9 Important Adverbs of Frequency for ESL Learners

We use adverbs of frequency to say how often we do something. Adverbs of frequency are often used with the Present Simple because they indicate repeated or routine activities.

9 Important Adverbs of Frequency for ESL Learners

Table of Contents

Understanding Adverbs of Frequency

Definition

Adverbs of frequency are words that describe how often an action occurs. These adverbs are used to indicate the frequency of an action, whether it happens regularly, occasionally, or rarely. Some common adverbs of frequency include always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never.

Adverbs of frequency can be placed in different parts of a sentence, depending on the emphasis that the speaker wants to give. For example, if we want to emphasize the frequency of an action, we can place the adverb at the beginning of the sentence. If we want to emphasize the action itself, we can place the adverb after the verb.

Importance

Adverbs of frequency are important in English because they help us to convey information about how often something happens. This information is essential in many situations, such as when we are making plans, discussing routines, or describing habits.

Using adverbs of frequency correctly can also help us to avoid misunderstandings. For example, if we say “I always go to the gym,” it means that we go to the gym regularly, whereas if we say “I sometimes go to the gym,” it means that we go to the gym occasionally.

In addition, adverbs of frequency can help us to vary our language and make our speech or writing more interesting. By using different adverbs of frequency, we can convey different shades of meaning and create more nuanced descriptions.

Overall, understanding adverbs of frequency is an important part of learning English, and can help us to communicate more effectively and accurately.

Types of Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action occurs. There are two types of adverbs of frequency: definite frequency and indefinite frequency.

Definite Frequency

Definite frequency adverbs specify an exact time frame. Examples of definite frequency adverbs include weekly/every week, daily/every day, and yearly/every year. These adverbs are used to describe actions that occur at a specific interval.

Adverb	Example
Weekly	We have a meeting every week.
Daily	I exercise every day.
Yearly	We celebrate our anniversary every year.

Indefinite Frequency

Indefinite frequency adverbs do not specify an exact time frame. They describe actions that occur at an unspecified interval. Examples of indefinite frequency adverbs include always, usually, sometimes, and often.

Adverb	Example
Always	I always brush my teeth before bed.
Usually	We usually go out to eat on Fridays.
Sometimes	She sometimes forgets her keys.
Often	They often go to the movies on weekends.

It is important to note that adverbs of frequency are typically placed before the main verb in a sentence. When using an adverb of frequency in the negative or in forming a question, it should be placed before the main verb.

Overall, understanding the different types of adverbs of frequency can help us communicate more effectively and accurately describe how often actions occur.

Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency are used to describe how often an action occurs. Here are some common and less common adverbs of frequency that you can use to describe the frequency of an action.

Common Adverbs

100% – always – She likes dancing. She always goes to the night club to dance.

90% – usually – They usually quarrel. I rarely see them in good terms with each other.

80% – normally / generally – I normally go to the gym.

70% – often* / frequently – They often go out for dinner.

50% – sometimes – I don’t mind going to the theater. I sometimes go with my husband.

30% – occasionally – I occasionally eat junk food.

10% – seldom – I seldom read the newspaper.

5% – hardly ever / rarely – I hardly ever drink alcohol.

0% – never – I never go to the cinema. I don’t like it. / Never say never. (proverb)

Less Common Adverbs

Frequently: We frequently go on hiking trips.
Occasionally: We occasionally have picnics in the park.
Seldom: We seldom eat spicy food.
Intermittently: We intermittently check our emails on weekends.
Periodically: We periodically clean our house thoroughly.
Annually: We annually visit our relatives in another state.
Hourly: We check the weather hourly during hurricane season.

Using adverbs of frequency can help you convey the frequency of an action and make your sentences more descriptive. Keep in mind that the frequency of an action can vary depending on the context, so choose the appropriate adverb of frequency that fits the situation.

Using Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency are used to describe how often an action occurs. They are an essential part of English grammar and are used in everyday conversation. In this section, we will discuss how to use adverbs of frequency in a sentence.

Position in a Sentence

Adverbs of frequency are usually placed before the main verb in a sentence. When there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb is placed after the auxiliary verb. For example:

I always drink coffee in the morning.
She never eats meat.
They have rarely been to the beach.

When there is no auxiliary verb, the adverb is placed after the subject. For example:

Tom often goes to the gym.
We usually watch movies on the weekends.
He rarely drinks alcohol.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake when using adverbs of frequency is placing them in the wrong position in the sentence. Remember to always place the adverb before the main verb or after the auxiliary verb.

Another mistake is using the wrong adverb of frequency. It is important to choose the correct adverb to accurately describe the frequency of the action. For example, “always” means every time, “usually” means most times, “sometimes” means a small number of times, and “never” means no times.

Additionally, some adverbs of frequency are used with specific tenses. For example, “always” and “never” are commonly used with the present simple tense, while “often” and “usually” are used with the present continuous tense.

In conclusion, adverbs of frequency are an important part of English grammar and are used to describe how often an action occurs. Remember to place them in the correct position in the sentence and choose the correct adverb to accurately describe the frequency of the action.

Practice Exercises

One exercise we can use is a fill-in-the-blank worksheet. We can provide our students with a list of sentences that describe different activities, and ask them to fill in the blanks with the correct adverb of frequency. For example:

I ________ eat breakfast before work. (usually)
She ________ goes to bed before midnight. (rarely)
They ________ watch TV in the evenings. (often)

Another exercise is a crossword puzzle. We can provide our students with clues that describe different activities, and ask them to fill in the crossword with the correct adverb of frequency. For example:

How often do you brush your teeth? (usually)
How often do you eat vegetables? (sometimes)
How often do you skip breakfast? (never)

In conclusion, teaching adverbs of frequency can be an engaging and effective way to help our students improve their English skills. By using real-life situations, visual aids, and exercises, we can help our students understand how adverbs of frequency work and how to use them correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common examples of adverbs of frequency?

Adverbs of frequency are words that describe how often an action occurs. Some common examples of adverbs of frequency include always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never.

How do you use adverbs of frequency in a sentence?

Adverbs of frequency are usually placed before the main verb in a sentence. For example, “I always eat breakfast” or “She rarely goes to the gym.” However, if the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the adverb of frequency is placed after the auxiliary verb. For example, “They are usually on time” or “He has never been to Paris.”

What is the difference between adverbs of frequency and frequency phrases?

Adverbs of frequency are single words that describe how often an action occurs. Frequency phrases, on the other hand, are groups of words that also describe how often an action occurs. For example, “once a week,” “twice a month,” and “three times a year” are all frequency phrases.

Can you provide some adverbs of frequency exercises?

Here’s an example of an adverbs of frequency exercise: Fill in the blank with the appropriate adverb of frequency. “I ____________ forget my keys.” The correct answer is “often.”

What are some ways to practice using adverbs of frequency?

One way to practice using adverbs of frequency is to keep a journal and write down how often you do certain activities. You can also practice by having conversations with others and using adverbs of frequency to describe how often you do certain things.