Adverbs of Frequency | Examples & List
We use adverbs of frequency to provide clarity about how often something happens.
For example, if you use the adverb of frequency “always,” that action occurs 100% of the time. If you use the adverb of frequency “never,” that action occurs 0% of the time.
Below is a table with the most common adverbs of frequency and corresponding percentages indicating how often something is done.
| Frequency (%) | Adverb of frequency | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | always | Sarah always has coffee in the morning. |
| 90–99% | usually | Oliver usually eats a healthy dinner. |
| 70–89% | often | We often visit our grandparents on the weekends. |
| 50–69% | sometimes | She sometimes goes on vacation during the holidays. |
| 30–49% | occasionally | I occasionally have a glass of wine with dinner. |
| 10–29% | seldom/rarely | Pavel seldom/rarely watches television. |
| 1–9% | hardly ever | She hardly ever eats fast food. |
| 0% | never | Eric never enjoys going to the dentist. |
If you need to be exact when discussing how often something occurs, use adverbs of definite frequency (e.g., “daily,” “weekly”).
How to position adverbs of frequency
Where you place adverbs of frequency in a sentence can vary based on the verb type, sentence structure, and stylistic choices.
For most sentences, the adverb of frequency is placed before the main verb. This sentence structure looks like this: Subject + adverb of frequency + main verb + (rest of the sentence).
They often go hiking on the weekends.
In sentences where a form of the verb “to be” (e.g., “am,” “are,” “is”) is the main verb, the adverb of frequency comes after the main verb. This sentence structure looks like this: Subject + form of “to be” + adverb of frequency + (rest of the sentence).
I am rarely late to meetings.
When using modal verbs (e.g., “can,” “will,” “should”) or auxiliary verbs (e.g., “have,” “do,” “be”), the adverb of frequency usually goes between the auxiliary/modal verb and the main verb. This sentence structure looks like this: Subject + modal/auxiliary verb + adverb of frequency + main verb + (rest of the sentence).
They can often find a parking spot near the office.
Julia has always enjoyed traveling.
I have never seen that movie.
You can place some (but not all) adverbs of frequency at the beginning of a sentence to add emphasis or create variety in writing. When used in this way, the adverb of frequency modifies the entire sentence or clause.
- I sometimes go to the park for sunset.
- Sometimes, I go to the park for sunset.
- I never go to the park for sunset.
- Never, I go to the park for sunset.
How to form questions
You can use adverbs of frequency to form more specific questions when inquiring about something. Using adverbs of frequency allows you to better understand the regularity or consistency of an action.
In a conversational context, it’s a good way to learn about someone’s routines or habits.
Is she always on time?
When we use adverbs of frequency in the above way, we’re forming them as yes-or-no questions, but we can use adverbs of frequency in a less constrained way.
We can use the adverb of frequency “often” to ask more open-ended questions. We do this simply by beginning the question with “How often…”
How often is she on time?
Adverbs of indefinite frequency vs adverbs of definite frequency
Adverbs of indefinite frequency are meant to give a general idea of how frequently something occurs. But if we need to be more specific, it’s a good idea to use an adverb of definite frequency.
Adverbs of indefinite frequency give us a general idea (i.e., indefinite) of the frequency of an action, while adverbs of definite frequency tell us the exact (i.e., definite) frequency of an action.
| Adverb of definite frequency | Example |
|---|---|
| Three times per week | The Smiths eat vegetarian food three times per week. |
| Daily | Chris showers daily. |
| Biweekly | Sarah goes for a biweekly run. |
| Annually | The music festival happens annually. |
There are certain contexts where it’s best to use adverbs of definite frequency because they express information more clearly than adverbs of indefinite frequency and help to avoid ambiguity.
- The magazine is delivered once a month.
- The magazine is delivered occasionally.
- Our team meets twice per week to discuss progress on the project.
- Our team meets often to discuss progress on the project.
Frequently asked questions about adverbs of frequency
- Is once an adverb?
-
Yes, “once” is an adverb and is used to signify “one time” (e.g., “Jerry broke his arm once while playing football”).
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using adverbs of frequency like “once” correctly in your writing.
- Is never an adverb?
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Yes, “never” is an adverb and is used to signify “not at any time or any occasion” (e.g., “I never skip my morning coffee”).
You can try a QuillBot Grammar Check to ensure that adverbs of frequency are in the correct position in your sentence.
- Is always an adverb?
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Yes, “always” is an adverb and is used to signify “every time” or “all the time” (e.g., “Suzie always checks her email before starting work”).
Try a QuillBot Grammar Check to get instant feedback on how well you’re using adverbs of frequency in your writing.
- Is often an adverb?
-
Yes, “often” is an adverb and is used to signify “many times” (e.g., “They often go for a walk after dinner”).
Test your sentence for correct placement of adverbs of frequency with a QuillBot Grammar Check.
