frequency adverbs

من طرف saif dadoo الأربعاء أغسطس 20, 2008 7:30 am

When we want to say how often something happens, it is common to use frequency adverbs. It is possible to use them when referring to the past, present or future:

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We often went camping when we were children.
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I usually go to the gym at lunchtime.
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I will always love you.

The following list shows the most common adverbs of frequency, with the one that refers to things that happen most often at the top, and least often at the bottom:

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Always
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Usually
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Frequently
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Often
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Sometimes
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Occasionally
*
Rarely
*
Seldom
*
Hardly ever
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Never

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I always brush my teeth before I go to bed. (=every night)
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I usually have toast for breakfast. (=happens most days) I frequently watch the news before dinner. (=it's common)
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I often go to the park with my dog. (=many times)
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I sometimes see him down at the shops. (=at particular occasions but not all the time)
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I occasionally visit the capital. (=not happening often or regularly)
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I rarely smoke cigars. (=it is not common)
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I seldom have a chance to go to the theatre. (=almost never)
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I hardly ever travel abroad. (=almost never)
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I never work on the weekend. (=not at any time or not on any occasion)

Adverbs of frequency can occupy different positions in the sentence. With most verbs, the normal position is between the subject and the verb. With the verb "to be", the adverb normally comes after the verb:

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Pedro occasionally visits us on Sundays.
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She is often ill in winter.