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Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never – adverbs of frequency exercises for A1 students

This A1 drill lesson gives adverbs of frequency exercises from always to never: what each word means, where it goes in a sentence and how to answer How often…?

Grammar
Always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever and never before a main verb and after am / is / are, in negatives and questions, plus How often…?
Topic
Healthy Week, an invented family health app: a teen's weekly habits survey from Columbus, Ohio, a doctor's Sunday report, tips for families and his mom's answers.
Activities
Sorting, gap-fills, a week-chart quiz, word order, a memory game, a find-the-mistake quiz, a chat with the app's doctor and a final test.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1The rule

    • PictureUnlock
    • Study the scheme: adverbs of frequencyGrammar schemeTry it
    • Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Sort the sentences: before the main verb or after am / is / are?Sort into columnsTry it
    • Choose the right place for the wordChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: write the word for the %Fill in the gapsUnlock

  2. Chapter 2How often?

    • Find the matching pairs: the word and the %Memory gameUnlock
    • Sort the phrases: always, sometimes or never?Sort into columnsUnlock
    • Look at the week and choose the right wordQuizUnlock
    • Choose the right word: how often?Choose the optionTry it
    • Read about Grandpa Walt and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Where does it go?

    • Fill in the gaps: the word goes before the main verbFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the gaps: the word goes after am / is / areFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the table: 100% and 0%Fill in the tableUnlock
    • Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: the right placeDrag and dropUnlock
    • Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
    • Read about Fiona's morning and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock

  4. Chapter 4How often…? Once a week, twice a month

    • Match the numbers and the wordsMatchTry it
    • Choose the right words: once, twice, every…Choose the optionUnlock
    • Write the questions: How often…?Fill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the right questionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: negative sentencesFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the right answer: questions, negatives, time wordsQuizUnlock
    • Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock
    • Read the school newsletter and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Real life: The habits survey

    • Read Ethan's habits surveyReal-life documentUnlock
    • Read the survey again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
    • Read Dr. Lee's weekly report and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Read the app's tips and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
    • Read Chloe's survey answers and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Choose the right replies: Dr. Lee asks youChatTry it
    • Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Choose the right word by the meaningChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: put the two words in the right orderFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
    • Sort the words: in the middle or at the end?Sort into columnsUnlock
    • Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
    • Fill in the table: questions and negativesFill in the tableUnlock
    • Write the How often questions for the answersFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: once, twice, every…Drag and dropUnlock
    • Mark true or false: is the sentence right?True or falseUnlock
    • Unscramble the words: how often?AnagramUnlock
    • Choose the right words: negative sentencesChoose the optionUnlock
    • Read Marta's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Read the gym ad and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: questionsUnjumbleUnlock

48 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Grammar: adverbs of frequency: how often, and where the word goes

Adverbs of frequency say how often something happens, from always to never. Their place depends on the verb: before a main verb (She always walks to work) but after am, is and are (He is never late). Learners also make negatives and questions and answer with every day, once a week or twice a month.

Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never

Say how often you do something: always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never. They go before the main verb, but after am / is / are.

From always (100%) to never (0%)

The scheme puts six words on a scale: always 100%, usually about 90%, often about 70%, sometimes about 50%, hardly ever about 5% and never 0%. The middle numbers are only rough, so the lesson's meaning items test words far apart, like usually and hardly ever.

WordHow often?Example
always100% · every timeI always brush my teeth at night.
usuallyabout 90% · almost every timeWe usually eat dinner at six.
oftenabout 70% · many timesDad often cooks pasta.
sometimesabout 50% · some of the timeI sometimes take the bus.
hardly everabout 5% · almost neverShe hardly ever drinks soda.
never0% · not one timeHe never eats onions.

Before the main verb, after am / is / are

With a main verb, the word sits between the subject and the verb: Dad often cooks pasta. With am, is or are, it comes after the verb: The kids are often tired after soccer. So I eat often pizza and The bus always is late are both wrong.

Before the main verb

subjectalways / usually / often / sometimes / nevermain verb

She always walks to work.

I usually have lunch at school.

We never watch TV at breakfast.

Where does it go?

Before the main verb

  • I always walk to school.
  • She often reads in bed.
  • They never play video games.

After am / is / are

  • He is never late.
  • I'm always hungry after school.
  • The kids are often tired after soccer.

Negatives and questions

Negatives put the word after don't, doesn't or isn't: She doesn't usually cook. He isn't usually late. Never needs no don't: She never cooks. In questions, the word follows the subject: Do you often swim? Is she always busy?

FormWith a main verbWith am / is / are
Negative (−)I don't often eat fast food. · She doesn't usually cook. · We don't always walk.He isn't usually late. · I'm not often sick. · It isn't always sunny.
never = notShe never cooks. (Not: She doesn't never cook.)It is never cold here. (Not: It isn't never cold.)
Question (?)Do you often swim? · Does he always cook?Is she always busy? · Are you often sick?
Short answerYes, I do. · No, he doesn't.Yes, she is. · No, I'm not.

How often…? Every day, once a week

Ask with How often + do / does + subject + verb: How often does he swim? Answer with every day, once a week, twice a month or three times a year. These phrases usually go at the end: We play tennis once a week.

How often?Example: at the end of the sentence
every day / week / month / yearI call my grandma every day.
once a week (= one time)We play tennis once a week.
twice a month (= two times)She visits her aunt twice a month.
three times / four times a yearThey go to the beach three times a year.
How often + do / does + subject + verb?How often does he swim? — Once a week.

Common mistakes, and what's also OK

Watch for I go always, My dad never is late, I don't never eat meat, How often you go to the gym?, once in a week and every days. Sometimes and usually can also start a sentence, and two times a week is fine: Sometimes I walk to school.

Common mistakes

  • I go always to the park.

    I always go to the park.

    before the main verb

  • My dad never is late.

    My dad is never late.

    after am / is / are

  • I don't never eat meat.

    I never eat meat.

    never is already negative: no don't

  • How often you go to the gym?

    How often do you go to the gym?

    How often + do / does + subject + verb

Watch out!

Not first: Always I drink tea. → I always drink tea. One negative: I never don't eat fish. → I never eat fish (no don't with never or hardly ever). Time words: once a week (not: once in a week), every day (not: every days); two times a week is OK too. Also OK: sometimes and usually can go first (Sometimes I walk to school), and I usually don't… is fine.

Examples

  • Mom usually gets up at six.before the main verb
  • My little sister is always happy.after am / is / are
  • I don't often drink coffee.negative: don't / doesn't + often
  • Does your dad often cook? — Yes, he does.question and short answer
  • How often do you play soccer? — Twice a week.How often…?
  • We never go to bed late on school nights.never = 0%, no don't

More lessons on this grammar: Present simple lessons and exercises

Try the adverbs of frequency exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 39 auto-checked exercises
  • 6 games
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • put the word before the main verb: Grandpa always reads the newspaper after breakfast.
  • put it after am, is or are: Our teacher is never angry, not Our teacher never is angry
  • pick the word that fits the facts: Luke has cereal six days a week. He usually has cereal for breakfast.
  • make negatives and questions: She doesn't usually cook. Do you often eat fish? I never eat candy, not I don't never eat candy
  • ask and answer with How often: How often does Carlos play tennis? – Every Saturday.

Lesson 11 of English Grammar Practice · A1 sits on the present simple page, since every adverb in it works with present simple verbs. It follows lesson 10, Present simple: don't, doesn't, do you…?, whose negatives and questions it reuses, and leads into lesson 12, In, on, at: times, days and months. As a drill lesson with no vocabulary of its own, it fits next to whatever course a class already uses.

The rule sets out the scheme and four first drills, among them a sort of sentences by where the word goes. How often? works on meaning, with a memory game, a quiz on a week of ticks and crosses and a text about Grandpa Walt. Where does it go? drills word order, and How often…? Once a week, twice a month adds questions, negatives and a newsletter interview with a coach. In the real-life chapter, students read Ethan's survey, complete Dr. Lee's report, the app's tips and Chloe's answers, then answer Dr. Lee's survey questions in a chat and take a twelve-question test.

The homework is all self-checking and in new sentences: words to choose by meaning, word order in gaps and in jumbled sentences, a sort, a match, a table of questions and negatives, How often questions, a quiz, time phrases to drag, true or false, an anagram and negatives to choose, with Marta's email to a pen pal and an invented gym's ad near the end.

Grammar:
adverbs of frequency · always / usually / often / sometimes / never · How often…? · once a week, twice a month
Topic:
grammar practice · habits · daily routines · health

Teaching tips

  • Draw a line from 100% to 0% on the board and let students place the six words on it before they open the scheme. Then each student adds one true habit: I hardly ever drink coffee.
  • Find the verb before the gap: students first decide whether the sentence has am, is, are or a main verb. That one choice tells them where the adverb goes, before they write a word.
  • Run the habits survey for real: students ask each other Ethan's questions, such as How often do you eat fast food?, and report one answer to the class with always, usually or never.
  • Cross out the double negative early: write I don't never eat meat on the board, strike out don't and leave it there all lesson as a reminder that never works alone.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A1

English Grammar Practice · A1 has 24 drill lessons for adult beginners, one grammar point each, from the verb to be and the present simple to can, was and were and telling the time. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words, so it works next to any course.See the course

  1. 1To be: I am, you are, she is
  2. 2To be negatives and questions: is it your bag?
  3. 3Subject pronouns and possessive adjectives: I, my, she, her
  4. 4This, that, these, those: what's this?
  5. 5Plural nouns: one box, two boxes
  6. 6A, an, the: a new apartment
  7. 7There is, there are: what's in the hotel?
  8. 8Have and has: she has a dog
  9. 9Present simple: she works, they work
  10. 10Present simple: don't, doesn't, do you…?
  11. 11Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never
  12. 12In, on, at: times, days and months
  13. 13Prepositions of place: in, on, under, next to
  14. 14Can and can't: I can swim
  15. 15Imperatives: open, don't run, let's go
  16. 16Object pronouns: me, him, her, them
  17. 17Possessive 's: whose bag is this?
  18. 18Present continuous: what's happening now?
  19. 19Present simple or present continuous: every day or now?
  20. 20Like, love, hate + -ing: I love dancing
  21. 21Wh- questions: what, where, when, why?
  22. 22Countable and uncountable nouns: some, any, how much?
  23. 23Was and were: where were you yesterday?
  24. 24Telling the time and dates: what time is it?

Questions about this lesson

What are adverbs of frequency?
Adverbs of frequency say how often something happens: always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever and never, from 100% down to 0%. At A1 they come with the present simple: I sometimes take the bus. She hardly ever drinks soda. The A1 lesson Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai practices all six in 45 self-checking exercises.
Where do adverbs of frequency go in a sentence?
Before the main verb, but after am, is and are: Mom usually gets up at six, but My little sister is always happy. In negatives, they follow don't or doesn't (I don't often drink coffee), and in questions, the subject (Do you often swim?). Phrases like once a week usually go at the end. Chapter 3 of Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai drills the position in seven exercises.
What's the difference between adverbs of frequency and phrases like once a week?
Adverbs of frequency such as usually and never go before the main verb (We usually eat dinner at six), while phrases like once a week say exactly how many times and usually go at the end: We play tennis once a week. Both answer How often…?: How often do you play soccer? – Twice a week. Chapter 4 of Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai practices the phrases.
Is it “he never is late” or “he is never late”?
It's he is never late, because the adverb follows be. With a main verb, it comes before: He never walks to school. So it's The bus is always late, but The bus always comes late. The find-the-mistake quiz in chapter 3 of Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai has eight items like My sister always is late, each with the fix to choose.
Can you say “I don't never…”?
No: never is already negative, so standard English says I never eat meat, not I don't never eat meat. The same goes for hardly ever: We hardly ever eat out, not We don't hardly ever eat out. With the other adverbs, put don't or doesn't first: She doesn't usually cook. The chat in Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai sets this trap twice.
Are there interactive adverbs of frequency exercises?
Yes. This page plays five parts of Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never, an A1 drill lesson on edio.ai, with no account: a sort by where the word goes; a choice of word by how often; gaps with the word before the main verb; a match of numbers and phrases like once a week; and a chat in which Dr. Lee asks survey questions. The lesson's other exercises and its homework need an account.
How do I teach adverbs of frequency to A1 students?
Start with meaning, then position: put the six words on a scale from 100% to 0%, let students describe their own week, and only then fix where the word goes with a main verb and with am, is, are. Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai follows that order: How often? first, then Where does it go?, then questions with How often…?
What's a good game for practicing adverbs of frequency?
Find someone who works well: each student gets a list such as usually walks to school or is often tired in the morning and asks classmates Do you usually walk to school? or Are you often tired in the morning? until a yes fills each line. In Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai, a memory game pairs each word with its percentage.
What's good homework for adverbs of frequency?
Good homework makes students decide by meaning and by position in fresh sentences, such as Oscar is a vegetarian. He ___ eats meat., then adds word order, negatives and How often questions. Each of the 15 homework tasks in Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai checks itself, and two short texts, an email to a pen pal and a gym ad, put it all together.
How do you practice adverbs of frequency one-to-one?
Compare your weeks: the teacher and the student each describe a normal week, I usually get up at seven, I hardly ever cook, then ask each other How often…? questions. Without a partner, the chat in Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, never on edio.ai takes the student through Dr. Lee's habits survey, one right reply at a time.
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