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	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
always	🧩 总是	at all times or every time	🧩 始终或每次	I always drink coffee in the morning.	🧩 我每天早上总是喝咖啡。
usually	🧩 通常	in most cases	🧩 在大多数情况下	She usually takes the bus.	🧩 她通常坐公车。
often	🧩 经常	many times	🧩 许多次	We often eat out on Fridays.	🧩 我们周五经常外出就餐。
sometimes	🧩 有时	on some occasions	🧩 在某些场合	They sometimes work late.	🧩 他们有时会工作到很晚。
rarely	🧩 很少	not often	🧩 不太经常	He rarely watches TV.	🧩 他很少看电视。
never	🧩 从不	at no time	🧩 从来不在任何时候	I never smoke.	🧩 我从不抽烟。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Place frequency adverbs before most main verbs	🧩 将频率副词放在大多数主要动词之前	She often calls her sister.	🧩 她经常打电话给她的妹妹。
Place frequency adverbs after be	🧩 将频率副词放在 be 之后	He is always polite.	🧩 他总是很有礼貌。
With auxiliaries, place the adverb after the first auxiliary	🧩 对于情态动词，副词放在第一个助动词之后	I have never seen that movie.	🧩 我从未看过那部电影。
With modal verbs, place the adverb after the modal	🧩 使用情态动词时，将副词放在情态动词之后	You can usually park here.	🧩 你通常可以在这里停车。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Put frequency phrases at the end for a natural, neutral tone	🧩 将频率短语放在句末以获得自然、中性的语气	I go to the gym twice a week.	🧩 我每周去健身房两次。
Use end position when the sentence already has a complex verb phrase	🧩 当句子已经有一个复杂的动词短语时使用句末位置	She has been working late every night.	🧩 她每天晚上都在加班。
Use end position for schedules and routines	🧩 对于日程和常规安排使用句末位置	We meet on Mondays.	🧩 我们在周一见面。

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	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
every day	🧩 每天	each day	🧩 每一天	I check my email every day.	🧩 我每天检查电子邮件。
once a week	🧩 每周一次	one time each week	🧩 每周一次	We call our grandparents once a week.	🧩 我们每周给祖父母打一次电话。
twice a month	🧩 一个月两次	two times each month	🧩 每月两次	She travels twice a month.	🧩 她每月旅行两次。
three times a year	🧩 一年三次	three times each year	🧩 每年三次	They visit us three times a year.	🧩 他们一年来看我们三次。
from time to time	🧩 时不时	occasionally	🧩 偶尔	I eat dessert from time to time.	🧩 我不时吃甜点。
now and then	🧩 时而	occasionally	🧩 偶尔	We go hiking now and then.	🧩 我们不时去徒步。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use always for actions that happen without exception	🧩 在没有例外的行动中使用 always	He always locks the door.	🧩 他总是把门锁好。
Use usually for habits that are true most of the time	🧩 在大部分时间都成立的习惯中使用 usually	I usually eat breakfast.	🧩 我通常吃早餐。
Use often for frequent repetition, not necessarily regular	🧩 用 often 表示经常重复，而不一定是规律性的	She often forgets her keys.	🧩 她经常忘记钥匙。
Use sometimes for occasional repetition	🧩 用 sometimes 表示偶尔重复	We sometimes order pizza.	🧩 我们有时点披萨。
Use rarely or seldom for infrequent repetition	🧩 用 rarely 或 seldom 表示不频繁重复	They rarely agree.	🧩 他们很少意见一致。
Use never to say it does not happen at all	🧩 用 never 表示完全不发生	I never skip class.	🧩 我从不逃课。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Do not use not with never in standard English	🧩 标准英语中不要在 never 与 not 搭配使用	I never eat meat.	🧩 我从不吃肉。
Use ever mainly in questions or negative sentences to mean at any time	🧩 主要在疑问句或否定句中使用 ever，表示在任何时候	Have you ever been to London?	🧩 Have you ever been to London?
Use hardly ever to mean almost never	🧩 使用 hardly ever 表示几乎从不	He hardly ever complains.	🧩 他几乎从不抱怨。
Use always in complaints or strong emphasis to mean too often	🧩 在抱怨或强强调时使用 always 表示太频繁	You are always interrupting me.	🧩 你总是打断我。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
In questions with be, place the adverb after be	🧩 在含 be 的疑问句中，把副词放在 be 之后	Are you often late?	🧩 Are you often late?
In questions with do or does, place the adverb after do or does	🧩 在含 do 或 does 的疑问句中，把副词放在 do 或 does 之后	Do you usually cook at home?	🧩 Do you usually cook at home?
In questions with a modal, place the adverb after the modal	🧩 在含情态动词的疑问句中，把副词放在情态动词之后	Can you sometimes work remotely?	🧩 Can you sometimes work remotely?
In questions with have, place the adverb after have	🧩 在含 have 的疑问句中，把副词放在 have 之后	Have you ever tried sushi?	🧩 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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Mid position sounds neutral and is most common	🧩 中位位置听起来中性且最常见	They sometimes visit us.	🧩 他们有时来访我们。
Front position emphasizes the adverb and sets the topic	🧩 前置位置强调副词并设置话题	Sometimes, they visit us.	🧩 有时他们会来访我们。
End position is common for frequency phrases and schedules	🧩 句末位置在频率短语和时间安排中很常见	They visit us twice a year.	🧩 他们一年访问我们两次。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Frequency answers how often, time answers when	🧩 频率回答发生的频率，时间回答何时发生	I often work late.	🧩 我经常很晚才工作。
You can combine frequency and time for more detail	🧩 你可以将频率和时间结合来获得更详细的信息	I often work late on Mondays.	🧩 我经常在周一很晚才工作。
Keep time phrases flexible, but keep core frequency adverbs in mid position	🧩 让时间短语保持灵活，但核心的频率副词保持在中位位置	She usually studies in the evening.	🧩 她通常在晚上学习。