Adverbs of Frequency

Among the different types of adverbs, adverbs of time and adverbs of frequency are used to depict when the action mentioned in a sentence is taking place or when the subject in a sentence is performing an action. This article on adverbs of frequency discusses their meaning, definition, and usage. Examples and practice questions have also been provided to give you a clear idea of the same.

What Is an Adverb of Frequency?

An adverb of frequency is a word that is employed in a sentence to give more information about the verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs of frequency can be placed after the noun or pronoun that acts as the subject and before the verb if there is just one verb in a sentence. If there is more than one verb in a sentence (e.g., auxiliary verb), the adverb of frequency can be positioned before the main verb.

Definition of an Adverb of Frequency

The word ‘frequency’, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “the number of times something happens within a particular period, or the fact of something happening often or a large number of times.” So, an adverb of frequency is an adverb which depicts the number of times an action happens within a particular period of time. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word ‘frequency’ as “the rate at which something happens or is repeated.” Therefore, an adverb of frequency can be defined as an adverb which denotes the rate at which something happens.

Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

Have a look at the following sentences to understand how an adverb of frequency can be used.

• Ashish often likes to have food from hotels.

• Wiley always buys groceries from the supermarket.

• The teachers have been instructed to take attendance every hour.

• Everyday, the hospitals see a huge inflow of accident casualties.

• We never like to have litchi juice from any other store.

List of Adverbs of Frequency

Given below is a list of examples of adverbs of frequency for your reference.

List of Common Adverbs of Frequency

Never

Seldom

Always

Every hour

Everyday

Often

Constantly

Ever

Eventually

Daily

Frequently

Hourly

Yearly

Generally

Monthly

Occasionally

Regularly

Sometimes

Rarely

Usually

Normally

Hardly ever

Scarcely

Now and then

On and off

On and on

At times

Once a day

Once a week

Twice a day

Three times a week

From time to time

On a daily basis

Every now and then

Placement of Adverbs of Frequency in a Sentence

The placement of adverbs of frequency can vary depending on the structure of the sentence. Here are some general rules:

1. After the verb 'to be':

   • "Charlie is always late for appointments."

   • "English grammar is sometimes difficult."

   • "Junk food is never recommended."

   • "Family reunions are usually noisy events."

2. Before other verbs:

   • "Tom sometimes takes the bus to work."

   • "Some people never buy books."

   • "Sophie regularly meets her friends for lunch."

   • "Young people today often spend a lot of time on social media."

3. Between two verbs or after the first verb if there are more than two:

   • "Julie has never travelled by plane. She's scared!"

   • "We should never have accepted the invitation."

   • "You can always change your password later."

   • "I would never have thought that was possible."

4. Except if the second verb is an infinitive:

   • "Charlie often needs to ask for advice."

   • "Alex rarely accepts to join the group."

   • "We generally try to eat homemade food."

Frequency Phrases and Expressions

Frequency phrases such as 'every day', 'once in a while', etc., go at the beginning or at the end of sentences.

• "I wash my hair every day."

• "Once a month, I go to the hairdresser's to have it cut."

• "Once in a while, I am tempted to change the colour."

• "Every now and then, I meet my friends for lunch."

• "My cousin Charlie drops in to say hello every now and again."

• "My husband dresses casually, but he wears a suit from time to time."

• "I exercise on a daily basis."

Additional Frequency Phrases

Here are some more frequency phrases that can be used to indicate how often an action occurs:

• Once a day: "I take my vitamins once a day."

• Once a week: "We have a team meeting once a week."

• Twice a day: "She brushes her teeth twice a day."

• Three times a week: "He goes to the gym three times a week."

• Four times a month: "They visit their grandparents four times a month."

• Every other day: "I water the plants every other day."

• Once every two weeks: "We clean the house once every two weeks."

• Twice a month: "She gets her hair trimmed twice a month."

• Three times a year: "They go on vacation three times a year."

Additional Examples and Usage Tips

1. Adverbs of Definite Frequency:

   • These adverbs specify exact intervals and are often placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.

   • Examples: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly

   • "She visits her grandmother weekly."

   • "We have meetings monthly."

2. Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency:

   • These adverbs do not specify exact intervals and are usually placed before the main verb or after the verb 'to be'.

   • Examples: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

   • "He always arrives on time."

   • "They are usually very punctual."

3. Combining Adverbs of Frequency:

   • You can combine adverbs of frequency with other adverbs to provide more detail.

   • Example: "She almost always finishes her work on time."

4. Using Adverbs of Frequency in Questions:

   • Adverbs of frequency can be used in questions to inquire about the regularity of an action.

   • "How often do you exercise?"

   • "Do you usually eat breakfast?"

Check Your Understanding of Adverbs of Frequency

Try to use the adverbs of frequency listed above in your own sentences. Here are a few practice questions to help you:

1. How often do you exercise?

2. Do you always eat breakfast?

3. How frequently do you visit your grandparents?

4. Do you seldom watch TV?

5. How often do you read books?

Frequently Asked Questions on Adverbs of Frequency in English

1. What is an adverb of frequency? An adverb of frequency is a word that describes how often an action occurs.

2. Where do you place adverbs of frequency in a sentence? Adverbs of frequency are usually placed after the subject and before the main verb. If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of frequency is placed before the main verb.

3. Can adverbs of frequency be used with all tenses? Yes, adverbs of frequency can be used with all tenses to indicate how often an action occurs.

4. What are some common adverbs of frequency? Some common adverbs of frequency include always, often, sometimes, rarely, and never.

5. How do adverbs of frequency differ from adverbs of time? Adverbs of frequency indicate how often an action occurs, while adverbs of time indicate when an action occurs.