Adverbs of frequency are used to tell how often something happens. The adverbs in the table below are the most frequently used. The percentage values below each adverb represents how often something happens according to the adverb being used.
For example, I never watch TV, means that I watch TV 0% of the time.
| never |
almost
never |
hardly
ever |
rarely |
seldom |
| 0% |
1%-5% |
6%-10% |
11%-20% |
21%-30% |
| sometimes |
often |
usually |
almost
always |
always |
| 31%-40% |
41%-60% |
61%-75% |
76%-99% |
100% |
Adverbs of frequency are usually used with the simple present form of the verb; although, they can also be used with the progressive tense as well. Most adverbs of frequency come between the subject and verb of the sentence or clause in which they are used. For example:
| subject |
adverb |
verb |
| I |
always |
get up |
at 7 o'clock. |
Some frequency adverbs can also come at the beginning or at the end of
a sentence.
For example:
I sometimes get up at seven.
Sometimes I get up at seven.
I get up at seven, sometimes.
Here are some more sample sentences.
- I hardly ever play sports.
- I rarely watchTV.
- Jim usually listens to music while taking a shower.
- Mary sometimes goes shopping on Saturday.
- I never go dancing anymore.
- Yuko always studies English grammar after school.
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