Adverbs of Frequency: English Grammar Practice
Adverbs of frequency describe how often we do things. You may use adverbs of frequency to answer questions such as:
How often do you ____?
How often did you ____?
How frequently do you ____?
Do you ever ____?
Have you ever____?
Adverbs of indefinite frequency
Here are some examples sentences of adverbs of indefinite frequency using simple present tense verbs:
I always brush my teeth.
I usually eat dinner at 7.
I often go to the movies.
I sometimes play soccer.
I occasionally drink wine.
I rarely ride my bike.
I almost never eat red meat.
I never wake up before 5 am.
These examples are some of the most commonly used and taught in lessons about adverbs of frequency, and are examples of adverbs of indefinite frequency. This means that a word like “sometimes” is relative, and we aren’t really sure how much that action is done.
You can also use adverbs of indefinite frequency with different verb tenses.
Adverbs of indefinite frequency with simple past verbs:
When I was a kid, I always ran around.
Before I moved away, I usually went to the movies with my friends every week.
When my kids were in school, I sometimes volunteered there.
My daughter never ate broccoli growing up.
Adverbs of indefinite frequency with simple future verbs can be a little trickier. Often, they are used when making plans, or they can be used to warn someone else what might happen in the future:
Next year, I will always go to bed by 10 pm.
My son will sometimes ask if he can eat in bed. Don’t let him!
My car will occasionally have trouble starting.
I will never eat chocolate again.
Other adverbs of indefinite frequency:
every once in a while
once in a while
from time to time
on occasion
regularly
constantly
frequently
Adverbs of definite frequency
These tell exactly how often an action occurs.
Examples of adverbs of definite frequency with simple present tense verbs:
I eat vegetables daily.
I run twice a week. (or- I run two times a week.)
My office has a holiday party annually.
I go to the bank once a week. (or- I got to the bank weekly.)
I see my best friend every day.
Examples of adverbs of definite frequency with simple past tense verbs:
When I was little I ate peanut butter sandwiches every Monday.
Last week, I drank water every hour.
When I was in high school, I studied every weeknight.
We had a family picnic biannually until 2010.
Examples of adverbs of definite frequency with simple future tense verbs:
I will eat fruits and vegetables every day.
I will be there at 7 pm daily.
He will not stop singing every Saturday morning.
They will create new stories each week.
If you want to practice using adverbs of frequency in every day conversation, one-on-one English fluency coaching may be for you!
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