Frequency adverbs are adverbs, like always, often, sometimes and never, that tell us how often an action takes place [1]. Easy enough. But a problem occurs when it comes time to place [2] them in a sentence.
If you want to play it safe [3], you can always place the frequency adverb before the main verb:
I often eat vegetarian food.
He never drinks milk.
But the frequency adverb goes after the verb be:
She is never at home.
We are usually done at 6:00.
Or after an auxiliary verb:
You must always fasten your seat belt.
He doesn’t usually arrive late.
Be careful! You cannot use double negatives (like not or hardly and never) together, so use ever instead of never.
I don’t ever come late.
I hardly ever come late.
Apart from always and never, most frequency adverbs can go at the beginning (separated by a comma), middle or end of the phrase to add emphasis:
Sometimes, I ride my bike to school.
I frequently ride my bike to school.
I ride my bike to school, occasionally.
The frequency adverbs above are considered to be indefinite because we don’t know the exact quantity of time the action occurs. However, there are other definite frequency adverbs that express the exact number of times an action happens, like daily or hourly, and are usually placed at the end of the sentence:
This magazines is published monthly.
He visits his mother once a week.
But they can also go at the beginning for emphasis:
Every day, he visits his mother.
Do you visit your family often?
[1] ocurrir, [2] colocar, [3] ir a lo seguro
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