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Adverbs of Frequency12
Adverbs of Frequency12
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
Percent
(%)
Meaning
Always/constantly/continually
100%
Siempre/constantemente/continuamente
90%
Casi siempre
usually/normally/ generally
80%
Usualmente/normalmente/generalmente
Often/frequently
70%
Con frecuencia/frecuentemente
Regularly
60%
Regularmente
Sometimes
50%
A veces
Occasionally/periodically
30%
Ocasionalmente/peridicamente
Rarely/seldom
20%
Infrequently
10%
Infrecuentemente
5%
Casi nunca
Never
0%
Nunca
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Position Rules:
I.
All of the adverbs of indefinite frequency are mainly placed in mid position, between the
subject and the main verb; except with the verb to be.
Examples:
1. I always go to the movie theatre on my own.
2. You nearly always come over for dinner.
3. She usually travels to different countries each year.
4. He often eats vegetable soup.
5. Mary regularly visits her grandma.
6. Charles sometimes comes over for dinner.
7. Charlotte occasionally rides a horse.
8. It seldom sounds like that in here.
9. Jane and her mother infrequently have a noisy argument with each other.
10. We hardly ever fail our exams.
11. They never speak badly of you.
II.
III.
If the main verb is the verb to be, the adverb of indefinite frequency is placed after it.
Examples:
1. Robert is never late for work.
2. John and his little brother are almost never tired.
3. My uncle and I are constantly sleepy.
4. Sarah is frequently early for class.
5. Elizabeth is periodically wrong.
6. Joseph is rarely rude to older people.
7. Martin is scarcely ever in a good mood.
8. Joshua is almost always absent from school.
9. It is normally sunny in this country.
10. They are generally at home in the afternoon.
11. We are sometimes worried about our future.
The indefinite adverbs of frequency usually, normally, generally, often, frequently,
sometimes and occasionally can also go at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Examples:
Note: When the adverb is
put at the beginning
1. Usually she goes to the gym on Saturdays.
of a sentence, you
2. Mario and his colleagues get together for a drink sometimes.
may add a comma to
3. Occasionally, one of my neighbours dog barks at nights.
make it more formal.
4. Claudia hands in her homework on time normally.
It is up on you.
5. Generally, they eat out at weekends.
6. Jesus is angry with everyone often.
7. Frequently his godmother is nervous when she travels to somewhere.
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IV.
The indefinite adverbs of frequency rarely , seldom and often can also go at the end
of a sentence, especially if they are preceded by the adverbs of degree either very or
quite.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
V.
Some indefinite adverbs of frequency normally come at the end of a sentence. However,
when they are written at the beginning of a statement is in order to give emphasis (In this
situation you may add a comma to make it more formal if you want to).
Examples:
Once in a while
De vez
Every now and again
1. I go to the movies once in a while.
From time to time
en
2. She drinks wine every now and again.
Every now and then
cuando.
3. From time to time I visit my mother.
Every so often
4. We sail our boat every now and then.
5. Every so often, she smokes a cigarette.
Meaning
Hourly/daily/weekly/fortnightly/monthly/yearly
Los lunes
El fin de semana
At/on+ weekends
Page 3
To say how often something happens or occurs with the definite adverbs of frequency, you
can use a ' number ' or 'several' or 'many', followed by 'times'. (If the number is one, use
'once' instead of 'one time'; but if the number is two use 'twice' , instead of 'two times')
Then add 'a' and a period of time. These longer frequency phrases can also come at the
start of a sentence for emphasis.
If the number of times is one, then we say once (not one time).
Examples:
1. She drinks water once a day.
2. I wash my car once a week.
3. They work here once a month.
4. Charles pays me a visit once a year.
If the number of times is two, then we say twice (not two times).
Examples:
1. I go to Lima twice a day.
2. Her boyfriend travels to Cuzco twice a week.
3. Robert and his wife go dancing twice a month.
4. Jane buys mattress twice a year.
If the number of times is more than two, then we say three times, four times,
and so on.
Examples:
1. People normally eat three times a day.
2. We sings in a pub four times a week.
3. They practice martial arts ten times a month.
4. Catherine has a noisy argument with her boyfriend twelve times a year.
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Page 5
These definite adverbs of frequency are equivalent to say every hour, every day,
every week, every monthly and every year.
Examples:
1. Cassandras baby girl cries hourly.
2. Arthur is behind Rose daily.
3. This magazine publishes interesting things weekly.
4. The bank sends us our statements of account monthly.
Examples:
1. How often do you play tennis with your friends?
2. How often are you unfaithful to your partner?
Page 6
Examples:
1. How often do you wash your hair?
I wash my hair every day.
2. How often does your best friend call you on the phone?
My best friend calls me every week.
Examples:
1. How often do you go to the cinema?
I go to the cinema once a month.
2. How often does your father brush his teeth?
My father brushes his teeth three times a day.
Write answer to these questions using the indefinite adverbs of frequency as well:
Examples:
1. How often do you dance salsa at discos?
I always dance salsa at discos.
2. How often is she late for class?
She is never late for class.
TEACHER: LIC. JORGE RESURRECCION NORABUENA
ENGLISH COURSE: Elemental IV
TOPIC: Adverbs of frequency
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