Adverbs of frequency

We use adverbs of frequency to say how

frequently we do an activity. Common adverbs of
frequency are: never, sometimes, always, often,
seldom, rarely, regularly, normally, often etc.
Adverbs of frequency go AFTER the subject and
BEFORE ordinary verbs
Subject = red; adverb = pink; ordinary verb = blue

 He often goes to the supermarket on

Wednesday.
 They usually clean our house.
 She constantly annoys me.

Adverbs of frequency go AFTER auxiliary verbs

(Be, have, do, can, could, must, might, need to, ought
to, may, should, shall, will and would) and
BEFORE ordinary verbs. 

 He doesn’t often like to do the dishes.

 She may sometimes come to class when she
feels like it.
 Harry should frequently work on his thesis.
 I would usually call my elders when I was
younger.
 Sophie will seldom act normally at the football
match.
 I need to regularly check my oil.

 She is seldom tired.
 He is never sick of class.
 They were occasionally coming to my house.

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These adverbs of frequency can be put at the
beginning of the sentence to put more emphasis
on the adverb itself: occasionally, often,
frequently, sometimes, normally, usually 
 Often, we eat out on Mondays.
 Sometimes, I buy a chocolate cake to treat
myself.
 Normally they are pretty nice to us.

The following adverbs CANNOT be put at the

beginning of the sentence: never, ever, rarely,
always, seldom and hardly 
Therefore, it is incorrect to use the following order: 

 Always I go to school.    ✖
 Seldom I buy chicken.    ✖
 Rarely, we go to the cinema.   ✖

In English, adverbs can be used with ‘auxiliary

inversion’
Auxiliary inversion puts emphasis on the adverb by
inserting the adverb at the beginning of the
sentence, which then precedes an auxiliary
followed by the subject. Notice in the following
examples the order is ‘adverb + auxiliary + subject‘: 

 Seldom, do I go to the centre of town, it’s too

noisy for my liking.
 Never, have I seen such a good example.
 Rarely, must you leave early.
 Hardly, had we finished the cleaning when my
mum arrived.

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Auxiliary Inversion is considered quite formal, but it
is indeed used frequently.