Adverbs of Frequency|Definition, Use, Examples
Adverbs of frequency are Adverbs that describe how often an action occurs. These words indicate the frequency of an action or event. Adverbs of frequency are commonly used in English to give information about how often something happens or how frequently someone does something. They are important for communication and help us to express the frequency of actions either of a Noun or a Pronoun in a clear and concise way. Following are some examples of Adverbs of Frequency.
“Always” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “always” is derived from the Old English phrase “ealne weg,” which means “all the way” or “completely.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something happens all the time, without exception or interruption. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that occurs at all times or on every occasion.
Examples of “Always” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Always” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She always arrives early to the office.
- He always brushes his teeth before going to bed.
- They always take their dog for a walk in the evening.
- I always wear a helmet when riding my bike.
- We always celebrate our wedding anniversary with a fancy dinner.
- The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west.
“Often” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “often” comes from the Old English word “oft,” meaning “frequent” or “many times.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something occurs many times or frequently, but not all the time. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that happens with regularity, but not as often as “always.”
Examples of “Often” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Often” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- He often listens to music while he works.
- They often travel to different countries during their holidays.
- She often goes for a jog in the morning.
- We often have pizza on Fridays.
- They often meet for coffee after work.
- I often see my neighbor walking his dog in the park.
“Usually” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “usually” is derived from the Middle English word “usuel,” meaning “habitual” or “customary.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something happens most of the time, or according to normal or typical patterns. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that occurs with regularity and is expected or anticipated.
Examples of “Usually” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Usually” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- We usually go grocery shopping on Saturdays.
- He usually reads a book before going to bed.
- They usually have lunch together at work.
- She usually wears a jacket when it’s cold outside.
- I usually take the bus to work.
- The store is usually closed on Sundays.
“Sometimes” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “sometimes” is a compound of the words “some” and “time.” It means something occurs on certain occasions or at certain times, but not regularly or constantly. As an adverb of frequency, it is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that happens intermittently or infrequently, but not so infrequently as “rarely” or “never.”
Examples of “Sometimes” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Sometimes” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She sometimes forgets her phone at home.
- They sometimes watch a movie after dinner.
- He sometimes takes a break during his workday.
- We sometimes order takeout on Fridays.
- I sometimes listen to music while I study.
- The weather is sometimes unpredictable in this region.
“Rarely” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “rarely” comes from the Old English word “hrēa,” meaning “rare” or “uncommon.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something occurs infrequently or seldom, happening only a few times or almost never. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that occurs with very low frequency or is unusual or uncommon.
Examples of “Rarely” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Rarely” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- He rarely eats fast food.
- We rarely go to the beach in the winter.
- She rarely gets angry, even when she’s upset.
- They rarely see each other, despite living in the same city.
- I rarely stay up past midnight on weekdays.
- The train rarely arrives on time during rush hour.
“Hardly Ever” As An Adverb of Frequency
The phrase “hardly ever” is a combination of the adverb “hardly,” which means “barely” or “almost not,” and the adverb of frequency “ever,” which means “at any time.” Together, “hardly ever” means something occurs very rarely or almost never, happening only a few times or almost never. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that occurs with extremely low frequency.
Examples of “Hardly Ever” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Hardly Ever” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She hardly ever drinks alcohol.
- He hardly ever complains about his job.
- They hardly ever eat out at restaurants.
- We hardly ever get snow in this region.
- I hardly ever check my social media accounts.
- The store hardly ever runs out of stock.
“Never” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “never” comes from the Old English word “nǣfre,” which means “not ever.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something does not happen at any time or occurs with zero frequency. It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that does not occur or has not occurred at any point in time.
Examples of “Never” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Never” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She never eats meat, as she’s a vegetarian.
- He never misses a deadline at work.
- They never argue with each other, as they have a strong relationship.
- We never go to bed angry.
- I never leave my house without my phone.
- The company never compromises on quality.
“Seldom” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “seldom” comes from the Old English word “seldan,” meaning “rarely” or “not often.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something occurs infrequently or rarely, but more often than “never” or “hardly ever.” It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that happens only occasionally or at longer intervals.
Examples of “Seldom” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Seldom” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She seldom goes out at night because she prefers to stay home.
- He seldom wears a suit to work, as his office has a casual dress code.
- They seldom eat junk food, as they prioritize healthy eating.
- We seldom see each other, as we live in different cities.
- I seldom take time off work, as I enjoy my job.
- The restaurant seldom has any available tables during peak hours.
“Occasionally” As An Adverb of Frequency
The word “occasionally” is derived from the Latin word “occasionalis,” meaning “pertaining to an occasion.” As an adverb of frequency, it means something occurs infrequently, but more often than “rarely” or “seldom.” It is used to describe a repeated action or behavior that happens occasionally or at irregular intervals, but not with any set pattern or regularity.
Examples of “Occasionally” As An Adverb of Frequency
Following are some examples of “Occasionally” as an Adverb of Frequency.
- She occasionally treats herself to a spa day.
- He occasionally works from home, as his company allows flexible schedules.
- They occasionally volunteer at a local charity.
- We occasionally have potluck dinners with our neighbors.
- I occasionally practice yoga to relieve stress.
- The museum occasionally hosts free events for the public.
