A1 · Grammar
Adverbs of frequency
After this page you can say how often you do things (always, often, never …) and ask How often …?
Rules
1.
How often? From always to never
- I always drink tea in the morning.
- Priya often works at the weekend.
- We sometimes eat out on Fridays.
- Tom never takes the bus.
These words say how often you do something. always is every time. never is not one time.
From 100% to 0%
- always · 100%, every time
- usually · about 90%
- often · about 70%
- sometimes · about 50%
- rarely / hardly ever · about 10%, almost never
- never · 0%, not one time
rarely and hardly ever mean the same. Hardly ever is more common when you speak.
always · usually · often · sometimes · rarely / hardly ever · never
2.
Before the main verb
- Lucy usually walks to work.
- I often call my mother on Sundays.
- My children rarely eat fish.
Put the adverb after the subject and before the main verb. The -s stays on the verb: she often works.
subject + adverb + verb
- I sometimes cook. · She never drinks coffee.
- not: She drinks never coffee.
sometimes can also start the sentence: Sometimes I walk to work.
subject → adverb → verb: Ben often plays football.
3.
After be
- I am always tired on Mondays.
- The bus is often late.
- Sofia is never at home on Saturdays.
With be (am, is, are), the adverb comes after be.
be + adverb
- He is always happy. · The shops are usually open.
- not: He always is happy.
be → adverb: is always, are often
other verbs: adverb → verb: always works
4.
never: no don't, no not
- I never eat meat.
- Tom hardly ever goes to the cinema.
- Anna never drives to work.
never, rarely and hardly ever are already negative. Use them with a positive verb. Do not add don't, doesn't or not.
One negative is enough
- I never drink coffee. (not: I don't never drink coffee.)
- She hardly ever calls. (not: She doesn't hardly ever call.)
never + positive verb: He never smokes.
5.
How often …? Once a week
- How often do you go to the gym? – Twice a week.
- Do you often work late? – Yes, I do.
- Olga visits her parents once a month.
- I check my email three times a day.
Ask with How often + do/does. In a question, the adverb comes after the subject. Put once a week or every day at the end of the sentence.
How often?
- once a week = one time a week
- twice a month = two times a month
- three times a year · four times a day
- every day · every Monday
How often + do/does + subject + verb?
once, twice, three times + a day / a week / a month → at the end
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