Definition / Explanation
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. Common examples are always, usually, often, sometimes, and never. Their position in the sentence matters: they usually come before the main verb, but after the verb be. This small word-order rule is very common in daily English.
Key Rules
- With most main verbs, put the adverb before the verb: I always eat breakfast.
- With be, put the adverb after be: She is often late.
- These adverbs are common with present simple because they talk about habits.
- Never already has a negative meaning, so do not use another negative with it.
- These adverbs can make routines sound more natural and specific.
Examples
- I always drink tea in the morning.
- We usually go by bus.
- He often calls his mother.
- They sometimes eat out.
- She is never late.
- I am usually tired after work.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ I drink always tea in the morning. -> ✅ I always drink tea in the morning.
- ❌ She often is late. -> ✅ She is often late.
- ❌ He doesn't never cook. -> ✅ He never cooks.
Tips
- A useful order from 100% to 0%: always -> usually -> often -> sometimes -> never.