Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action happens. They answer questions such as:

How often do you study English?
How often does she go to school by bus?
How often do they play football?

Examples:

I always do my homework.
She usually wakes up early.
We often visit our grandparents.
He sometimes watches TV after dinner.
They rarely eat fast food.
I never drink coffee at night.

These adverbs are commonly used to talk about:

daily routines
habits
repeated actions
lifestyle choices
school and study habits

Common Adverbs of Frequency

Here are the most common adverbs of frequency in English, usually arranged from 100% to 0%:

Always (100%)
Usually
Normally / Generally
Often / Frequently
Sometimes
Occasionally
Rarely / Seldom
Hardly ever
Never (0%)

Examples in Context

I always revise before a test.
My sister usually helps me with homework.
We often speak Arabic at home.
He sometimes forgets his notebook.
They rarely arrive late.
She never misses class.

These examples show that adverbs of frequency are often used with the present simple tense, because the present simple is commonly used to describe routines and habits.

Where Do Adverbs of Frequency Go in a Sentence?

This is one of the most important grammar points for learners.

1. Before the Main Verb

In most sentences, adverbs of frequency come before the main verb.

Subject + adverb of frequency + main verb

Examples:

I always wake up early.
She usually studies in the evening.
We often play football after school.
They sometimes eat lunch at school.
He never drinks soda.

This is the most common rule and the one learners need most.

2. After the Verb “To Be”

When the main verb is to be (am / is / are / was / were), the adverb comes after the verb.

Subject + be + adverb of frequency

I am usually tired after school.
She is always polite.
They are often late.
He is never absent.

This rule is very important because learners often make mistakes here.

3. With Auxiliary Verbs

When there is an auxiliary verb (such as do, does, have, has, can, will, should), the adverb usually comes after the auxiliary and before the main verb.

Examples:

I don’t usually watch TV in the morning.
She has always liked English.
He can sometimes be difficult.
They will probably arrive late. (“probably” is also an adverb, though not always taught as a frequency adverb in beginner lessons.)

For beginner and intermediate learners, the most useful examples are with:

don’t / doesn’t
can
have / has