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AdverbsofFrequency

AdverbsofFrequency
Themostcommonadverbsoffrequencyarealways,usually,often,sometimes,seldom,rarely,andnever.
Adverbsoffrequencytellushowoftenanactiontakesplace.
Inadditiontotheadverbsinthechartabove,othercommonadverbsoffrequencyincludeconstantly,generally,normally,regularly,
frequently,routinely,repeatedly,occasionally,infrequently,andhardlyever.
Thebasicruleisthatadverbsoffrequencycomebeforethemainverbbutafterpresentandpastformsofbe(am,are,is,was,
were).Inthecaseoftensesthatuseanauxiliary,weputtheadverbbetweentheauxiliaryandthemainverb.
Thefollowingtablesshowthepositionoftheadverbsoffrequencyinaffirmative,negative,interrogative,andimperativesentences.
AffirmativeSentences
Subject

Auxiliary Adv.ofFrequency MainVerb

Predicate

Thesideeffects

usually

go

awayafterafewhours.

sometimes

have

troubleaccessingmyfavoritewebsite.

Beethoven

often

went

toBadenforthesummer.

Kevin

has

never

been

afanofSUVs.

Brian

has

always

wanted

toownarestaurant.

will

always

be

gratefultoyou.

AffirmativeSentenceswithBE
Subject

BE

Adv.ofFrequency

Predicate

Thebus

is

usually

ontime.

Somepeople

are

never

satisfied.

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AdverbsofFrequency

NegativeSentences
Subject

Auxiliary

Adv.ofFrequency

MainVerb

Predicate

Suzanne

doesn't

usually

get

involvedinpolitics.

It

doesn't

often

snow

hereatChristmas.

don't

ever

download

musicfromtheInternet.

NegativeSentenceswithBE
Subject

BE+not

Adv.ofFrequency

Predicate

Ironsupplements

aren't

usually

necessaryformen.

ProfessorMorgan

isn't

often

atalossforwords.

InterrogativeSentences
Auxiliary

Subject

Adv.ofFrequency

MainVerb

Predicate

Does

Kimberly

usually

have

breakfastathome?

Do

you

always

read

thefineprint?

Did

Chris

ever

play

basketball?

Don't

you

ever

get

tired?

InterrogativeSentenceswithBE
BE

Subject

Adv.ofFrequency

Predicate

Are

you

always

socheerfulinthemorning?

Isn't

Ted

usually

herebyeighto'clock?

ImperativeSentences
Adv.ofFrequency

Verb

Predicate

Always

do

yourbest!

Never

forget

thisrule!

Always

be

truthful!

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AdverbsofFrequency

ShortAnswerswithAdverbsofFrequency
Subject

Adv.ofFrequency

AuxiliaryorBE

A:Willyoueverchange?
B:I

never

will.

A:HasShirleyeverbeentoAustria?
B:She

never

has.

A:Dotheyeverstudytogether?
B:They

sometimes

do.

A:IsJessicaeverwrong?
B:She

seldom

is.

DistributionofAdverbsofFrequencybySentenceType
Adv.ofFrequency

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Imperative

always

usually

often

sometimes/occasionally

rarely/seldom/hardlyever/scarcelyever*

never*

ever

X
X
X

*Althoughusedinsentenceswithaffirmativeform,themeaningisnegative.
DistributionofAdverbsofFrequencybySentencePosition
Adv.ofFrequency

Initial

always
usually

Medial
X

often

X
X

X
X

sometimes/occasionally

rarely/seldom/hardlyever/scarcelyever**

never**

ever
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Final

X
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AdverbsofFrequency

**Ifplacedininitialposition,subject-verbinversionoccurs.Seebelowforexamples.
Subject-VerbInversion
Negative
Adverb

Auxiliary Subject

Main
Verb

Predicate

Never

did

think

Iwouldseemybookinprint.

Seldom

have

we

had

aprofessorwithsuchenthusiasm.

"Scarcely

had

he

finished

speakingwhenthedoorofthequeen'sapartment
opened...."

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