How to talk about ‘how often’ an action happens

In this lesson, we will learn how to

• How to talk about ‘how often’ an action happens
• Different words and phrases used to talk about frequency

Adverbs of Frequency talks about ‘How Often’ an action is done.

Let us look at some examples

I usually watch television on Sunday.
I watch television every day.
In these examples, 'usually' and 'every day' are adverbs of
frequency.

Always(all the time/each time)

Usually (most of the time)

Often (many times)

Sometimes (some of the times)

Rarely (almost never)

Never

Here are some adverbs of frequency which talk about a
fixed period of time:

Every day

Once a week

Once a month

Twice a week

Once a year

RULE 1
Adverbs like ‘always’, ‘rarely’, ‘usually’, ‘seldom’ etc come
before the verb:

Meera rarely goes to college.CORRECT.Meera goes to college rarely.INCORRECT.Meera goes rarely to college.INCORRECT.

Here are some more examples using this rule

Mohan never goes to college.

Sandeep usually plays cricket in the evening.

I rarely eat at a restaurant.

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  We seldom watch movies in the cinema hall.
•  We watch movies in the cinema hall seldom.

Adverbs like 'seldom' come before the verb.
‘We seldom watch movies in the cinema hall’ is the correct answer.

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  Sheetal visits her relatives when she is in Delhi always.
•  Sheetal always visits her relatives when she is in Delhi.

Adverbs like 'always' come before the verb.
‘Sheetal always visits her relatives when she is in Delhi’ is the correct answer.

RULE 2
If the verb is ‘to be’ ('am' / 'is' / 'are'), adverbs like
always, rarely, usually come after the verb:

Our dog is always happy to see us.CORRECT.Our dog always is happy to see us.INCORRECT.Our dog is happy to see us always.INCORRECT.

Here are some more examples using this rule

Suraj is never late for class..

I am always nervous before the examination results.

They are usually excited to meet their friends.

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  My mother is rarely angry with us.
•  My mother rarely is angry with us.

Adverbs like rarely come after the verb when the verb is ‘to be’ ('is'/ 'am' / 'are').

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  My friends like me because I am a cheerful person usually.
•  My friends like me because I am usually a cheerful person.
•  My friends like me because I usually am a cheerful person.

Adverbs like rarely come after the verb when the verb is ‘to be’ ('is'/ 'am' / 'are').

RULE 3
Adverbs like ‘once a week’, ‘twice a month’, ‘every day’
etc. come at the end of the sentence:

Sanjay goes to college every day.CORRECT.Sanjay goes every day to college.INCORRECT.Sanjay every day goes to college.INCORRECT.

Here are some more examples using this rule

We meet our relatives once a month.

I go for music class twice a week.

Sheetal plays badminton every day.

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  They visit their grandparents every year.
•  They every year visit their grandparents.

Adverbs like ‘every year’ come at the end of the sentence.

Question and Answers

• Which of these statements is correct?
•  I twice a day brush my teeth.
•  I brush my teeth twice a day.
•  I twice a day brush my teeth.

Adverbs like ‘twice a day’ come at the end of the sentence.

Thank you

NOW RE-TEST YOUR CONCEPT
BEST OF LUCK!!