WelcomeCoursesAI

German

Frequency Adverbs

AskQuestions
Frequency adverbs in German tell us how often something happens.

Examples of Frequency Adverbs

Here are common German frequency adverbs with example sentences and their English translations:
German AdverbExample SentenceEnglish Translation
immerIch bin immer pünktlich.I am always punctual.
meistensEr schläft meistens zehn Stunden.He mostly sleeps ten hours.
oftWir gehen oft ins Kino.We often go to the cinema.
manchmalManchmal regnet es im Sommer.Sometimes it rains in summer.
seltenSie besucht uns selten.She rarely visits us.
nieIch esse nie Schokolade.I never eat chocolate.

Word Order with Frequency Adverbs

Frequency adverbs usually come after the conjugated verb or after the subject, depending on the emphasis.

Examples

Sentence PositionExampleEnglish Translation
After SubjectIch immer bin pünktlich.(Incorrect in German)
After VerbIch bin immer pünktlich.I am always punctual.
After Direct ObjectIch lese das Buch oft.I often read the book.
  • The most natural position for frequency adverbs in German is immediately after the verb or after the direct object if there is one.
  • If there is a time or manner phrase, the frequency adverb usually comes just before the verb.

Summary

  • Frequency adverbs tell how often something happens.
  • Common adverbs: immer (always), meistens (mostly), oft (often), manchmal (sometimes), selten (rarely), nie (never).
  • Place frequency adverbs after the conjugated verb or after the direct object.
  • Do not place them before the subject.

Flashcards (1 of 9)

  • Example Sentence: Ich bin immer pünktlich.
  • English Translation: I am always punctual.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Loco