05 Adverbs of frequency Flashcards
The bus doesn’t usually stop here.
I can never open these packets.
It’s always cold up here.
I often get up in the night.
An adverb of frequency usually goes in mid position.
Some adverbs of frequency are:
always; normally, generally, usually; often, frequently; sometimes, occasionally; seldom (RARAMENTE), rarely; never.
I don’t often have breakfast.
I often don’t have breakfast.
(= I seldom have breakfast.) (= I often go without breakfast.)
You sometimes can’t get a table here.
Sometimes goes before a negative auxiliary.
I don’t often play cards.
Seldom and rarely are a little formal. In informal speech we use not often.
I’ve never felt so embarrassed in my life.
Will you never learn?
Never is a negative word.
Have you ever done any ballroom dancing? ~ No, never.
We use ever mainly in questions.
I haven’t ever felt so embarrassed.
You hardly ever buy me flowers.
But we can also use ever with negative words.
No one ever said that to me before.
Nothing ever happens in this place.
I never ever want to see that awful man again.
Ever can add emphasis to the negative.
If you ever feel like a chat, just drop in.
James swam faster than he’d ever done before.
We can also use ever in conditions and comparisons.
If ever you feel like a chat, just drop in.
If ever can go before the subject.
I always have lots to do.
NOT I ever have lots to do.
We do not normally use ever in positive statements.
Normally I tip taxi-drivers.
My sister comes to see me sometimes.
Normally, generally, usually, frequently, sometimes and occasionally also go in front or end position.
Doctors get called out at night quite often.
Often, “seldom” and “rarely” can go in end position, especially with e.g. “very” or “quite”.
Always the ghost appeared at the same time.
Never try to adjust the machine while it is switched on.
Always, never and often in front position are emphatic.
