Purpose
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to correctly use and position adverbs of frequency in a sentence.
Lesson Explanation
Adverbs of frequency describe how often something happens, ranked from most to least frequent:
always (100%) → usually → often → sometimes → rarely → never (0%)
These adverbs have a specific, genuinely important position rule: they usually go before the main verb, but after the verb “to be”:
I always drink coffee. (before the main verb "drink") I am always tired. (after "am," a form of "to be")
This is a genuinely common mistake point: placing a frequency adverb before “to be” (“I always am tired”) is incorrect — the rule genuinely depends on which type of verb follows.
Practice Questions
1. Which adverb means 100% of the time?
View Answer
always
2. Which adverb means 0% of the time?
View Answer
never
3. Complete: “I ___ drink coffee in the morning.” (always, correct position with main verb)
View Answer
always drink
4. Complete: “I am ___ tired.” (always, correct position with “to be”)
View Answer
always
5. Where does a frequency adverb go relative to a main verb: before or after?
View Answer
Before.
6. Where does a frequency adverb go relative to “to be”: before or after?
View Answer
After.
7. Is “I always am tired” correct or incorrect?
View Answer
Incorrect — it should be “I am always tired.”
8. Rank these from most to least frequent: sometimes, always, never, often.
View Answer
always, often, sometimes, never
9. Complete: “She ___ (usually) walks to work.” (correct position)
View Answer
usually walks
10. Complete: “They are ___ (rarely) late.” (correct position)
View Answer
rarely
11. Which adverb is more frequent: “often” or “sometimes”?
View Answer
often
12. Write a sentence using “never” with the main verb “eat” in correct position.
View Answer
I never eat meat. (never before the main verb)