Practice
Adverbs of frequency: talk about regular habits
I usually take a walk after dinner, but my brother never does. Usually and never tell us about habits without naming an exact number of times.
Use common adverbs of frequency to describe habits and place them naturally with main verbs, be, questions, and negatives.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She usually arrives early. /ʃiː ˈjuːʒuəli əˈraɪvz ˈɜːli/
The short answer
Use always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, or never to say how often a habit happens. Put the adverb before most main verbs and after be.
Dana often reads on the train home.
Why it works: Often comes before the main verb reads.
4 more examples
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I usually call my aunt on Sunday evenings.
Usually comes before call, the ordinary main verb.
Not this:I
rarelycall my aunt on Sunday evenings. What changes: Rarely says that the calls do not happen often. -
The bakery is always busy at seven.
Always follows is because be comes first in this pattern.
Not this:The bakery
is sometimesbusy at seven. What changes: Sometimes leaves room for quiet mornings. -
Do you usually bring lunch from home?
In this question, usually follows the subject you and comes before bring.
Not this:Do you
sometimesbring lunch from home? What changes: Sometimes asks about an occasional habit. -
Omar does not often drive to the office.
Often comes before drive, even after does not.
Not this:Omar does not
alwaysdrive to the office. What changes: Not always means that some journeys happen another way.
Read the full guide
Choose the word that matches the habit first. Then check the verb. That tells you where the frequency word belongs in the sentence.
Choose a word for how often
Use a frequency adverb when you want to describe a habit without giving an exact count. Always and never are the two strongest choices. Usually, often, sometimes, and rarely describe habits between them.
I usually call my aunt on Sunday evenings.
Usually says that this is the normal habit, even if one Sunday is different.
Dana never reads on the train home.
Never says that Dana does not do this at all.
Which word means zero times: often or never?
Never means zero times in the situation you are describing.
Put the adverb before an ordinary main verb
With most actions, put the frequency adverb after the subject and before the main verb. This is the usual order in a statement about a habit.
Dana often reads on the train home.
Often comes before reads, the main verb.
My neighbors rarely order takeout.
Rarely comes before order for the same reason.
Do not put the adverb between a verb and its object. Say We often watch movies, not We watch often movies.
Put the adverb after be
Be has a different order. Put am, is, are, was, or were first, then put the frequency adverb after it.
The bakery is always busy at seven.
Is comes before always because it is the main verb.
Our meetings are sometimes short.
Sometimes follows are and describes how often the meetings are short.
Which sentence is natural: The bakery always is busy, or The bakery is always busy?
Use The bakery is always busy. Put the frequency adverb after be.
Keep the usual order in questions
Questions with do or does begin with the helper verb. After the subject, put the frequency adverb before the main verb.
Do you usually bring lunch from home?
Usually follows you and comes before bring.
Does Mira often work on Saturdays?
Often follows Mira and comes before work.
With be, the same be pattern still applies in a question: Is the station usually crowded at this time?
Use frequency adverbs in negative sentences
After do not or does not, put the frequency adverb before the main verb. The adverb changes the habit, while not makes the whole statement negative.
Omar does not often drive to the office.
Often comes before drive, after does not.
I do not usually drink coffee after lunch.
Usually describes the normal pattern after lunch.
What does not always mean in Omar does not always drive to the office?
It means that Omar drives sometimes, but not on every office journey.
Use exact expressions when you need exact timing
A frequency adverb gives a general picture. Use an expression such as every Friday, once a week, or twice a month when the listener needs a clear schedule.
We meet twice a month to plan the project.
Twice a month gives a number, so it is more exact than often.
The class meets every Friday.
Every Friday names the regular day.
You can use both kinds of information when they have different jobs: I usually meet the class every Friday.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose a frequency word that matches the habit. Put it before an ordinary main verb, after be, and after the subject in a question. In a negative with do or does, keep the adverb before the main verb.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adverbs of frequency: talk about regular habits"
What are adverbs of frequency?
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. Common examples are always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never. In I usually call my aunt on Sunday evenings, usually describes a regular habit without giving an exact count.
I usually call my aunt on Sunday evenings.
Where do adverbs of frequency go with ordinary verbs?
Put the adverb before an ordinary main verb. Dana often reads on the train home is natural because often comes before reads. The same order works with rarely, usually, sometimes, always, and never in many everyday statements.
I rarely call my aunt on Sunday evenings.
Where do frequency adverbs go with be?
Put a frequency adverb after am, is, are, was, or were when be is the main verb. The bakery is always busy at seven has the order is always. Do not normally put always before is in this kind of sentence.
The bakery is always busy at seven.
How do I use frequency adverbs in questions and negatives?
In a question with do or does, put the adverb after the subject: Do you usually bring lunch from home? In a negative, put it before the main verb: Omar does not often drive to the office. Check the subject and main verb before you choose the position.
The bakery is sometimes busy at seven.
Should I use a frequency adverb or an exact schedule?
Use a frequency adverb for a general habit and an expression for an exact schedule. We meet twice a month gives a number, while We often meet does not. Every Friday and once a week are also useful when the timing needs to be clear.
Dana often reads on the train home.
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