Unit 7 - Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of Frequency


Unit 7 - Adverbs of Frequency

1.
What do you do on the weekend?

I always go out on Saturday. Sometimes I go to a restaurant, and sometimes I watch a movie. I never go to concerts, but I often go to my friend's house. I always have a good time!
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2.
What kind of person are you?

Well, I'm friendly and outgoing, and I'm usually very happy. I don't often complain, and I never shout or get really angry. How about you?

I'm friendly too, and I'm a little shy.

I'm always happy, but sometimes I'm very busy. I always try to have a happy face.

Me too!
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3.
What are some customs in your country?

We always bow to people we meet, and we never joke about people's names.

That's good. Here we never ask about people's salary, it's rude. Also we usually aren't late for meetings.

That's good too!

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Key Vocabulary

weekend
always
sometimes
watch
movie
never
concert
often
what kind
person
friendly
outgoing
usually
complain
shout

get angry
shy
busy
face
custom
country
bow
people
meet
joke
salary
rude
late
meeting

Grammar

Adverbs of frequency show how often something happens. For example: "I always brush my teeth" means I brush my teeth every day.

Here are some common adverbs of frequency.

Adverb

Always - He always eats breakfast.
Usually - He usually eats breakfast.
Often - He often eats breakfast.
Sometimes - He sometimes eats breakfast.
Never - He never eats breakfast.

For infrequent events we can use:

Don't usually - He doesn't usually eat breakfast.

Frequency

100%
80%
60%
40%-50%

0%

 

20%

Affirmative/Negative Frequency Adverbs

Affirmative frequency adverbs can be made negative, for example:
- I don't always eat rice for breakfast.
- He doesn't usually come home late.

Negative frequency adverbs can't be made negative: for example:
- I don't never eat rice for breakfast - This is incorrect

Adverb Position

Adverb position varies greatly in English. However as a general rule, adverbs of frequency come before the main verb. For example:

These are correct: "sometimes" comes before the main verb "play"
- We sometimes play sports.
- We don't often play sports.

These are incorrect:
- We play sometimes sports.
- We don't play often sports.

Other positions are also possible, for example:
- We play sports sometimes.
Here the adverb is in the end position.
- Sometimes we come home late.
The beginning positon is possible, especially when adding emphasis.

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Grammar Exercises


Exercise 1

Unscramble these sentences.

Example: get always up you 7.00 at. - You always get up at 7.00.

1. sometimes at We restaurant a eat.

2. happy always Shane is.

3. doesn't always She take a taxi.

4. often listens music Tom to.

5. is Paul never late.

6. Sally to sometimes gym goes the.

7. Dad cook sometimes dinner.

8. usually well do I math tests in.

9. looks William good always.

10. you do often study English?

Answers
1. = "We sometimes eat at a restaurant.";
2. = "Shane is always happy.";
3. = "She doesn't always take a taxi.";
4. = "Tom often listens to music.";
5. = "Paul is never late.";
6. = "Sally sometimes goes to the gym.";
7. = "Dad sometimes cooks dinner.";
8. = "I usually do well in math tests.";
9. = "William always looks good.";
10. = "Do you often study English?";

Exercise 2

What do you do on the weekend?

I 1. go out on Saturday. 2. I go to a restaurant, and 3. I watch a movie. I 4. go to concerts, but I 5. go to my friend's house. I 6. have a good time!

What kind of person are you?

Well, I'm friendly and outgoing, and I'm 1. very happy. I don't 2. complain, and I

3. shout or get really angry. How about you?

I'm friendly too, and I'm a little shy.

I'm 4. happy, but 5. I'm very busy. I 6. try to have a happy face.

Me too!

What are some customs in your country?

We 1. bow to people we meet, and we 2. joke about people's names.

That's good. Here we 3. ask about people's salary, it's rude. Also we 4. aren't late for meetings.

That's good too!

Answers
1. = "always";
2. = "sometimes";
3. = "sometimes";
4. = "never";
5. = "often";
6. = "always";
7. = "usually";
8. = "often";
9. = "never";
10. = "always";
11. = "sometimes";
12. = "always";
13. = "always";
14. = "never";
15. = "never";
16. = "usually";
Listen to the Answers