Adverbs of Frequency | English Grammar | Speak Clearly & Confidently

Summary

In this lesson, Emma from mmmEnglish explains how to use adverbs of frequency in English to describe how often actions occur. She covers a range of adverbs, from 'always' to 'never,' and provides examples of how they fit into sentences. Emma also discusses common phrases like 'once or twice a week' and 'from time to time,' and offers a personal routine to demonstrate their usage. The lesson highlights the importance of these adverbs in expressing daily habits and encourages learners to practice using them in their own routines.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adverbs of frequency help explain how often an action happens in English.
• 😀 Common adverbs include 'always,' 'usually,' 'sometimes,' and 'never,' each describing different frequencies of actions.
• 😀 These adverbs are typically used in the present tense and most often appear between the subject and verb in a sentence.
• 😀 Adverbs of frequency can also be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, but not after the verb.
• 😀 Expressions like 'once or twice a week' and 'once in a while' also convey frequency and are used at the start or end of a sentence.
• 😀 You can describe regular activities using phrases like 'every Wednesday' or 'on Wednesdays' to indicate weekly events.
• 😀 The use of adverbs of frequency is especially useful for describing daily or weekly routines.
• 😀 Emma shares her own routine to demonstrate the usage of different frequency adverbs, like 'usually,' 'occasionally,' and 'rarely.'
• 😀 Some phrases like 'most of the time' or 'every now and again' are equivalent to adverbs like 'often' and 'sometimes.'
• 😀 Understanding how to use adverbs of frequency can help you speak more clearly and express your habits and routines in English.
• 😀 For advanced learners, the present continuous and present perfect tenses also use specific adverbs of frequency, but these will be covered in later lessons.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of using adverbs of frequency in English?

Adverbs of frequency help you explain how often an activity is done or how often something happens in English, providing more detail about the action.

Can you name some examples of adverbs of frequency mentioned in the script?

Some examples include 'always', 'usually', 'often', 'sometimes', 'rarely', 'never', and 'infrequently'. These describe how often actions occur.

Where do adverbs of frequency generally appear in an English sentence?

Adverbs of frequency usually appear in the middle of a sentence, between the subject and the verb. For example: 'They often take their dog to the beach.'

What are some examples of adverb placement at the start or end of a sentence?

Examples include: 'They take their dogs to the beach often.', 'Sometimes we pick up dinner on the way home.', and 'Usually, I visit my grandparents on Thursdays.'

Why is it incorrect to put an adverb of frequency directly after the verb?

It is incorrect because English grammar typically does not allow adverbs of frequency to directly follow the verb. For instance, 'We pick up dinner sometimes on the way home' is wrong.

What are some alternative expressions to describe frequency, as mentioned in the video?

Alternative expressions include 'once or twice a...', 'once in a while', 'from time to time', 'every now and again', and 'most of the time'. These can be used at the start or end of a sentence.

How can you describe a regular event using English expressions?

You can describe regular events by saying things like 'I take an English class every Wednesday' or 'I take an English class on Wednesdays.' Both sentences express a routine activity.

What is a good way to describe a typical day using adverbs of frequency?

You can describe a typical day by using adverbs like 'I always have a strong cup of coffee before I start working', or 'I generally go out for a run at around 11:00 a.m.' to indicate the regularity of actions.

What is the purpose of explaining one's daily routine with adverbs of frequency?

Using adverbs of frequency helps to give more detailed and clear information about how often something happens, making it easier to describe daily or weekly activities.

What lesson does the speaker suggest we focus on after learning adverbs of frequency?

The speaker suggests that after learning adverbs of frequency, the next lesson should focus on how these adverbs are used in present continuous and present perfect tenses, but that is a lesson for another day.