Adverb of Frequency: Definition, Examples, Rules, Worksheet

What is an Adverb of Frequency

To put it in simple terms, adverbs of frequency are words in a sentence that describe how often an action or thing occurs. Let’s understand this adverb of frequency definition with an example: “He is usually late to meetings.” Here, the word “usually” is the frequency adverb because it is showing how frequently the subject is late to the meeting.

A few of the common frequency adverb examplesinclude words like always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never. However, adverbs frequency can also include phrases like “twice a week,” “Every now and then,” and “Once in a blue moon (idiomatic).”

Additionally, they are a part of a broader class of adverbs and answer the key question “How often?” in a sentence while giving more information about the verb.

Rules for Using Adverbs of Frequency

There are a few rules one needs to follow and understand to use adverb of frequency effectively in a sentence.

1. Even though the words “never’ and “hardly ever” have negative meaning, they are used with positive verbs in a sentence.
2. If there is more than one verb in a sentence, then the frequency adverbs can be placed before the main verb.
3. Since they are used to show the frequency of an action, we generally use them with the present simple tense.
4. If a sentence only has one verb, then adverbs of frequency can be placed in the middle so that they are placed before the verb but after the subject. For example, “Ria always eats chocolate ice cream.”
5. Place the frequency adverb at the beginning of the sentence to form a question or a negative sentence.
6. To show general truths or routines, use frequency adverbs with a plural noun or a Pronoun. For example, “Dogs usually sleep during the day.”
7. Unlike other adverbs of frequency, “sometimes”, “occasionally”, and “usually” can appear in different positions in a sentence.

Types of Adverbs of Frequency

Furthermore, the adverb of frequency is divided into two types based on the specificity of the time frame they describe. These include:

1. Definite Adverbs of Frequency

These types of frequency adverbs show or indicate the exact or specific period during which the action occurred. Some of the adverb of frequency words include hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, every day, and once a week. While not always, they generally occur at the end of the sentence.

Examples of definite adverbs of frequency in a sentence:

• She goes to the mall once a week.
• They change the banner every two months.
• My friends and I hang out once a year.

2. Indefinite Adverbs of Frequency

On the other hand, Indefinite adverbs of frequency also indicate or show how often an action happens, but don’t specify the exact time. These types of adverb of frequency generally occur before the main verb in a sentence, after a helping verb, or after the verb "be.”

Examples of Indefinite adverbs of frequency in a sentence:

• I always drink water before my meal.
• They usually close the shop early on Saturday.
• We hardly ever take this route at night.

List of Common Adverbs of Frequency and Their Usage 

Below is an adverb of frequency list that will help you understand which adverb to use when. Additionally, you will also discover their example adverb of frequency sentences and usage.

Placement of Adverbs of Frequency in Sentences

It is relatively easy to understand what adverb of frequency are, but correctly using them in everyday language can get a little difficult. Especially since their placement in a sentence highly depends on the structure of the verb and the specific adverb.

Below are common rules or best practice for placingthem correctly along with a few adverb of frequency examples, read below.

1. In a Sentence That Has One Verb

In a sentence that only has one verb, the adverb of frequency is placed in the middle of the sentence. This means before the verb and after the subject. However, there are a few exceptions that you’ll read below.

• They always meet after class.
• I hardly ever eat chocolate.
• We rarely eat fast food.

2. After “To be” verb

If a sentence has “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) as its main verb, then the adverb of frequency comes after it. Similarly, if a question also has a “to be” verb, then a frequency adverb comes right after it. Additionally, it comes after the negative form of the “to be” verb in negative sentences.

Here are some adverb of frequency examples in “to be” verb:

• She is usually early to get-togethers.
• We aren’t usually hungry at this time.
• Are you always this busy?

3. Auxiliary or Modal Verbs

If a sentence has a modal or auxiliary verb (can, will, have, do), then the adverb of frequency words comes between them and the main verb. This plays a big role in maintaining clarity and emphasises how often an action is occurring.

• Modal verb: You must always finish your homework.
• Auxiliary verb (form of to be): He is usually very polite.
• Auxiliary verb (form of to have): I have never seen that movie.
• Auxiliary verb (form of to do): We don’t often go to the beach.

4. End or Beginning of a Sentence

There are a few adverbs of frequency, like sometimes, occasionally, frequently, and often, that we can place at the beginning of the sentence for informal writing or emphasis. Below are a few adverb of frequency examples sentences to understand this better.

• Sometimes it is difficult to log in to the account.
• I don’t eat breakfast usually.
• We go to parties occasionally.

Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

Let’s take a look at 10 examples of adverb of frequency along with their use in a sentence.

1. Always: She always finishes her work on time.
2. Usually: They usually meet at the coffee shop in the morning.
3. Often: We often visit the library on weekends.
4. Sometimes: He sometimes forgets to bring his notebook.
5. Occasionally: I occasionally go for a walk after dinner.
6. Seldom: She seldom watches television during the week.
7. Rarely: They rarely eat out at restaurants.
8. Hardly ever: We hardly ever miss a meeting.
9. Never: He never drinks soda.
10. Once a week: I call my parents once a week.

Adverb of Frequency Worksheet with Answers

Here is an adverbs of frequency worksheet to help you better grasp this adverb’s rules and use cases.

Exercise 1: Choose the correct adverb of frequency

In this exercise, you have to choose the correct adverb to complete the sentence.

1. She (always / sometimes / never) drinks coffee in the morning.
2. We (never / usually / rarely) go shopping on weekends.
3. I (always / rarely / often) forget my keys at home.
4. They (never / usually / sometimes) eat out at restaurants.
5. My cat (rarely / often / never) sleeps during the day.
6. He (always / never / sometimes) arrives late for class.
7. You (sometimes / always / rarely) call me when you're free.
8. Lucy (never / often / always) helps her little brother with homework.
9. The bus (always / never / sometimes) comes on time.
10. We (rarely / usually / never) play video games at night.

Answers - 

1. She always drinks coffee in the morning.
2. We usually go shopping on weekends.
3. I often forget my keys at home.
4. They sometimes eat out at restaurants.
5. My cat rarely sleeps during the day.
6. He sometimes arrives late for class.
7. You always call me when you're free.
8. Lucy always helps her little brother with homework.
9. The bus sometimes comes on time.
10. We rarely play video games at night.

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Next, one of the adverbs of frequency exercises is to correct the mistake. Here you will have to identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. He is late usually for meetings.
2. They don’t hardly ever travel abroad.
3. I go sometimes to the library.
4. She never has been to a concert.
5. We are seldomly bored.
6. You can’t hardly see the stars tonight.
7. He didn’t do nothing for the project.
8. We often goes to the park on weekends.
9. I have seen her yesterday at the mall.
10. There is many people at the party. 

Answers - 

1. He is usually late for meetings.
2. They hardly ever travel abroad.
3. I sometimes go to the library.
4. She has never been to a concert.
5. We are seldom bored.
6. You can hardly see the stars tonight.
7. He didn’t do anything for the project.
8. We often go to the park on weekends.
9. I saw her yesterday at the mall.
10. There are many people at the party.

Conclusion

To sum up, an adverb of frequency is an important part of the English grammar and plays a big role in adding clarity to everyday communication. In this guide, we have not only covered their definitions and types but also practical rules and examples to help you use them naturally in conversation and writing. If you want to learn more about other English grammar structures like adjectives, nouns, and more, you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com. Connect today!

FAQs

1. What are the 10 Examples of Adverbs of Frequency?

Here are the 10 common examples of adverbs of frequency, which help in describing habits, routines, and the general frequency of events in a sentence:

1. Always
2. Usually
3. Frequently
4. Rarely
5. Always
6. Often
7. Sometimes 
8. Occasionally
9. Rarely
10. Never

2. What are Some Examples of Adverbs of Frequency Phrases?

In addition to words like always, seldom, and usually, adverbs of frequency also include phrases like:

• Once in a blue moon (idiomatic)
• Almost never
• Hardly ever
• On weekends
• From time to time
• Every hour/month/week
• Every other day
• Every so often

3. What is an Adverb of Frequency in A Sentence?

An adverb of frequency is used in a sentence to describe how often something happens or takes place. It helps us understand the regularity or the frequency of an action or event. Some of its examples are words like always, usually, never, often, and sometimes. An example in a sentence can be, “She sometimes orders chocolate cake.”

4. What is the Difference Between Definite and Indefinite Adverbs of Frequency?

There are two main types of adverbs of frequency, definite and indefinite. Definite adverbs of frequency show precise time or the number of times an action happens. On the other hand, indefinite adverbs of frequency describe how often an action occurs without specifying the exact time or number.

5. Where to Place an Adverb of Frequency in A Sentence?

The placement or position of the adverb of frequency depends on the structure of the sentence. However, there are a few general rules:

• In simple sentences (with one verb), frequency adverbs typically go before the main verb.
• With the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were), the adverb of frequency goes after the verb.
• In negative sentences, the adverb of frequency still comes before the main verb or after the verb “to be”.

6. What are the Rules for Adverbs of Frequency?

Adverbs of frequency (like always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never) describe how often something happens. A few of their common rules include:

• They usually come before the main verb but after the verb "to be.”
• They are used with the present simple tense to describe regular habits or routines.