Adverbs

Frequency

Usually and never are adverbs of frequency. They tell us how often an action happens.

  • We usually wear casual clothes.
  • We never go to the cinema.

Adverbs of frequency include:

0%
never
|
hardly ever
|
sometimes
|
often
|
usually
100%
always

Adverbs of frequency go before the verb in a sentence.

  • We often go to the opera.
    NOT: We go often to the opera.

Adverbs of frequency go after the verb to be.

  • He is always happy.
    NOT: He always is happy.

Some adverbs of frequency can go at the beginning or the end of a sentence. These adverbs are normally, usually and sometimes.

  • Normally he's happy to help.
  • He's normally happy to help.
  • He's happy to help normally.

Some adverbs of frequency cannot normally go at the beginning of a sentence. These adverbs are always, never and rarely.

  • Always I go to work by bus.
  • Never she watches TV.
  • Rarely we visit them.

In a question, the adverb of frequency goes after the subject.

  • Do you always go to work by bus?
  • Are you normally so happy?
  • What would you never do?