LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

7 Adverbs

7.4 Adverbs of frequency

7.4A Position of adverbs of frequency ('often') in affirmatives and questions

[> LEG 7.37-40]

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Study:

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1 Adverbs of frequency generally answer the question How often?. The most common are:

always, almost always, generally, usually, normally, frequently, often, sometimes,

hardly ever, seldom, ever, not... ever, never.

2 Adverbs of frequency have three basic positions in affirmative sentences:

• after be when it is the only verb in a sentence: I am always late.


• after the first auxiliary when there is more than one: I would always have been late.


• before the main verb when there is only one verb: You never tried hard enough.

3 In questions, the adverb of frequency comes after the subject: Are you always late?

Rewrite these sentences using any suitable adverb of frequency in each one.

1 I am late I

2 I was late for work

3 I can tell the difference between the two

4 I would have been able to find a job like yours

5 You tried hard enough

6 You got good marks at school

7 Are you late?

8 Have you lived in this town?

9 Did you get good marks at school?

7.4B The position of adverbs of frequency in negative statements [> LEG 7.40.2]

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Study:

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1 These usually come after not. always, generally, normally, often, regularly, usually:

Public transport Isn't always (etc.) very reliable.

2 Generally, normally, often and usually can come after the subject for special emphasis:

We normally don't worry if the children are late.

3 We use sometimes and frequently before not or before isn't, doesn't, don't, didn't, etc.:

Debbie is sometimes not responsible for what she does. He is frequently not at home.

She sometimes isn't reliable. He frequently doesn't get home till 10.

4 We can't use not to form negatives with hardly ever, etc. [> 13.2A]: He hardly ever writes.

(Not *He almost always doesn't write. * or *He doesn't hardly ever write. *)

Write these sentences again using the adverbs in brackets. Make changes where necessary.

1 Public transport isn't reliable, (always)

2 He wasn't late when he worked here, (often)

3 She doesn't arrive on time, (usually)

4 She doesn't arrive on time, (sometimes)

5 We don't worry if the children are late, (normally)

6 You don't phone, (hardly ever)

7 We don't complain, (generally)