Adverbs of Frequency: Rules, Examples, and Exercises

Adverbs of Frequency: Rules, Examples, and Exercises

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action happens. They are commonly used to give more details about the regularity of events. This guide will cover the rules, explanations, examples, common mistakes, and exercises to help you use adverbs of frequency correctly.

What Are Adverbs of Frequency?

An adverb of frequency tells us how often an action occurs. It answers the question "How often?"

✔ Examples of Adverbs of Frequency:

• She always arrives on time.

• He rarely eats fast food.

• They sometimes go to the gym.

Rule: Adverbs of frequency modify verbs and tell us how often an action takes place.

❌ Wrong: I go sometimes to the park.
✅ Correct: I sometimes go to the park.

Rules for Using Adverbs of Frequency

✔ Rule 1: Adverbs of Frequency Usually Come Before the Main Verb

• She always drinks coffee in the morning.

• They never miss a meeting.

✔ Rule 2: If the Sentence Has "Be" as the Main Verb, the Adverb Comes After "Be"

• She is always happy.

• They are usually late.

✔ Rule 3: Adverbs of Frequency Usually Follow Modal Verbs (can, must, should, etc.)

• You must always wear a seatbelt.

• She can never keep a secret.

✔ Rule 4: Adverbs of Frequency Can Start a Sentence for Emphasis

• Sometimes, I go jogging in the morning.

• Rarely, do they visit their relatives. (In formal writing, an inversion is used: "Rarely do they…")

✔ Rule 5: Adverbs of Frequency Can Be Divided into Different Levels

• Always – 100% of the time (e.g., She always arrives early.)

• Usually – Around 80% of the time (e.g., He usually drinks tea in the morning.)

• Often – Around 60% of the time (e.g., They often go to the gym.)

• Sometimes – Around 50% of the time (e.g., I sometimes take the bus.)

• Occasionally – Around 30% of the time (e.g., We occasionally eat out.)

• Rarely – Around 10% of the time (e.g., He rarely watches TV.)

• Never – 0% of the time (e.g., She never smokes.)

Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

✔ With Different Verbs

• She always studies before an exam.

• They rarely watch TV.

• He never eats junk food.

✔ With Different Sentence Positions

• I often read books before bed. (before the main verb)

• She is usually busy in the morning. (after the verb "to be")

• You must never skip breakfast. (after modal verbs)

✔ For Emphasis at the Beginning of a Sentence

• Occasionally, we go to the cinema.

• Rarely do they complain about anything. (formal usage with inversion)

Common Mistakes with Adverbs of Frequency (With Corrections)

❌ Mistake 1: Placing the Adverb in the Wrong Position
Wrong: He drinks coffee usually in the morning.
✅ Correct: He usually drinks coffee in the morning.

Explanation: The adverb should come before the main verb.

❌ Mistake 2: Misplacing the Adverb with "Be"
Wrong: She always is happy.
✅ Correct: She is always happy.

Explanation: When using "be" as the main verb, the adverb comes after it.

❌ Mistake 3: Using "Never" in a Negative Sentence
Wrong: I don't never eat meat.
✅ Correct: I never eat meat.

Explanation: "Never" already implies a negative meaning, so "don't" is unnecessary.

❌ Mistake 4: Confusing Similar Adverbs
Wrong: He goes to the gym sometime.
✅ Correct: He goes to the gym sometimes.

Explanation: "Sometime" (one unspecified time) is different from "sometimes" (occasionally).

Exercises on Adverbs of Frequency

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Adverb of Frequency

1. She ______ (always) wakes up early.

2. They ______ (never) forget their homework.

3. He ______ (sometimes) eats lunch at home.

4. We ______ (rarely) watch horror movies.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Adverb Position

1. He goes to work (always / usually) at 8 AM.

2. She is (never / rarely) late to meetings.

3. We (sometimes / often) have pizza for dinner.

4. You must (always / never) tell the truth.

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

Rewrite the sentences correctly.

1. They go on vacation usually in summer. → _________

2. She is rarely watching TV. → _________

3. I don’t never drink soda. → _________

4. He sometimes is tired after work. → _________

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentences Using Adverbs of Frequency

Example: She goes shopping on Sundays. → She usually goes shopping on Sundays.

1. He is late to class. → _________

2. They visit their grandparents. → _________

3. She eats fast food. → _________

4. We study in the library. → _________