Adverbs of Frequency with Present Simple: Always, Usually, Often, Never

Beginner

What are adverbs of frequency?

We use adverbs of frequency with the present simple to say how often something happens.

adverbs of frequency

AdverbHow oftenExample
100%I always brush my teeth in the morning.
90%She usually walks to work.
70%We often go to the cinema.
50%He sometimes plays tennis.
10%They hardly ever eat meat.
0%I never drink coffee.

The percentages are only a guide. They help you see the order, from always (every time) to never (not once).

Position in the sentence

Where do we put the adverb? It depends on the verb.

Before the main verb

We put the adverb before the main verb.

Examples:

  • I usually get up at seven.
  • She often plays tennis.
  • He always goes to school by bus.

After the verb be

We put the adverb after the verb be.

Examples:

  • He is always late.
  • They are never at home.
  • I am usually tired in the evening.

Negative sentences

In negative sentences, the adverb goes after don’t / doesn’t.

Examples:

  • We don’t often go to bed late.
  • He doesn’t always agree with me.

Questions

In questions, the adverb goes after the subject.

Examples:

  • Is he always late?
  • Do they often go to the library?

Never and hardly ever

Never and hardly ever (= almost never) have a negative meaning, but we use them with a positive verb. We do not use two negatives in the same sentence.

Examples:

  • He is never late. (NOT: He isn’t never late.)
  • They hardly ever go to the library. (NOT: They don’t hardly ever go to the library.)

Common mistakes

❌ Wrong✅ CorrectWhy?
I go always to school by bus.I always go to school by bus.The adverb goes before the main verb
He always is late.He is always late.The adverb goes after be
I don’t never eat fish.I never eat fish.No double negatives
Do you go often to the cinema?Do you often go to the cinema?In questions, the adverb goes after the subject
She oftens goes to the park.She often goes to the park.The adverb does not change. The -s stays on the verb

Expressions of frequency

There are other ways to say how often. We can say once a day, twice a week, three times a month, every day and more. These expressions are longer (two words or more), and they go at the end of the sentence.

ExpressionMeaning
once a weekone time a week
twice a weektwo times a week
three times a week3 times a week
every dayeach day

Examples:

  • I brush my teeth three times a day.
  • I see her every day.
  • She goes to the gym twice a week.

How often?

To ask about frequency we use How often.

Examples:

  • How often do you play football? — Twice a week.
  • How often does he visit his grandmother? — Every Sunday.
GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Adverbs of Frequency

How often? — always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never

MORE OFTEN
100% always
90% usually
70% often
LESS OFTEN
50% sometimes
10% hardly ever
0% never
✓ BEFORE THE VERB
subject + adverb + verb
I usually get up at seven.
✓ AFTER BE
be + adverb
He is always late.
? QUESTION
subject + adverb
Do they often go out?
NEGATIVES AND NEVER
AFTER DON'T / DOESN'T He doesn't always agree.
NEVER (POSITIVE VERB) He is never late.
HARDLY EVER (POSITIVE VERB) They hardly ever go.
AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE
ONCE (1×) once a week
TWICE (2×) twice a day
3+ TIMES three times a month
EVERY every day
QUESTION How often do you play?
ANSWER Twice a week.
REMEMBER
Before the verb, after be — I always go. / He is always late. (not I go always. / He always is late.)
No double negative with never — I never eat fish. (not I don't never eat fish.)
The verb keeps its -s — She often goes to the park. (not She oftens goes.)
Longer expressions go at the end — I see her every day.

Adverbs of Frequency

Practice exercises

Meaning and scale 0 / 6
Position in the sentence 0 / 11
Never and once a week 0 / 10
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