Adverbs of Frequency
A1 · BeginnerAdverbsAdverbs of frequency say how often something happens — and they follow a specific position rule that's different from most other adverbs.
What you'll learn
- The scale: always (100%) → usually → often → sometimes → rarely/seldom → never (0%)
- With an ordinary verb: subject + frequency adverb + verb (She always arrives)
- With be: subject + be + frequency adverb (She is always late)
- With an auxiliary (have, will, can...): right after the first auxiliary (I have never been)
The frequency scale
Adverbs of frequency answer 'how often?' and sit on a scale from 100% of the time to 0%: always → usually → often → sometimes → rarely/seldom → never.
Position with an ordinary verb
With a regular main verb, the frequency adverb goes between the subject and the verb: subject + adverb + verb.
Position with be and auxiliary verbs
With the verb be, the frequency adverb goes after be, not before it: 'She is always late', not 'She always is late'.
With an auxiliary verb (have, will, can, must...), the adverb goes right after the first auxiliary: 'I have never been there', 'She can always help'.
Real English
Watch out
With be, the frequency adverb goes after be, not before it.
The frequency adverb goes right after the first auxiliary verb (has), not before it.
Unlike some other adverb types, frequency adverbs don't usually go at the end of the sentence — they go before the main verb.
Real life — Talking about morning routines
"Do you usually have breakfast before work?"
"Honestly, I rarely have time — I'm always rushing out the door."
"Same here. I sometimes grab something on the way."
"I never used to skip it, but lately I just don't have time."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct position
I ___ drink coffee in the morning.
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct position
She ___ late for work.
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct position
He ___ eaten sushi before.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct position
We ___ go to the beach in summer.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct position
They ___ watch TV after dinner.
Exercise 6 · Fix the mistake
Fix the mistake:
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct word
Which frequency word means '0% of the time'?
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: I can ___ help you if you need it. (means 'at any time', one word)
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: She ___ goes to the gym — maybe once a month. (means 'not often', one word)
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
We ___ eat out on weekends.
You learned
- The frequency scale: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely/seldom, never.
- With an ordinary verb: subject + adverb + verb.
- With be: subject + be + adverb.
- With an auxiliary verb: right after the first auxiliary.
Related grammar lessons
Adverbs of Manner
Learn how to form adverbs of manner with -ly, the irregular forms like well and fast, and the well-known hard/hardly trap.
Types of Adverbs
Get an overview of the five main types of adverbs — manner, place, time, frequency and degree — and the question each one answers.
Adverb Position
Learn the three main adverb positions in English — front, mid, and end — and the manner-place-time order for stacking adverbials at the end of a sentence.
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
Learn how to compare actions with adverbs — more/most for most -ly adverbs, -er/-est for a few short ones, and irregular forms like better and worst.