We use some words to
describe how frequently we do an activity. These are called ADVERBS OF
FREQUENCY.
The chart below shows the frequency according to the adverb:
Frequency
|
Adverb of
Frequency
|
Example
Sentence
|
100%
|
always
|
I always go to bed
before 11pm.
|
90%
|
usually
|
I usually have
cereal for breakfast.
|
80%
|
normally /
generally
|
I normally go to the
gym.
|
70%
|
often /
frequently
|
I often surf the
internet.
|
50%
|
sometimes
|
I sometimes forget
my wife's birthday.
|
30%
|
occasionally
|
I occasionally eat
junk food.
|
10%
|
seldom
|
I seldom read the
newspaper.
|
5%
|
hardly
ever / rarely
|
I hardly ever drink
alcohol.
|
0%
|
never
|
I never swim in the
sea.
|
THE POSITION OF THE
ADVERB OF FREQUENCY IN THE SENTENCE
An adverb of frequency
goes before a main verb (except with To Be).
Subject + adverb + main
verb
|
I always remember to
do my homework.
|
He normally gets good
marks in exams.
|
An adverb of frequency
goes after the verb TO BE.
Subject + to be + adverb
|
They are never pleased
to see me.
|
She isn't usually bad
tempered.
|
We can also use the
following adverbs at the start of a sentence:
usually
normally
often
frequently
sometimes
occasionally
- Occasionally, I like to eat Thai food.
- Sometimes, I go to the movies alone.
- Usually, I don’t talk to strangers.
BUT we cannot use
the following at the beginning of a sentence:
always
seldom
rarely
hardly
ever
never.
COMMON QUESTIONS USING THE ADVERB OF FREQUENCY
We can know more of a
person asking them about their activities. We use the adverbs of frequency to
do it:
·
What do you usually do
in your free time?
·
What do you normally
do when you at home?
·
What do you always do
before you go to bed?
·
How often do you read
a book?
Watch the video about the adverbs of frequency and practice your pronuntiation:
EXERCISES
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
1. How often do you
do exercises?
2. What do you
normally do after you get up?
3. How often do you
drink water?
4. How often do you
listen to music?
5. What do you
never do after you take a shower?
6. How often do you
eat ice cream?
7. What do you
usually do when you get bored?
8. What do you
often watch on TV?
9. What do you
usually do on holidays?
10.How often do you
read a book?
