Thursday, June 6th

A. Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of definite frequency

Examples:

• hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
• every second, once a minute, twice a year
• once, twice, once or twice, three times

Adverbs of definite frequency, like all adverbs of definite time, typically go in END position. Look at these examples:

• Most companies pay taxes yearly.
• The manager checks the toilets every hour.
• The directors meet weekly to review progress.

Sometimes, usually for reasons of emphasis or style, some adverbs of definite frequency may go at the FRONT, for example:

• Every day, more than five thousand people die on our roads.

Adverbs of indefinite frequency

100%	always, constantly
	usually, normally
	frequently, regularly
	often
50%	sometimes
	occasionally
	rarely, infrequently
	seldom
	hardly ever
0%	never

Adverbs of indefinite frequency mainly go in MID position in the sentence. They go before the main verb (except the main verb "to be"):

• We usually go shopping on Saturday.
• I have often done that.
• She is always late.

Occasionally, sometimes, often, frequently and usually can also go at the beginning or end of a sentence:

• Sometimes they come and stay with us.
• I play tennis occasionally.

Rarely and seldom can also go at the end of a sentence (often with "very"):

• We see them rarely.
• John eats meat very seldom.

Here are some other expressions we can use to say 'how often'. All of these longer phrases go at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.

• once in a while: I go to the cinema once in a while.
• every now and again: She drinks wine every now and again.
• from time to time: From time to time I visit my mother.

To say how often something happens, you can use a number or 'several' or 'many', followed by 'times'.( If the number is one, use 'once' instead of 'one time'. If the number is two use 'twice,' instead of 'two times') Then add 'a' and a period of time:

• I go to the cinema twice a week.
• She takes these tablets three times a day.
• I change the sheets once a fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).
• I meet him several times a year.
• I visit my parents once a month.

We can also use 'every' + period of time:

• every morning
• every day
• every Tuesday
• every week
• every month

A day of the week with 's' at the end (for example 'on Tuesdays') means the same as 'every Tuesday':

• I take a dance class on Wednesdays.
• I relax on Saturdays.

EXERCISES - Build a sentence

1. 

go

I

to

pool.

swimming

often

the

2. 

horses

London.

rides

in

never

Sonia

3. 

father

always

dinner.

eats

before

My

peanuts

4. 

supermarket.

the

to

goes

sometimes

mother

Her

5. 

stories.

They

read

detective

never

6. 

always

sings.

Madonna

7. 

collect

I

often

stamps.

8. 

breakfast.

have

for

always

milk

I

9. 

late.

is

My

usually

sister

10. 

teeth

their

children

brush

meals.

always

after

My

Select the correct answer

1	Nancy and I [30%] -a) neverb) frequentlyc) occasionally go out for coffee together.	Click for answerc)
2	Andrea lives next door so we -a) neverb) oftenc) rarely see her.	Click for answerb)
3	We meet -a) neverb) every dayc) yearly at the Annual General Meeting.	Click for answerc)
4	My doctor -a) yearly checks my health -b) yearly.	Click for answerb)
5	It [0%] -a) neverb) sometimesc) does not rains here in the summer.	Click for answera)
6	-a) Sometimesb) Neverc) Rarely we take the dog off his leash at the beach.	Click for answera)
7	My sister -a) often has missedb) has missed oftenc) has often missed two days of school in a row.	Click for answerc)
8	My boyfriend and I take vacations together quite -a) neverb) hardly everc) frequently.	Click for answerc)
9	Andy [10%] -a) very frequentlyb) very rarelyc) very often gets to visit with his cousins.	Click for answerb)
10	I -a) never went to college -b) never.	Click for answera)

Complete the sentences with ever or never:

• 1. Have you ___ been to the opera?
  
  Ever
  Never
• 2. I've ___ eaten crocodile.
  
  Never
  Ever
• 3. Has she ___ lived abroad?
  
  Ever
  Never
• 4. They've ___ been to our house.
  
  Ever
  Never
• 5. Have we ___ seen that film? I can't remember.
  
  Never
  Ever
• 6. I've ___ spoken to him before.
  
  Ever
  Never
• 7. She's ___ worn that dress.
  
  Never
  Ever
• 8. Has he ___ broken his leg?
  
  Never
  Ever
• 9. Have I ___ told you about my cousin Ivy?
  
  Ever
  Never
• 10. I've ___ tried to play the piano.
  
  Ever
  Never