Being able to say how often an action takes place in English is really useful. It lets you talk about everyday things, like how often you eat pizza for dinner, floss your teeth, or snuggle with your dog. That’s why it’s important to understand English adverbs of frequency.

In this post:

DOWNLOAD DUOLINGO FOR FREE

What are adverbs of frequency?

💡
Adverbs of frequency are words that describe how often an action takes place.

There are two types of adverbs of frequency: adverbs of definite frequency and adverbs of indefinite frequency. They differ both in what they can describe and in where they most commonly appear in a sentence.

Adverbs of definite frequency

These adverbs describe precisely how often an action occurs. They include adverbs such as daily, weekly, and once a month.

For example:

I go to Florida once a month.

Where do adverbs of definite frequency appear in a sentence?

Adverbs of definite frequency typically can appear in two different positions in a sentence:

POSITION EXAMPLE
at the end of the sentence
(most common position)		 I practice my English daily.
at the start of the sentence
(less common position, emphasizes the element of time)		 Twice a day, she brushes her teeth.

Common adverbs of definite frequency

Adverbs of definite frequency are used quite commonly, so it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with the most important ones:

ADVERB OF DEFINITE FREQUENCY EXAMPLE
annually They visit Mexico annually.
daily Eddy goes to the gym daily.
every ___
  • every day
  • every night
  • every week
  • every month
 Do you watch TV every night?
I go to the library every week.
every other ___
  • every other day
  • every other night
  • every other week
  • every other month
 He cooks dinner every other day.
Every other night, I take a walk.
hourly The bell doesn’t ring hourly.
monthly Are you paid monthly?
once a ___
  • once a week
  • once a month
  • once a year
 Once a week, I call my grandma.
We go on vacation once a year.
weekly We go to the supermarket weekly.
yearly We go to the doctor yearly.

Adverbs of indefinite frequency

Adverbs of indefinite frequency give a general sense of how often an action occurs without being specific. They include adverbs such as often, sometimes, and usually.

For example:

I often take the bus.

These adverbs can be used to describe how often an action generally happens—from always (100% of the time) to never (0% of the time), and everything in between:

ADVERB OF FREQUENCY FREQUENCY
always 100%
usually
frequently
often
sometimes 50%
occasionally
once in a while
now and then
rarely
infrequently
hardly ever
never 0%

Where do adverbs of indefinite frequency go in a sentence?      

Adverbs of indefinite frequency can be placed in multiple positions in a sentence:

POSITION EXAMPLE
before the main verb
(most common position)		 I usually go to sleep at 10 pm.
at the start or end of a sentence
(emphasizes the element of time)		 Sometimes I forget to lock the door.
We travel frequently.
after the main verb if it’s a form of be He is always on time.

For questions where a form of be is the main verb, the adverb of indefinite frequency typically appears after the subject (for example, Is he always on time?).

Note that only some adverbs of indefinite frequency can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. It takes a bit of practice to get familiar with which ones work in these positions. For example:

  • Usually
    can appear at the start of a sentence (
    Usually he gets up early
    ).
  • Frequently
    can appear at the end (
    They practice frequently
    ).

Some adverbs, like always and never, can only be placed directly before the main verb—unless it is a form of be.

Common adverbs of indefinite frequency

You will likely find yourself using adverbs of indefinite frequency rather, well, frequently! Here are some of the most common ones in English:

ADVERB OF INDEFINITE FREQUENCY EXAMPLE
always They always have dessert.
frequently You see your friends frequently.
infrequently They fight infrequently.
never She never yells.
now and then He draws now and then.
occasionally Occasionally I forget my keys.
often You aren’t often angry.
rarely They rarely cook.
regularly We regularly watch TV.
sometimes You sometimes forget your hat.
usually Usually my friend isn’t late.
DOWNLOAD DUOLINGO FOR FREE

Remember to regularly practice your adverbs of frequency! 

Whether you practice them every day or twice a week, now that you know all about adverbs of frequency, you’re ready to use them often!