Frequency adverbs tell how often an action happens. They usually answer the question “How often?” and they modify verbs like work, eat, or go. They help you be precise, from “never” to “always,” and they can also soften or strengthen what you say depending on where you place them.

English has a core set of frequency adverbs you will use constantly in speaking and writing. Some show a fixed frequency on a scale, and others describe an approximate pattern. Learn them as a group so you can choose the right strength quickly.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
always	at all times or every time	I always drink coffee in the morning.
usually	in most cases	She usually takes the bus.
often	many times	We often eat out on Fridays.
sometimes	on some occasions	They sometimes work late.
rarely	not often	He rarely watches TV.
never	at no time	I never smoke.

Most frequency adverbs go in “mid position,” meaning they come before the main verb. With the verb be, they usually come after be. If there is an auxiliary verb like can, will, or have, the adverb often goes after the first auxiliary.

Rule	Example
Place frequency adverbs before most main verbs	She often calls her sister.
Place frequency adverbs after be	He is always polite.
With auxiliaries, place the adverb after the first auxiliary	I have never seen that movie.
With modal verbs, place the adverb after the modal	You can usually park here.

Some frequency expressions naturally go at the end of the sentence, especially phrases like “every day” or “once a week.” End position often sounds neutral and is common in writing and speech. It is also useful when you want to keep the verb phrase together.

Rule	Example
Put frequency phrases at the end for a natural, neutral tone	I go to the gym twice a week.
Use end position when the sentence already has a complex verb phrase	She has been working late every night.
Use end position for schedules and routines	We meet on Mondays.

Not all frequency meaning is a single adverb. English often uses phrases that give a specific count or time period. These phrases are great when you want to be exact rather than using a general word like often.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
every day	each day	I check my email every day.
once a week	one time each week	We call our grandparents once a week.
twice a month	two times each month	She travels twice a month.
three times a year	three times each year	They visit us three times a year.
from time to time	occasionally	I eat dessert from time to time.
now and then	occasionally	We go hiking now and then.

Frequency adverbs often imply a rough percentage, even when you do not state numbers. This helps listeners understand your habits and expectations. Choose a stronger or weaker adverb depending on how regular the action really is.

Rule	Example
Use always for actions that happen without exception	He always locks the door.
Use usually for habits that are true most of the time	I usually eat breakfast.
Use often for frequent repetition, not necessarily regular	She often forgets her keys.
Use sometimes for occasional repetition	We sometimes order pizza.
Use rarely or seldom for infrequent repetition	They rarely agree.
Use never to say it does not happen at all	I never skip class.

Frequency adverbs interact strongly with negation and emphasis. Words like never are already negative, so they typically do not combine with not. You can also use adverbs like always or ever in certain negative or emphatic patterns to change meaning and tone.

Rule	Example
Do not use not with never in standard English	I never eat meat.
Use ever mainly in questions or negative sentences to mean at any time	Have you ever been to London?
Use hardly ever to mean almost never	He hardly ever complains.
Use always in complaints or strong emphasis to mean too often	You are always interrupting me.

In questions, frequency adverbs still follow the same placement logic: after the first auxiliary or after be. This keeps the question structure correct while still showing how often something happens. For questions without an auxiliary, English uses do or does, and the adverb follows it.

Rule	Example
In questions with be, place the adverb after be	Are you often late?
In questions with do or does, place the adverb after do or does	Do you usually cook at home?
In questions with a modal, place the adverb after the modal	Can you sometimes work remotely?
In questions with have, place the adverb after have	Have you ever tried sushi?

Small changes in position can change what sounds natural or what is emphasized. Mid position is the standard choice for single-word frequency adverbs. Front position can sound more emphatic or more formal, and it is often used in writing for contrast or emphasis.

Rule	Example
Mid position sounds neutral and is most common	They sometimes visit us.
Front position emphasizes the adverb and sets the topic	Sometimes, they visit us.
End position is common for frequency phrases and schedules	They visit us twice a year.

Frequency adverbs are different from time adverbs that say when something happens. Time adverbs like today, yesterday, or soon locate an action in time, while frequency adverbs describe repetition. Both can appear in the same sentence, but they answer different questions.

Rule	Example
Frequency answers how often, time answers when	I often work late.
You can combine frequency and time for more detail	I often work late on Mondays.
Keep time phrases flexible, but keep core frequency adverbs in mid position	She usually studies in the evening.