Adverbs of Frequency in English: A Complete Guide

Learning English involves mastering grammar, vocabulary, and common expressions. Among the essential notions, adverbs of frequency play a crucial role in daily communication. These adverbs allow you to express the regularity with which an action occurs, which is very useful for describing habits or routines.

In this article, we will learn what adverbs of frequency are, how to use them correctly, and some tips for memorizing them easily.

1. What is an adverb of frequency?

An adverb of frequency is a word that indicates the regularity of an action. It answers the question "How often?" In French, we have equivalents such as "always", "souvenir", "sometimes" or "rarely".

Example :

• “I always get up early.”
• “She rarely eats fast food.”

2. List of main adverbs of frequency in English

Adverbs of frequency can be classified according to their degree of frequency, from the most common to the rarest:

3. Position of adverbs of frequency in a sentence

Adverbs of frequency follow specific placement rules depending on the type of verb used.

1. a) With ordinary verbs

In an affirmative sentence with a main verb (other than "to be"), the adverb of frequency comes before the verb.

Examples:

• “She goes to the gym often.”
• “We rarely watch television.”

1. b) With the verb “to be”

With the verb "to be", the adverb of frequency is placed after the verb.

Examples:

• "He's always late."
• "They are sometimes tired after work."

1. c) With auxiliaries and modals

When the sentence contains an auxiliary (do, have, will...) or a modal (can, must, should...), the adverb is placed after the auxiliary or the modal but before the main verb.

Examples:

• “You can always call me.”
• "She has never been to Japan."

4. Using Adverbs of Frequency in Different Types of Sentences
5. a) In interrogative sentences

Adverbs of frequency can be used in questions, often with "How often...?"

Examples:

• “How often do you exercise?”
• “Do you still eat breakfast?”

1. b) In negative sentences

In negative sentences, the adverb of frequency is placed before the main verb.

Examples:

• “I don’t usually drink coffee in the evening.”
• "She doesn't go to the movies often."

5. Differences and nuances of use

Some adverbs of frequency have subtle nuances that are important to know.

• “Always” vs. “Usually” : “Always” means 100% of the time, while “Usually” indicates a frequent but not systematic habit.
• Ex: “He always arrives on time.”
• Ex: “He usually arrives on time, but sometimes he is late.”
• “Rarely” vs. “Rarely” : Both of these words mean “rarely,” but “rarely” is a bit more formal and less common than “rarely.”
• “Almost never” vs. “Never” : “Almost never” means “almost never,” while “never” indicates a complete lack of action.
• Ex: “I almost never eat fast food.” (I almost never eat fast food.)
• Ex: “I never eat fast food.” (I never eat fast food.)

6. Tips for memorizing adverbs of frequency

• Use mnemonic phrases : To memorize the main adverbs of frequency, try to order them from most frequent to least frequent in the form of a simple sentence.
• Practice with concrete examples : try to describe your daily routine using adverbs of frequency.
• Watching movies and practicing speaking : Exposure to authentic English helps to naturally integrate these concepts.

Conclusion

Adverbs of frequency are essential for expressing habits and describing the regularity of actions in English. Knowing their meaning, position, and nuances of use will greatly improve your command of written and spoken English. Don’t hesitate to practice by incorporating these adverbs into your daily conversations and writing!