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Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action happens and they help make your descriptions more precise and natural. This guide covers the most common adverbs of frequency and where to place them in a sentence.

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency specify how often something occurs and they usually come before the main verb or after être. Here are the most typical adverbs and their approximate positions in a sentence.

	French Adverb	English Adverb
	toujours	always
	souvent	often
	parfois	sometimes
	rarement	rarely
	jamais	never
	régulièrement	regularly
	fréquemment	frequently
	de temps en temps	from time to time
	tous les jours	every day
	presque toujours	almost always

Examples

Where does a frequency adverb usually go in a simple affirmative sentence?

Between the auxiliary and past participle in all cases

At the very end of the sentence by default

Before the main verb

After 'être' as in 'je suis toujours content'

Placement

Les adverbes de fréquence se placent généralement avant le verbe principal en français, mais ils apparaissent après le verbe être. Avec les temps composés, l’adverbe se place généralement avant le participe passé lorsque l’auxiliaire est avoir. Ce placement rend les phrases naturelles et maintient une emphase claire.

Adverbs of frequency generally go before the main verb in French, but they appear after the verb être. With compound tenses, the adverb usually goes before the past participle when the auxiliary is avoir. This placement makes sentences sound natural and keeps the emphasis clear.

Examples

Where does a frequency adverb usually go in a simple affirmative sentence?

Between the auxiliary and past participle in all cases

At the very end of the sentence by default

Before the main verb

After 'être' as in 'je suis toujours content'

Exceptions

Certaines expressions comme de temps en temps ou une fois par semaine se comportent davantage comme des phrases et peuvent se déplacer pour insister. Les phrases négatives déplacent aussi parfois jamais ou toujours lorsqu’elles sont associées à ne... pas. Faites attention à ces petits changements pour paraître plus naturel.

Some expressions like de temps en temps or une fois par semaine behave more like phrases and can move around for emphasis. Negative sentences also sometimes shift placement of jamais or toujours when paired with ne... pas. Paying attention to small changes helps you sound more natural.

Fill in the BlankJe ne(never) manger de la viande.

I never eat meat

Translate: 'I never eat meat' (eat in infinitive).

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Examples

Where does a frequency adverb usually go in a simple affirmative sentence?

Between the auxiliary and past participle in all cases

At the very end of the sentence by default

Before the main verb

After 'être' as in 'je suis toujours content'

Summary

Frequency adverbs enrich your descriptions by showing how often actions happen. Stick to the typical placements—before the main verb, after être, and before the past participle in compound tenses—and use common expressions to sound natural.