally rarely seldom hardly ever never	recycles recycle recycling recycled	household garbage.
	My family	— (no aux.) can will doesn't is has had		recycles recycle recycling recycled	household garbage	FINAL most of the time. usually. normally. often. half of the time. somtimes. frequently. occasionally. once in a while.

ADVERB

SUBJECT

AUX

ADVERB

VERB

OBJECT PHRASE

ADVERB

INITIAL (emphasis)

Most of the time,
Usually,
Normally
Often,
Half of the time,
Sometimes,
Frequently,
Occasionally,
Once in a while

my family

— (no aux.)

can
will
doesn't

has
had

recycles

recycle

recycling

recycled

household garbage.

household (adj.) – related to the operation of a house

My family

— (no aux.)

can
will
doesn't

has
had

MEDIAL

always
usually
often
sometimes
frequently
occasionally
rarely
seldom
hardly ever
never

recycles

recycle

recycling

recycled

household garbage.

My family

— (no aux.)

can
will
doesn't

has
had

recycles

recycle

recycling

recycled

household garbage

FINAL

most of the time.
usually.
normally.
often.
half of the time.
somtimes.
frequently.
occasionally.
once in a while.

Use emphasis word order when contradicting or stating that the opposite is true: "I don't think they usually recycle their garbage." "No, they do usually recycle it."

Negative Adverbs of Frequency

INITIAL POSITION	FIXES
When a negative adverb – never, rarely, seldon, hardly ever – is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, the auxiliary of the verb is moved in front of the subject.	After a negative adverb, place the auxiliary verb (do, does, is, are, am, have, has) before the subject and main verb. Initial placement of the adverb is for emphasis.
*Seldom we are home in the day time. / We seldom are at home in the daytime.	Seldom are we home in the day time. (be verb)
*Never we have much time together. / We never have much time together.	Never do we have much time together. (other verbs)
At no time the President is free. / The President is at no time free.. At no time the President goes out alone.	At no time is the President free. At no time does the President go out alone.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

Ever / Never

ADVERB FOR FREQUENCY	ADVERB FOR EXPERIENCE
Use ever after a negative word or expression to mean not at all.	Use ever with the present perfect tense to ask about experience. (Have you done this before?)
We never take hazardous waste out.	Have you ever taken hazardous waste out for recycling? (simple question.)
I doubt we ever take hazardous waste out.	Have you never recycled your garbage? (a question implying: I think you have.)
It's unlikely we ever take hazardous waste out.	Have you ever recycled paint cans before?
I can hardly believe we would ever take hazardous waste out.	No, I've never ever done that.

Also see present perfect Experience

Practice 1

Habits & Routines

Select the correct verb tense. Pay attention to the adverbs.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	REVEAL ANSWER
1.	In the morning, I get up 7:00 to let the dogs out.
2.	I oversleep if I have been up late the night before.
3.	My wife and I have breakfast together unless I'm out of town on business.
4.	we go out for breakfast with friends.
5.	We work in the yard together on the weekends.
6.	We see our son. He moved far away.
7.	Our family gets together for holidays.
8.	have a chance to see our grandchildren.
9.	, my wife and I host holiday meals.
10.	I cook a meal .
11.	Our daughters cook for us . once in a blue moon (expression) – rarely; once a year there are two moons in one calendar month
12.	been more content.

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