The adverbs of frequency are what we use to express the periodicity with which an action is performed. That is, when we want to talk about the frequency with which we do something or in which something happens. These are the most used adverbs of frequency and their percentage of frequency:
Frequency Adverb of Frequency Example Sentence
100% Always I always go to bed before 11 p.m.
You always eat after training.
90% Usually I usually have cereal for breakfast.
We usually play on Saturdays.
80% Normally / generally I normally go to the gym.
They generally they meet in the park.
70% Often* / frequently I often surf the internet.
You frequently go to the doctor.
50% Sometimes I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.
We sometimes eat at Mc'Donalds.
30% Occasionally I occasionally eat junk food.
They occasionally go for walks together.
10% Seldom I seldom read the newspaper.
You seldom say me i love you.
5% Hardly ever / rarely I hardly ever drink alcohol.
We hardly ever miss classes.
0% Never I never swim in the sea.
They never help me.
The Position of the Adverb in a Sentence:
An adverb of frequency goes before a main verb:
Subject + adverb + main verb
An adverb of frequency goes after the verb To Be:
Subject + to be + adverb
When we use an auxiliary verb (have, will, must, might, could, would, can, etc.), the adverb is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb:
Subject + auxiliary + adverb + main verb
In negative sentences we place the frequency adverb between the auxiliary don't or doesn't and the main verb:
Subject + don't / doesn't + frequency adverb + main verb
In interrogative sentences, the frequency adverb will be placed between the subject and the main verb:
Do / does + subject + frequency adverb + main verb + (complement)?
Relationship they have with Present Simple
Adverbs of frequency are often used to indicate routine or repeated activities, so they are often used with the present simple tense. If a sentence has only one verb, place the adverb of frequency in the middle of the sentence so that it is positioned after the subject but before the verb.
