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always, usually, normally, generally,
often, frequently, sometimes occasionally,
seldom, hardly ever, rarely, never.
These are all adverbs and they describe how frequently we do an activity or the frequency of habits.
These are called adverbs of frequency or more specifically adverbs of indefinite frequency.
The percentages that appear on the left are only approximate numbers
to give you a general idea of the frequency associated with each adverb.
When something happens 100% of the time, we use the adverb ALWAYS.
For example: I always brush my teeth at night.
This means that, without exception, 100% of the time
I will brush my teeth at night before going to bed.
What is the opposite of ALWAYS?
NEVER which is zero percent of the time.
For example: Vegetarians never eat meat.
This means there is a zero percent possibility of this happening.
The frequency is zero.
What adverb do we use when something happens half of the time
and the other half of the time it doesn't happen?
When something has about a 50% frequency of happening, we use the adverb SOMETIMES.
For example: I sometimes sing in the shower.
This means half the time I'm in the shower, I sing and half the time I don't sing.
I sometimes sing in the shower.
What can we use if we almost never do something?
It's not zero percent but maybe five percent possibility of it happening.
In this case we use the adverbs HARDLY EVER or RARELY.
For example: I hardly ever get angry.
Or you can say: I rarely get angry.
They both mean the same thing.
This means there is a very small chance of it happening but it is almost never.
I hardly ever get angry.
It usually only happens if you steal my chocolate from the fridge.
Other than that, nothing else annoys me.
Let's quickly look at the other adverbs of frequency.
USUALLY is when something happens around 90 percent of the time.
It is almost always.
For example: I usually walk to work.
Yes, I live close to my place of work, so I usually walk there.
NORMALLY or GENERALLY happens around 80 percent of the time.
For example: I normally get good marks.
Yes, about 80 percent of the time my marks are good.
The rest of the time ... they're excellent! :)
When something has a frequency of about 70 percent, we use the adverbs OFTEN or FREQUENTLY.
OFTEN can be pronounced two ways.
By pronouncing the T ... OF-TEN
or by NOT pronouncing the T ... OF-FIN
Both forms are correct and depend on where you live.
The example of these adverbs is:
I often read in bed at night.
which is the same as saying:
I frequently read in bed at night.
The adverb OFTEN is more common than using the word FREQUENTLY.
The adverb OCCASIONALLY is at about 30%.
For example: I occasionally go to bed late.
Yes, usually on Friday and Saturday night.
I occasionally go to bed late.
And the adverb SELDOM is at about 10% frequency.
For example: I seldom add salt to my food
which means it is not common or not often that I add salt.
The adverbs SELDOM, HARDLY EVER, RARELY and NEVER all have a negative meaning.
Let's look at word order when we use adverbs of frequency.
In general, the adverb of frequency goes before the main verb.
The order is subject + verb + main verb
Let's look at the sentence:
I read in bed at night.
If I want to let you know about the frequency I do this,
the frequency that I read in bed,
then I need to use an adverb.
The main verb is READ so we put the adverb before the verb READ.
I often read in bed at night.
Another example: Daniel always passes his exams.
The main verb is PASSES so we put the adverb before it.
Daniel always passes his exams.
They never speak Spanish in class.
The main verb is SPEAK so the adverb of frequency goes before it.
They never speak Spanish in class.
When there is an auxiliary verb such as HAS, HAVE, MUST, MIGHT, WILL, CAN, SHOULD, WOULD, etc.
followed by a main verb,
then the adverb goes between them both.
Subject + auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb
For example: I have done my homework.
HAVE is the auxiliary verb and DONE is the main verb
so we put the adverb of frequency in the middle.
I have always done my homework.
You can see it is the same rule as before,
the adverb goes before the main verb.
Just remember to put it after the auxiliary verb.
Another example: Susan has always lived in New York.
HAS is the auxiliary verb and LIVED is the main verb,
so we put the adverb of frequency in the middle.
Susan has always lived in New York.
I have never eaten dog food.
The adverb NEVER goes between the auxiliary verb HAVE and the main verb EATEN.
I have never eaten dog food... that I know of.
Of course in English, there's always an exception, and this happens with the verb TO BE.
When we want to use an adverb with the verb TO BE,
then the order is subject + TO BE + adverb
For example: I am busy at work.
AM is the form, or conjugation, of the verb TO BE, so we put the adverb after it.
I am normally busy at work.
We cannot say: I normally am busy at work.
No, this is not correct.
He is always happy.
Again, the adverb is after the form of TO BE.
He is always happy.
They are sometimes late.
The adverb sometimes comes after the verb ARE which is a form of TO BE.
They are sometimes late.
We have just seen the common position of adverbs of frequency within the sentence,
but it is also possible to put some adverbs at the beginning of a sentence.
These adverbs include USUALLY, NORMALLY, FREQUENTLY, GENERALLY, OCCASIONALLY and SOMETIMES.
Look at these examples:
Occasionally, I have pancakes for breakfast
Or you can put the adverb between the subject and the main verb...
I occasionally have pancakes for breakfast.
Both sentences are correct.
Normally our English class is in the morning.
Sometimes they take a bus to work.
But, be careful with ALWAYS, HARDLY EVER, SELDOM, RARELY and NEVER.
Do NOT put them at the beginning of the sentence, no!
Always I get up early ... is not correct, no!
We need to put ALWAYS before the main verb.
I always get up early.
That is correct.
The exception to this is when we're using
ALWAYS or NEVER in the imperative to give orders or instructions.
You will see more about this in another video.
I hope you found this video useful.
You might want to watch our other video about adverbs of definite frequency.
These are a little different.
Have an awesome day!