Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency are frequent themselves so it is good to know a thing or two about them.
According to Thomson-Martinet grammar there are three main rules in terms of their distribution, then some exceptions to those rules - which is a must in English! :) - and a few additional rules concerning some of these adverbs.
Three main rules
1) These adverbs are placed AFTER the simple tenses of the verb TO BE
- There are always a lot of exceptions to grammar rules.
- We are constantly on the lookout for new ideas.
2) They are placed BEFORE the simple tenses of ALL OTHER VERBS
- The children always seem to be hungry.
- We occasionally meet for a drink after work.
3) They are placed AFTER the first auxiliary in the compound tenses (or in the interrogative after the auxiliary and the subject)
- This type of allergy can very occasionally be fatal.
- Pat has always loved gardening.
- Have you ever been to Rome?
Exceptions to the third rule
A. They are normally placed BEFORE used to and have to.
* Can/could, may/might, must, ought to, shall/should, will/would are modal verbs which are used to create compound tenses (along with the so-called real auxiliaries be and have). Dare, need, have to and used to also have some of the features of modal verbs.
- You hardly ever have to remind him, he always remembers.
B. They are also normally placed BEFORE any auxiliary used alone - in additions to remarks or in short answers to questions.
- Can you spell all the countries correctly? Yes, I usually can.
- I should not put too much salt in my meals, but I always do.
They are also placed before auxiliaries when they are stressed in compound tenses and before the "emphatic do":
- We never 'could wear jeans at work.
- I always 'did like your cooking.
If we left these adverbs after the auxiliary (in its usual position) then we would stress the adverb. *Note that their usual position is not possible when we use do for emphasis.
- We could 'never wear jeans at work.
Some additional rules
1. These rules, of course, refer to other possible positions of these adverbs. For instance, adverbs such as always, continually, frequently, occasionally, often, once, twice, periodically, repeatedly, sometimes, usually etc. can also come at the beginning or end of the clause.
- Sometimes I go by car.
- I've only been there once.
- They argue continually.
However, always is rarely put at the beginning, except in imperatives (Always do your best!), and often rarely comes at the end and when it does it normally requires very or quite (I see her quite often.).
2. Adverbs such as hardly ever, never, rarely, scarcely ever, seldom can also be put at the beginning of the sentence, however, an inversion after them is obligatory. (inversion = verb + subject)
- Seldom had he seen such beauty. (literary)
- Rarely has a debate attracted so much media attention.
These adverbs are not used with negative verbs because they themselves have a (an almost) negative meaning.
NEVER and EVER (additional information)
Never is normally used with an affirmative verb, never with a negative one.
- He never liked her.
- I have never been to* Rome.
- I have never tried to play the piano.
* to Rome etc. because "have never been to" is implicating that you had not travelled to that place. Otherwise when you talk of your present and past locations (concerning cities) you would use "in", e. g. I am in London.
Never in the affirmative can sometimes replace an ordinary negative (formed with "not"):
- I waited for him, but he never turned up. (He didn't turn up.)
In the interrogative it can be used to express the speaker's surprise:
- Has he never learnt to swim? I cannot believe it, he is living at the seaside.
Ever is mainly used in the interrogative.
- Have you ever been to Rome?
- Have you ever told her the truth?
- Do you ever get tired?
It can be used with negative verbs (esp. in compound tenses) and it can replace never + an affirmative verb:
- I haven't ever tried to play the piano.
- Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
Ever is also used in other negative constructions such as nothing...ever, nobody... ever etc.
- Nothing ever happens here.
- Nobody has ever said that to me before.
*Ever is used to express doubts and suppositions.
- I doubt she's ever been much interested in historical accuracy.
- I don't suppose he'll ever call her again.
** Ever and never are also used in comparisons.
- I have never drunk better beer. (comparative)
- This is the best beer I have ever drunk. (superlative)
- I have never met a kinder man.
- He is the kindest man I have ever met.
As you can see, never is used with comparative, while ever is used with a superlative for comparison.
All the grammar information comes from grammar textbooks, mostly Thomson-Martinet, only the presentation is my own. Most of the examples were taken either from dictionaries, grammar textbook or articles on the Internet, only few of them were made up by me.
According to Thomson-Martinet grammar there are three main rules in terms of their distribution, then some exceptions to those rules - which is a must in English! :) - and a few additional rules concerning some of these adverbs.
Three main rules
1) These adverbs are placed AFTER the simple tenses of the verb TO BE
- There are always a lot of exceptions to grammar rules.
- We are constantly on the lookout for new ideas.
2) They are placed BEFORE the simple tenses of ALL OTHER VERBS
- The children always seem to be hungry.
- We occasionally meet for a drink after work.
3) They are placed AFTER the first auxiliary in the compound tenses (or in the interrogative after the auxiliary and the subject)
- This type of allergy can very occasionally be fatal.
- Pat has always loved gardening.
- Have you ever been to Rome?
Exceptions to the third rule
A. They are normally placed BEFORE used to and have to.
* Can/could, may/might, must, ought to, shall/should, will/would are modal verbs which are used to create compound tenses (along with the so-called real auxiliaries be and have). Dare, need, have to and used to also have some of the features of modal verbs.
- You hardly ever have to remind him, he always remembers.
B. They are also normally placed BEFORE any auxiliary used alone - in additions to remarks or in short answers to questions.
- Can you spell all the countries correctly? Yes, I usually can.
- I should not put too much salt in my meals, but I always do.
They are also placed before auxiliaries when they are stressed in compound tenses and before the "emphatic do":
- We never 'could wear jeans at work.
- I always 'did like your cooking.
If we left these adverbs after the auxiliary (in its usual position) then we would stress the adverb. *Note that their usual position is not possible when we use do for emphasis.
- We could 'never wear jeans at work.
Some additional rules
1. These rules, of course, refer to other possible positions of these adverbs. For instance, adverbs such as always, continually, frequently, occasionally, often, once, twice, periodically, repeatedly, sometimes, usually etc. can also come at the beginning or end of the clause.
- Sometimes I go by car.
- I've only been there once.
- They argue continually.
However, always is rarely put at the beginning, except in imperatives (Always do your best!), and often rarely comes at the end and when it does it normally requires very or quite (I see her quite often.).
2. Adverbs such as hardly ever, never, rarely, scarcely ever, seldom can also be put at the beginning of the sentence, however, an inversion after them is obligatory. (inversion = verb + subject)
- Seldom had he seen such beauty. (literary)
- Rarely has a debate attracted so much media attention.
These adverbs are not used with negative verbs because they themselves have a (an almost) negative meaning.
NEVER and EVER (additional information)
Never is normally used with an affirmative verb, never with a negative one.
- He never liked her.
- I have never been to* Rome.
- I have never tried to play the piano.
* to Rome etc. because "have never been to" is implicating that you had not travelled to that place. Otherwise when you talk of your present and past locations (concerning cities) you would use "in", e. g. I am in London.
Never in the affirmative can sometimes replace an ordinary negative (formed with "not"):
- I waited for him, but he never turned up. (He didn't turn up.)
In the interrogative it can be used to express the speaker's surprise:
- Has he never learnt to swim? I cannot believe it, he is living at the seaside.
Ever is mainly used in the interrogative.
- Have you ever been to Rome?
- Have you ever told her the truth?
- Do you ever get tired?
It can be used with negative verbs (esp. in compound tenses) and it can replace never + an affirmative verb:
- I haven't ever tried to play the piano.
- Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
Ever is also used in other negative constructions such as nothing...ever, nobody... ever etc.
- Nothing ever happens here.
- Nobody has ever said that to me before.
*Ever is used to express doubts and suppositions.
- I doubt she's ever been much interested in historical accuracy.
- I don't suppose he'll ever call her again.
** Ever and never are also used in comparisons.
- I have never drunk better beer. (comparative)
- This is the best beer I have ever drunk. (superlative)
- I have never met a kinder man.
- He is the kindest man I have ever met.
As you can see, never is used with comparative, while ever is used with a superlative for comparison.
All the grammar information comes from grammar textbooks, mostly Thomson-Martinet, only the presentation is my own. Most of the examples were taken either from dictionaries, grammar textbook or articles on the Internet, only few of them were made up by me.
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