A Complete Guide to Adverbs of Frequency with Examples

Do you talk about your daily routine, like how often you study, play, or watch TV? Words such as always, usually, often, and never help express how frequently something happens. These are called adverbs of frequency. Let’s learn them in detail.

Table of Contents

• What Is an Adverb of Frequency
• List of Adverbs of Frequency
• Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

What Is an Adverb of Frequency

An adverb of frequency is a word that tells how often something happens. It is used to describe daily habits, routines, and repeated actions. For example, when you say “I always wake up early” or “She sometimes plays football,” the words always and sometimes show how frequently the action takes place.

These adverbs make sentences more meaningful by providing additional information about the action. They can show whether something happens all the time, often, sometimes, rarely, or never.

List of Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency are classified into two categories: indefinite frequency and definite frequency. While indefinite adverbs indicate frequency in a general sense, definite adverbs specify exact intervals or time periods. Below is a list of commonly used adverbs of frequency from both types.

List of Adverbs of Indefinite Frequency:

• Always
• Constantly
• Usually
• Generally
• Normally
• Regularly
• Frequently
• Often
• Sometimes
• Occasionally
• Now and then
• From time to time
• Rarely
• Seldom
• Hardly ever
• Scarcely
• Never

List of Adverbs of Definite Frequency:

• Daily
• Hourly
• Weekly
• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Yearly
• Annually
• Every day
• Every night
• Every week
• Every month
• Every hour
• Every other day
• Every other week
• Once a week
• Once a month
• Once a year
• Biweekly

Examples of Adverbs of Frequency

The examples below show how adverbs of frequency are used in sentences to express how often something happens.

• She always completes her homework on time.
• He constantly checks his emails during work.
• We usually have dinner together as a family.
• They generally arrive early for meetings.
• I normally go for a walk in the evening.
• She regularly practises the piano after school.
• He frequently travels for business.
• We often visit the park on Sundays.
• I sometimes read books before bedtime.
• They occasionally watch movies at the theatre.
• We go out for dinner now and then.
• She visits her grandparents from time to time.
• He rarely eats outside food.
• They seldom miss their morning classes.
• I hardly ever play video games during weekdays.
• She scarcely complains about her workload.
• He never forgets his keys at home.