Practice
Adverbs of frequency: rules and examples
Mina often checks the bus time before she leaves. In that sentence, often tells us how regularly Mina checks. Its position before the main verb helps the sentence sound natural.
Place common adverbs of frequency in a natural position, especially before a main verb, after be, and after the first auxiliary verb.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
usually /ˈjuː.ʒu.ə.li/
The short answer
Put most one-word adverbs of frequency before an ordinary main verb: I usually cook at home. Put them after be: The cafe is often busy. With an auxiliary verb, put the adverb after the first auxiliary: We have never missed that train. Never already has a negative meaning, so do not add not to the same verb phrase.
Our manager is usually available after lunch.
Why it works: Usually follows is because be has a different word order from ordinary main verbs.
5 more examples
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I often bring my lunch to work.
Often comes before the ordinary main verb bring.
Not this:I bring my lunch to work
every Wednesday. What changes: Every Wednesday is a frequency phrase, so it can sit naturally at the end. -
The library is usually quiet in the morning.
Usually follows is because the verb is be.
Not this:The library
usuallycloses at eight. What changes: Here usually comes before closes, which is an ordinary main verb. -
We have never forgotten the meeting room number.
Never follows the first auxiliary verb, have.
Not this:We do not
usuallyforget the meeting room number. What changes: Usually comes after do and before the main verb forget. -
Ravi can sometimes work from home on Fridays.
Sometimes follows can, the first and only auxiliary verb.
Not this:
SometimesRavi works from home on Fridays. What changes: Sometimes can begin a sentence when the writer wants to set the time pattern first. -
My neighbors rarely use their car during the week.
Rarely comes before the ordinary main verb use.
Not this:My neighbors use their car
once a week. What changes: Once a week is a phrase that can follow the verb and its object.
Read the full guide
Look at the verb before you choose a position. If the sentence has one ordinary main verb, place the frequency adverb before it. If the verb is be, put the adverb after be. If there is an auxiliary verb, put the adverb after the first auxiliary.
Find the verb first
A one-word frequency adverb usually has a regular place in the sentence. Find the verb, then decide which kind it is. An ordinary main verb takes the adverb before it.
Daniel often walks to the station.
Walks is the ordinary main verb, so often comes before it.
Where should usually go: before or after the main verb in I ___ check my calendar?
Put usually before check: I usually check my calendar.
Put the adverb after be
The verb be uses a different pattern. Put always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, or never after am, is, are, was, or were.
The front desk is always open at nine.
Is comes before always. The rest of the sentence describes the usual schedule.
Choose the natural order: They often are ready, or They are often ready?
Use They are often ready. The frequency adverb follows are.
Use the first auxiliary as the anchor
Auxiliary verbs include do, have, will, can, and should. When an auxiliary is present, put the frequency adverb after the first auxiliary and before the next verb.
I can usually finish the report before noon.
Can is the auxiliary, so usually comes after can and before finish.
Complete the sentence: Have you ___ tried the new route?
Use ever for a question about experience: Have you ever tried the new route?
Keep never negative
Never means at no time. Because it already makes the meaning negative, standard English does not normally use not with never in the same verb phrase.
I have never seen that sign before.
Have never seen is negative already. Adding not would create a double negative in standard English.
Which sentence is standard: She never does not reply, or She never replies?
Use She never replies when you mean that no reply happens.
Use frequency phrases more freely
A phrase such as every evening, twice a month, or on weekends can often go at the end of a sentence. These phrases name a schedule more directly than a one-word adverb.
The team meets online twice a month.
Twice a month follows the verb phrase and gives a specific pattern.
Choose the more natural ending: We review the plan often, or We review the plan every Monday?
We review the plan every Monday names a regular schedule, so the ending is natural.
Before you go
Remember this
Put a one-word frequency adverb before an ordinary main verb, after be, and after the first auxiliary verb. Use end-position phrases such as once a week more freely. Remember that never is negative in meaning, so it does not need not.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adverbs of frequency: rules and examples"
Where do adverbs of frequency go in a sentence?
Put a one-word frequency adverb before an ordinary main verb, as in I often read after dinner. Put it after be, as in The room is usually quiet. With an auxiliary verb, put it after the first auxiliary: She has never missed a payment.
I often bring my lunch to work.
Do adverbs of frequency come before or after be?
They normally come after forms of be. Write He is always polite or We were rarely late. This pattern differs from the usual position before an ordinary main verb. Check whether the verb is am, is, are, was, or were before you choose the word order.
I bring my lunch to work every Wednesday.
Can I use never with not?
Never already means at no time, so standard English does not normally add not in the same verb phrase. Write I never eat meat, not I do not never eat meat. Use do not when you want a regular negative sentence without the special meaning of never.
The library is usually quiet in the morning.
Can sometimes go at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes. Sometimes can begin a sentence when you want to put the time pattern first: Sometimes the bus arrives early. It can also sit before an ordinary main verb: The bus sometimes arrives early. Both positions are common, though the emphasis can feel slightly different.
The library usually closes at eight.
What is the difference between often and every day?
Often is a one-word adverb that gives a general idea of frequent action. Every day is a frequency phrase that names a daily schedule. Often usually goes before an ordinary main verb, while every day commonly comes at the end: I often exercise. I exercise every day.
We have never forgotten the meeting room number.