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We have already said in previous articles that the Present Indefinite Tense, Present Simple Tense is used to describe constant, ordinary, regularly repeated actions or events. We often use it when talking about habits, daily routine or schedule. This is why adverbs of frequency not only determine how often this action happens (always, rarely, never), but are also indicators of Present Simple time.
IN English language There are many ways to show the frequency and periodicity of an action. In this article we will focus on the most commonly used adverbs of frequency.
The most commonly used adverbs of frequency in Present Simple Tense
Adverbs are arranged in order of decreasing frequency of the actions they express:
Examples of using the adverb of frequency in the present indefinite tense
I always have a time for fun. I always have time for fun. Miranda usually plays with her pet in the evening. Miranda usually plays with her pet in the evening. They usually go to the restaurant on Sunday. They usually go to the restaurant on Sundays. It hardly ever snows in Miami. It rarely snows in Miami. She never drinks alcohol. She never drinks alcohol.
Examples of sentences with the adverbs never and hardly ever
I never read a detective story. I never read detective stories. I don"t read detective stories. Dave hardly ever has free time. Dave very rarely has free time. Dave doesn"t have any free time. Dave doesn't have any free time.
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Less common adverbs of frequency in Present Simple Tense
Adverbs are arranged in order of decreasing frequency of the actions they express.
Examples of less common adverbs of frequency in the present indefinite tense
My mother frequently visits the spa-salon. My mother often visits the spa. Normally he drinks two liters of water during the day. He usually drinks two liters of water a day. It generally takes about a month for getting a visa to the UK. Obtaining a visa to the UK usually takes a whole month. Occasionally they visit New York. They sometimes visit New York. I"m rarely late for appointments. I am rarely late for meetings.
Examples of using adverbs of frequency between subject and verb
You never visit us. You never visit us. She often phones her boyfriend. She often calls her boyfriend. I rarely read newspapers. I rarely read newspapers.
Examples of using adverbs of frequency after the linking verb to be
In the morning he is usually at home. He is usually at home in the morning. I’m never late for classes. I am never late for classes. She often complains about the terrible headache. She often complains of headaches.
Examples of using adverbs of frequency between auxiliary or modal verbs
I don’t often go to the parties. I don't go to parties often. The parents can’t always be next to you. Your parents won't be able to be with you all the time. The birds don’t always migrate to the South in October. Birds do not always fly south in October.
Examples of using adverbs of frequency at the beginning or end of sentences
Sometimes he watches reality TV. Sometimes he watches reality shows. Occasionally she drinks beer. She drinks beer from time to time. Normally I don’t do this, but I’ll make an exception for you! I don't usually do this, but I'll make an exception for you.
Important!
Always, rarely, and rarely are never used at the end of a sentence.
Examples of using adverbs of frequency at the end of sentences
My mother calls me on the phone frequently. My mom calls me often. I exercise regularly. I exercise regularly. We go to the cinema often. We often go to the cinema. She is awaken at six o"clock frequently. She is often already on her feet at six o'clock
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Watch video on adverbs of frequency
Many adverbs in English sentences are found in middle position, next to the verb. The table lists some of them:
Table: Adverbs (middle position)
If the predicate is expressed by only one semantic verb (Present Simple and Past Simple), the adverb is placed immediately before it. Exception - forms am/are/is/was/were.
I often play basketball ( Wrong: I play often basketball). I often play basketball.
It was already 11 o’clock, so we went to bed. It was already 11 o'clock, so we went to bed.
If the predicate is represented by a verbal construction, then the adverb is placed after the first auxiliary verb (usually, but not always).
| Type | Example |
| frequency of action | He has often been invited. He often has been invited. |
| degree of certainty | I will definitely be working. I will definitely be working. Teddy probably won't be here. |
| degree of completion | The bridge has been practically built. |
| focal | Gillian doesn't really like her job. Gillian really doesn’t like her job. |
| modus operandi | The man has been seriously injured. |
| temporary | I still can't do it. |
Table: Adverbs in verb constructions (middle position)
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Words each, all And both, when they refer to a subject, follow the same rules as adverbs in medial position.
We are all happy to see you ( Wrong: We are all happy). We are all glad to meet you.
They both live in the USA. They both live in the USA.
You have each made mistakes. Each of you has made mistakes.
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The following words can be placed at the beginning of the story. Just remember that adverbs of time, place and direction usually come at the end, and adverbs of frequency and degree of definiteness (except maybe And perhaps) - in the middle of a sentence.
Table: Adverbs (front position)
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The following adverbs can be placed at the end of a sentence:
Table: Adverbs (end position)
The adverbs of manner, place and time follow each other in this order.
However, as mentioned above, these forms can be found at the beginning and middle of a sentence. This word order is often used in literature, and also when attention is focused on other aspects of the phrase:
All evening Mike happily played outside. Mike happily played outside all evening.
Yesterday I badly hurt myself. Yesterday I hurt myself badly.
There are quite a few adverbs in the English language: adverbs of place, time, measure and degree, manner of action. There are adverbs that give words additional meaning. And there are those that characterize the entire proposal as a whole. Let's not forget about adverbs that serve as question words. Let's not ignore adverbs that connect sentences. The classification is large. Think about the content of each group. It contains not one adverb, but several.
You can remember many adverbs, you just have to use them correctly. The question is: how to correctly place them within a sentence? Should we place it at the end of the sentence or at the very beginning? Or maybe its place is after the verb? Which verb: main or auxiliary? In these subtleties of definition adverb places in English sentence we will sort it out.
Place of an adverb in an English sentence: what and where do we put it?
Usually located after verbs, but before, other adverbs or. For example:
I slept well this night. – I slept well at night.
The Spanish speak very fast. – Spaniards speak very quickly.
This task was incredibly difficult. – This task was incredibly difficult.
This equipment is widely used. – This equipment is used everywhere.
The place of adverbs in depends on the words that surround this adverb and directly on its classification:
- Adverbs of manner ( adverbs of manner) are located before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb or at the end of the sentence.
He opened the door quietly/He quietly opened the door. – He quietly opened the door.
She is greatly respected by other colleagues. “She is very respected by her colleagues.”
- Adverbs of degree ( adverbs of degree) will appear before an adjective, adverb or main verb, but after an auxiliary verb. Such adverbs include the words - absolutely, completely, totally, very, quite, rather, etc.)
She is e xtremely beautiful. - She is incredibly beautiful.
He came back rather late. - He returned quite late.
We almost finished this project. – We are almost finished with this project.
We didn't quite understand the way you behaved. “We didn’t quite understand how you behaved.”
- Adverbs of frequency ( adverbs of frequency) is usually placed before the main verb, but after auxiliary verbs, including to be. These are adverbs like always, often, usually, rarely, rarely.
I am always pleased to see you. - I'm always glad to see you.
Megan often asks questions. – Megan often asks questions.
He has always been cruel to her. “He was always cruel to her.”
- If we are talking about adverbs of place and time ( adverbs of place and time), we note that their usual location is at the end or beginning of a sentence. If a sentence contains both adverbs of place and time, the adverb of place comes first. Some one-syllable words ( soon, now, then) we place before the main verb or after auxiliary verbs (including to be).
I will call you tomorrow. - I'll call you tomorrow.
Yesterday she saw her children. – She saw the children yesterday.
There is a supermarket nearby.- There is a supermarket nearby.
I will soon let you know whether I want to move or not. “I’ll let you know soon whether I want to move or not.”
- An adverb that defines the entire sentence is usually placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Unfortunately I failed to cope with this work. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t cope with this job.”
I will be at work at 8 am, probably. – I’ll probably be at work by eight in the morning.
- If we strive to emphasize the meaning of an adverb (to make it emphatic, i.e. having an intensifying meaning), we place it at the beginning of the sentence.
Tomorrow, I will be sixteen. – Tomorrow I will turn sixteen.
Slowly, she began lowering my self-esteem. “Slowly she began to lower my self-esteem.
- Let's say there are two or more adverbs in a sentence. What do we do in this case? We arrange them according to the following scheme: adverb of manner – adverb of place – adverb of time.
She read carefully in her bed all day long. “She lay in bed all day and read carefully.
And if the sentence contains one of the verbs of motion ( go, come, leave, etc.)? In this case, we will arrange the adverbs as follows: adverb of place – adverb of manner – adverb of time.
I was going there quickly yesterday. – I walked quickly there yesterday.
As we can see, the positions of adverbs in English can be very different. At first it may seem that all these rules are insanely complex, and therefore difficult to remember. But in practice, it turns out that by actively using the language, a person subsequently determines the place of an adverb in an English sentence automatically.
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Adverbs denoting the frequency, frequency of an action (answering the question “How often?”) - generally, usually, normally, regularly, often, frequently, sometimes, rarely, rarely, occasionally, (almost) never, (hardly/scarcely) ever , (almost/nearly) always - occupy the following place in an English sentence.1) in sentences with a simple (consisting of one semantic verb) predicate, if it is not expressed by the form of the verb to be, they are placed before this verb, for example: He often tells us stories about hunting. "He often tells us stories about hunting." We rarely get there in time. "We rarely get there on time." I don"t usually come home till the evening. "I usually don't come home until the evening." Do you always study so late? "Do you always study late?" We generally have coffee for breakfast. "We usually drink coffee for breakfast" . Jenny is almost never on time. “Jenny almost never comes on time.” I hardly ever see her any more.” “I almost never see her anymore.”
2) in sentences with a simple predicate expressed by one of the forms of the verb to be, they are placed after the verb (and in a question - after the subject): He is already at work. "He's already at work." She isn’t often at home nowadays. “Now she’s not often at home.” I can’t understand why Matthew is never here. "I don't understand why Matthew is never here." Sally is late again. Is she ever on time? "Sally's late again. Is she ever on time?"
3) in sentences with a compound predicate, the adverb is placed between the auxiliary/modal and semantic verbs: I can hardly ever understand that. "I can hardly understand it." They can rarely find time to read. "They rarely have time to read." They don"t often go to bed late. "They don't often go to bed late." I have never heard about it. "I have never heard about it."
Adverbs indicating a clear periodicity (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) are most often placed at the end of the phrase: I receive mail weekly. "I receive mail weekly." Notes, special cases
1. The adverb always, when used in the present continuous tense (Present Progressive), does not mean “always”, but “too/unbearably often” (the colloquial Russian equivalent is “eternally”), for example: She"s always complaining. You are always watching television. Don"t you ever go out? "You watch TV all the time. Do you ever leave it?" My parents are always reminding me to take my keys. “My parents bothered me with their reminders to take my keys.”
2. The phrases all the time and almost always never open a sentence.
3. If one of the following words/phrases comes first: never; hardly ever; not even once, then the entire word order in the sentence is reversed: Never have I seen such a sight. "I have never witnessed such a spectacle."
4. Some adverbs of frequency (sometimes, usually, normally, occasionally), as well as adverbs of frequency, consisting of two or more words, are sometimes placed at the beginning of a sentence - when the emphatic stress falls on them (i.e. these words need to be highlighted according to their meaning , emphasize their importance). In Russian, in such cases, the corresponding words go, on the contrary, to the end of the phrase: Normally I get up at 6 o"clock. But today I am on holiday. "I get up at 6 o'clock, as a rule. But today is my day off." Sometimes I read books on historical topics. "I read books on historical topics (only) sometimes." Once a week they meet for coffee. "They meet for coffee once a week." Now and then she phones me. “She calls me irregularly/from time to time.”
5. When emphatically emphasizing the adverbs rarely, rarely, never, they are placed at the beginning of the sentence, and they are immediately followed by the finite form of the verb (if it is a dependent verb, then it is replaced by the form of the verb do). An inversion occurs similar to that found in interrogative sentences. Compare: We rarely hear such fine singing from school choirs. "School choirs rarely sing this well." Seldom do we hear such fine singing from school choirs. "It's not often that school choirs sing so well."
6. If logical stress falls on a modal or auxiliary verb, then the adverbial frequency precedes it. Compare:
They can always find time for amusements. "They always find time for fun." They always can find time for amusements. "They always manage to find time for fun."
She has never refused to help. "She never refused to help." She never has refused to help. "There was never a time when she refused to help."
In short answers and objections, the auxiliary/modal verb always carries logical stress, so the adverbial frequency precedes it. Why don't you stop taking black coffee? - But I never have taken it! "Why don't you stop drinking strong coffee? “Yes, I never drank it!”
7. Frequency adverbs precede the verb have not only when it is semantic, but also when it carries a modal meaning, expressing necessity and having after it an infinitive with the particle to. Compare:
I often have to cook my own breakfast. “I often have to make my own breakfast.”
I have often cooked my own breakfast. “I often made my own breakfast.”
8. Frequency adverbs are placed before the verb need if it is followed by a direct object or an infinitive with the particle to. Some of the pupils often need help. "Some students often need help." Others rarely need to come to me for help. "Others rarely have to turn to me for help."
If need as a modal verb is followed by an infinitive without the particle to, the adverb of frequency (when it is used in the middle of a sentence) stands in the middle of the compound verbal modal predicate, i.e. after need. You needn"t always bang the door when you go out, need you? "You don't have to slam the door every time you go out, do you?" You need never invite me to go out with you again! "Never again invite me to walk with you!"
Adverbs of frequency, consisting of two or more words, one of which is an adjective or numeral, most often go to the end of the sentence: The buses must run every hour. "Buses should run every hour." We have English lessons every other day. “We have English lessons every other day.” He may play tennis three or four times a week. "He can play tennis three or four times a week." The girl is on a diet. She eats twice a day. "This girl is on a diet. She eats twice a day." I go to the movies once a month. "I go to the cinema once a month." Mother leaves early several times a week. "Several times a week, mom leaves early."
Examples of circumstances that carry emphatic stress and are therefore placed at the beginning of the sentence. Now and again we heard shots in the woods. "We heard shots from time to time in the forest." Again and again I "ve warned you not to arrive late. "Again and again I warned you not to be late." As a rule I don"t go to the office on Saturdays. “As a rule, I don’t go to the office on Saturdays.” Ever so often we stopped to look at our map. "Every now and then we stopped to check the map."
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree very, quite, about (meaning “almost”), defining adjectives or other adverbs, are placed in the middle of the sentence - immediately before the words they define, for example: I am very glad to hear it. "I'm very glad to hear that." He feels quite well. "He's doing quite well."Adverbs of degree and completeness of action, defining the verb - almost, also, even, hardly, just (meaning “just now, barely”), merely, nearly, quite, rather, soon, still (meaning “yet, still "; the homonymous adverb of the manner of action "motionless" is always placed at the end of the sentence, for example He is standing still) - are placed:
- (case I) between the subject and the predicate (if it is simple);
- (case II) between the changeable and unchangeable part of the predicate (if it is compound).
Examples for case I: You almost managed it that time. "You almost got it done that time." His employers even offered him higher wages. “The owners even offered to increase his salary.” She hardly liked to ask for an extra holiday. “She didn’t really want to ask for more leave.” He just caught the train. "He barely made it to the train." Mr Green merely hinted at the possibility. "Mr. Greene only hinted at this possibility." You nearly missed the bus. "You almost missed the bus." I just wanted to ask you the time. "I just wanted to ask you what time it is." We rather like it. "We probably like that." They soon found what they wanted. "They soon found what they wanted." She still hopes to get news of him. "She still hopes to hear from him."
Examples for case II: They have also visited Milan. "They also visited Milan." They didn't even try to help! "They didn't even try to help!" They had just finished breakfast. "They have just finished breakfast." She has/is quite recovered from her illness. "She has fully recovered from her illness." We are still waiting. "We are still waiting." They would rather stay at home. "They prefer to stay home."
The exception is the adverb of degree enough"enough, enough." It is placed after the adjective, adverb and verb it modifies: The book is interesting enough. "This book is quite interesting." She doesn't work enough. "She doesn't work hard enough."
If the adverb enough has a noun, then it can come either before or after it: We have enough friends = We have friends enough. "We have enough friends." I have got enough money to buy the book = I have got money enough to buy the book. "I have enough money to buy this book."
The place of an adverb in a sentence in English depends on the type of adverb. Below are some general rules placement of adverbs in a sentence.
An adverb cannot be placed between a verb and its object.
For example:
He speaks English well. (AND NOT He speaks well English.)
He speaks English well.
I often visit my parents. (AND NOT I visit often my parents.)
I often visit my parents.
An adverb in a sentence can appear in three places:
1. At the beginning of a sentence.
2. In the middle of a sentence, before or after a verb.
3. At the end of a sentence.
Many adverbs can be placed in any of these three places. Some adverbs can only be placed in the middle and end of a sentence. Long adverbs are usually not placed in the middle of a sentence.
Adverbs that can be placed at the beginning of a sentence
Adverbs that connect the current sentence to the previous one (or that connect a subordinate clause in a complex) are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. Examples of such adverbs: however - however, then - then, next - then, besides - in addition, anyway - in any case, etc.
For example:
We all liked the film; however, he did not share our opinion.
We all liked the film, but he didn't share our opinion.
He finished his work. Then he went home.
He finished his work. Then he went home.
IN spoken language Such adverbs can also take place in the middle of a sentence:
He then went home.
He then went home.
He, however, didn't share our opinion.
He, however, did not share our opinion.
Adverbs of place can also be used at the beginning of a sentence, especially in literary style.
For example:
At the end of the street there was a toy store.
At the end of the street there was a toy store.
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner that answer the question “how” are usually placed immediately after the verb, or its object, if there is one.
For example:
It is raining heavily.
It's raining heavily.
She combined her hair gently. (AND NOT She gently combed her hair.)
She combed her hair carefully.
She speaks English well. (AND NOT She speaks well English.)
She speaks English well.
He walked slowly.
He walked slowly.
Adverbs of place and time
Adverbs of place and time are also usually placed after the verb, or its object, if any.
For example:
I saw him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
I looked everywhere but couldn't find anything.
I looked everywhere but couldn't find anything.
Hang the picture there.
Hang the picture there.
They are coming next week.
They will arrive next week.
When two or more adverbs are used to define one verb, they usually appear in the following order: adverbs of manner, adverbs of place, adverbs of time.
For example:
We will go there tomorrow evening.
We'll go there tomorrow evening.
He performed well at the concert last night.
He performed well at the concert last night.
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency answering the question “how often” and some other adverbs (for example: hardly - hardly, almost - almost, nearly - almost, just - just, quite - quite, etc.) are usually placed between subject and predicate, if the predicate consists of one word. If the predicate consists of more than one word, the adverb is placed after the first word of the predicate.
For example:
You never visit us.
You never visit us.
I have always wanted to be a writer.
I always wanted to be a writer.
We usually have breakfast at night.
We usually have breakfast at night.
Adverbs that qualify a verb
If the verb is one of the forms be (is/am/are/was/were), then the adverb is placed after it.
For example:
I am never late for office.
I'm never late for work.
An adverb that modifies an adjective or other adverb is usually used before the word it modifies.
For example:
She was quite tired.
She was very tired.
He is a rather lazy boy.
He is quite a lazy boy.
Adverbs must be placed next to the word or words they define.
For example:
He has almost finished his work.
He's almost finished working. ( Adverb almost defines verb finished.
)
Adverb only
Adverb only, V general case, must be used immediately before the word itself that it defines.
For example:
I solved only two problems.
I only solved two problems.
Only John managed to solve the problem.
Only John managed to solve the problem.
Call me only when you have something to say.
Call me only when you have something to say.
In spoken English, only usually placed before the verb. The necessary meaning is conveyed through vocal stress on the word that defines the adverb only.
For example:
He only solved two problems.
He solved only two problems. ( In speech, the speaker puts emphasis on the word two.
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