Explanation
Exercises

🔤 Adverbs of Frequency

🔹 Frequency 🧩 Adverb 📚 Example
100% always You are always late.
90% usually We usually go to the cinema on Sunday.
70% often He often cooks pasta.
50% sometimes We sometimes order pizza for dinner.
10% hardly ever / rarely She hardly ever smiles.
0% never They are never at home when we call.

🧩 Word Order Rules

  • Before the main verb: He often cooks pasta.
  • After the verb "be": You are always late.
  • After don’t/doesn’t in negative sentences: We don’t often go to bed late.
  • After the subject in questions: Do they often go to the library?

🚨 Important

Use never and hardly ever with a positive verb form:
✅ He is never late.
❌ He isn’t never late.

🕒 Expressions of Frequency

Longer time expressions (once a day, twice a week, every day) go at the end of the sentence:
➡️ I brush my teeth three times a day.
➡️ I see her every day.

🧩 Word Order with Adverbs of Frequency

🔹 Sentence Type 🧩 Word Order 📚 Example
Positive Subject + Adverb + Main Verb She often plays tennis.
Positive (verb "be") Subject + Be + Adverb They are usually busy.
Negative Subject + Don't/Doesn't + Adverb + Main Verb We don’t usually eat out.
Question Do/Does + Subject + Adverb + Main Verb? Do you often go running?

✍️ Examples with Adverbs of Frequency

  • He always drinks coffee in the morning.
  • We usually have lunch at 1 p.m.
  • I often read books before bed.
  • They sometimes go hiking on weekends.
  • She hardly ever eats sweets.
  • My brother never plays video games.
  • Do you often visit your grandparents?
  • She doesn't usually watch TV in the evening.
  • It is always cold in December.
  • We don’t often travel abroad.
  • Does he sometimes call you late at night?
  • You are never bored at work!

❌ Common Mistakes with Adverbs of Frequency

🚫 Wrong ✅ Correct 💬 Comment
He isn't never late. He is never late. Don't use double negatives!
They don't hardly ever visit us. They hardly ever visit us. "Hardly ever" already means "almost never".
She always is happy. She is always happy. With "be", adverb comes after the verb.
Do often you travel? Do you often travel? Adverb comes after the subject in questions.
We go always shopping on Saturdays. We always go shopping on Saturdays. Adverb usually goes before the main verb.
Exercises:
1
2
3

Adverbs of frequency
with present simple

Order the following sentences, which contain
adverbs of frequency.
1
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Adverbs of frequency
with present simple

Choose the correct options to complete
the sentences.
1
He _____ the news.
A.
B.
C.
2
_____ coffee every morning?
A.
B.
C.
3
She _____ her friends on weekends.
A.
B.
C.
4
She _____ breakfast at home.
A.
B.
C.
5
Bob and Mary _____.
A.
B.
C.
6
He _____ before bedtime.
A.
B.
C.
7
Where _____ on Fridays?
A.
B.
C.
8
They _____ their bills on time.
A.
B.
C.
9
Lucy _____.
A.
B.
C.
10
My sister _____.
A.
B.
C.

Adverbs of frequency with
present simple

Rewrite the sentences using the adverbs of frequency or the expressions
of frequency in the correct position.
1
He listens to music before bed. (always) ⇒ He
.
2
Where does she study? (often) ⇒ She
.
3
My cat sleeps during the day. (always) ⇒ My cat
.
4
He visits his grandparents. (sometimes) ⇒ He
.
5
She watches TV. (every night) ⇒ She watches TV
.
6
He drinks coffee in the morning. (sometimes) ⇒ He
.
7
I take a walk in the park. (usually) ⇒ I
.
8
She eats fish. (never) ⇒ She
.
9
They go to school. (often) ⇒ They
.
10
I water the plants. (usually/twice a day) ⇒ I
.