2019-06-29 Adverbs of Frequency – 6 Minute Grammar

Do you often listen to things in English?

It’s time for 6 Minute Grammar. In this programme we join Finn, Sophie and Neil as they discuss all things relating to the topic of adverbs of frequency.

Sit back and enjoy the programme and see how well you do in the quiz at the end!

Finn
Hello everyone and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Finn.

Sophie
And me, Sophie. Hello.

Finn
Today we’re talking about adverbs of frequency.

Sophie

That’s right. Adverbs of frequency give us more information about a verb. They help us talk about how often we do something. We can use them to describe daily routines. Here’s Neil with our first example:

Neil
I always drink coffee in the morning.

Finn
Thanks Neil. From most frequent to least frequent, you can use always, followed by usually, and then sometimes, then rarely for things that don’t happen a lot and finally never for things you don’t do. What do you do before you go to bed, Sophie?

Sophie
Well, I always brush my teeth before I go to bed – and I sometimes have a decaff cup of tea! Let’s have another example:

Neil
I always take the bus to work.

Sophie
So we can use always for repeated actions – things you do every day.

Finn       
Now let’s look at word order.

Sophie
Yes – adverbs of frequency usually go between the subject and the main verb. Tell us about something you do every day, Finn!

Finn
Well, when I’m at work: I always have lunch with you! Now a question for you Sophie: What do you do after work?

Sophie
I usually go to the gym after work – not every day – maybe three or four times a week. I often watch TV in the evenings and I sometimes read in bed.

Finn
Well, believe it or not, I rarely watch TV – maybe just once a week, and I never drink coffee in the evening: it keeps me awake!

Now let’s talk about auxiliary verbs with adverbs of frequency. Neil.

Neil
I can never remember Michael’s birthday.

Finn
So here we have the auxiliary verb can. Can shows ability and it goes between the subject I, and the adverb never. I can never remember Michael’s birthday. Let’s have another one:

Neil
You should never look directly at the sun.

Sophie
Good advice using the auxiliary should, again between the subject and the adverb: You should never look directly at the sun.

Finn
Another useful auxiliary is might for possibility – like this:

Neil
We might never see each other again.

Finn
So we can use the auxiliary might if we aren’t certain about something- and it goes before the adverb. We might never see each other again.

Sophie
The verb to be also goes before the adverb:

Neil
Ali is always late for work.

Finn
Right. Ali is always late for work. Is goes before the adverb always. Let’s have another example with to be please Neil:

Neil
British weather is rarely good.

Ident
You’re listening to BBC Learning English.

Finn
Now for a note about negative adverbs never and rarely.

Sophie
Yes: Remember, you can’t use negative adverbs in negative sentences. For example, you can’t say British weather isn’t never good because isn’t and never are both negative.

Finn
That’s right. Instead, say British weather is never good, or perhaps British weather is rarely good.

Sophie
Now for a quiz. I’ll give you an auxiliary and an adverb, and you have to make a sentence. Finn will give an example of a possible answer. First one: can and sometimes.

Finn
You could say: I can sometimes catch the early bus if I wake up in time.

Sophie
Right. Next: should and never.

Finn
Ok. You should never drink coffee before you go to bed.

Sophie
Yes, excellent advice. It can be difficult to sleep. Last one: to be and often.

Finn
Ok, well often means nearly always, so…You are often late for lunch!

Sophie
I know… sorry, Finn!

Finn
I forgive you. Now for a pronunciation tip.

Sophie
Yes. Some people say often like this: often. You can hear the ‘t’ sound: often. Other people pronounce it with a silent ‘t’.

Finn
Like this: often… often. Both ways are acceptable.

So that’s adverbs of frequency – always, usually, often or often, sometimes, rarely and never. They go before the main verb, after an auxiliary, and you can use them to talk about how regularly you do things.

Sophie
Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.Head. H

All
Bye.

Grammar Reference
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency

Meaning and use

Adverbs give us more information about a verb. Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an activity happens. There are many adverbs to choose from. Here are some of the most common ones, listed from most frequent to least frequent

I always walk to work..

They usually arrive late.

My father often forgets his birthday.

He sometimes wakes up early.

I rarely drink tea in the morning.

You hardly ever say you love me.

Jenny never drinks coffee in the evening.

We can use adverbs of frequency with the verb to be.

We are never unhappy.

This time of year is usually the coldest.

We can use modal verbs with adverbs of frequency. For example, we can use the auxiliary verbs can, should and might, which express ability (can), obligation (should), and possibility (might).

Laura can sometimes hold her breath for over a minute.

You should always put on suncream when it’s very sunny.

We might never see each other again.

Form

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb.

subject + adverb + main verb

I always eat breakfast.

They sometimes take a taxi.

They go after the verb ‘to be’.

subject + to be + adverb + main verb

I am always late for work.

He is often ready for work at 6 am.

We aren’t usually hungry in the morning.

They go between a modal and the main verb.

subject + modal + adverb + main verb

You should always wear a helmet.

I can sometimes hear my neighbour’s TV.

Positive

I always take the bus into town.

Jenny is often late for work.

Negative

The adverb of frequency goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.

We don’t usually watch TV after lunch.

They can’t always wait for you.

It goes after ‘to be’.

I am not always this organised.

They aren’t usually late.

Question

For questions, the order is auxiliary + subject + adverb of frequency + verb.

Do you always eat here?

Does he usually do that?

Take note: negative adverbs

Negative adverbs such as never, seldom, rarely and hardly evercannot be used in negative sentences. The following sentence is incorrect, because it has a double negative.

WRONG: The weather isn’t never sunny.

CORRECT: The weather is never sunny.

Take note: sometimes

Sometimes can go before the subject, before the main verb, and after the main verb.

Sometimes we go fishing.

We sometimes go fishing.

We go fishing sometimes.

Take note: adverbs of frequency and the present continuous

We usually use adverbs of frequency with the present simple, but they can also be used with the present continuous. The adverb comes between the auxiliary and the main verb.

She’s always losing her phone.

Spoken English

Some people pronounce the /t/ sound in often; other people pronounce often with a ‘silent t’. Both are acceptable.