Souvent expresses an action that repeats regularly. In je vais souvent au cinéma, the action is not constant, but it occurs frequently. To emphasize more, one uses très souvent. The structure is simple: subject + verb + souvent or très souvent. One also finds très souvent in sentences like ils mangent très souvent au restaurant. This adverb combines naturally with habits, routines and repeated facts. To form other useful adverbs in the same domain, see Formation des adverbes.

Parfois indicates that an action happens only at certain moments. In je travaille parfois le week-end, the frequency remains irregular. De temps en temps also expresses an occasional action, with a more common and natural tone in speech. We would say nous sortons de temps en temps to talk about a punctual habit, without a sense of strong regularity. Parfois is shorter and more neutral, while de temps en temps gives a more flexible feel, closer to conversation. The two adverbs place themselves with the verb of the sentence, according to the usual structure of everyday French.

Rarement indicates that an action happens infrequently. In elle voyage rarement, the idea is clear: the action exists, but it remains exceptional. Presque jamais goes further and marks an extremely low frequency, close to zero. We say nous ne regardons presque jamais la télévision to show that the action occurs barely. Rarement stays an affirmative adverb, while presque jamais is often used in negative sentences or with a very strong sense of reduction. In both cases, the meaning depends on the amount of occurrences, not on the duration of the action.

Jamais is normally used with ne... jamais to express the total absence of action. In je ne fume jamais, the sentence means there is no occurrence of the action. We do not put jamais alone in this standard sense. The structure is ne + verb + jamais or, in common spoken language, the verb + jamais after the negation already understood in context. With other tenses, the position stays the same: il n’a jamais compris, nous n’irons jamais là-bas. For the general position of adverbs in the sentence, see Place des Adverbes.

Toujours can express a maximum frequency: an action occurs every time, without interruption. In il arrive toujours à l’heure, the regularity is total. Toujours also serves to show that a situation continues in time: je vis toujours ici means that the situation remains valid now. With a verb of state, toujours can therefore talk about a habit or a continuity. In a sentence like tu es toujours fatigué, the adverb emphasizes the persistence of the state. The exact meaning comes from the verb and the context.

In everyday French, the adverb of frequency is placed often before the main verb: je regarde souvent ce film, nous allons rarement au centre-ville. When the verb is compound, the adverb is generally placed after the auxiliary and before the past participle: elle a toujours aimé la musique, ils n’ont presque jamais manqué un cours. With the infinitive, the adverb often follows the verbal unit: vouloir souvent sortir is less natural than vouloir sortir souvent. The position sometimes changes the fluency of the sentence, but the sense of frequency remains the same.

The choice of the adverb depends on the real frequency and the frame of the sentence. Aujourd’hui talks about the present moment and does not replace a frequency adverb: aujourd’hui, je travaille indicates when the action takes place. En général gives an overview of habits: en général, je me couche tôt. D’habitude emphasizes what is normal or customary: d’habitude, il prend le train. These expressions help to situate frequency with precision. To compare them with other nuances, the series Adverbes de temps, Adverbes de quantité and Adverbes de manière are useful.