Adverbs of Frequency

Learn how to use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never) and where to place them in a sentence.

What are Adverbs of Frequency?

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They are closely linked to the present simple tense.

From Most to Least Frequent

Adverb	Approximate frequency
always	100% — She always arrives on time.
usually / normally	80–90% — He usually has cereal for breakfast.
often / frequently	60–70% — They often go to the cinema.
sometimes / occasionally	30–50% — I sometimes make mistakes.
rarely / seldom / hardly ever	10–20% — She rarely eats meat.
never	0% — He never lies.

Position in a Sentence

Rule: Adverbs of frequency go:

Before the main verb
After the verb to be

Correct	Incorrect
She always studies in the morning.	~~She studies always in the morning.~~
He is usually late.	~~He usually is late.~~
They never eat fast food.	~~They eat never fast food.~~

Tip

Sometimes, usually, normally, often can also go at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis:

Sometimes I make mistakes.
I make mistakes sometimes.

Questions About Frequency

Use How often…? to ask about frequency:

How often do you exercise?
I exercise three times a week / every day / twice a month.

Expression	Meaning
every day / week / month	once each day/week/month
once a week	one time per week
twice a month	two times per month
three times a year	three times per year

1
Choose the correct adverb
How often does the action happen?
2
Check what follows the subject
Main verb → put adverb before it. BE → put adverb after it.
3
Write the sentence
S + adverb + V + ... OR S + BE + adverb + .....

Real world: daily routine description (CV / personal profile)

I always check my emails first thing in the morning and usually reply within the hour. I occasionally work late, but I never miss a deadline.

Real world: health survey question

How often do you eat fruit and vegetables? I usually have five portions a day. I sometimes skip breakfast, but I always eat lunch and dinner.

Tip Adverbs of frequency are used in surveys ("How often do you exercise?"), daily routines ("I usually wake up at 7"), health and lifestyle apps, and CV personal profiles ("I am always punctual and rarely absent"). They work with the present simple to describe regular habits.

Practice Problems

Add 'always' in the correct place: I brush my teeth before bed.

Show answer

I always brush my teeth before bed.

Add 'never' in the correct place: She is late for school.

Show answer

She is never late for school.

Add 'usually' in the correct place: They have dinner at 7 pm.

Show answer

They usually have dinner at 7 pm.

Ask a question about frequency: (He goes to the gym)

Show answer

How often does he go to the gym?