Adverbs of Frequency: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. Which sentence puts the adverb in the correct place? → I always go to bed late.

With an ordinary verb the adverb of frequency goes immediately before it.

2. She ___ late for her own parties. → is always

The verb be is the exception: the adverb follows it instead of coming before it.

3. We ___ been to that restaurant before. → have never

With an auxiliary, the adverb sits between the auxiliary and the main verb.

4. How often do you go swimming? — ___ → I go swimming twice a week.

Definite frequency expressions such as twice a week belong at the end of the sentence.

5. He ___ eat breakfast before work. → doesn't usually

In a negative the adverb follows the auxiliary and precedes the main verb.

6. Which adverb means about fifty per cent of the time? → sometimes

Sometimes sits in the middle of the frequency scale, around half the time.

7. My grandfather ___ complains about anything. → hardly ever

Hardly ever is a fixed two-word adverb meaning almost never; hardly never is a double negative.

8. ___ do you visit your cousins? → How often

How often is the question that asks for a frequency answer.

9. They ___ working at weekends, so don't call on Saturday. → are rarely

Are is the verb be, so the adverb comes after it.

10. Which sentence is correct? → I never eat meat.

Never is already negative, so the verb stays positive and no other negative is added.

11. The post ___ arrives before ten in the morning. → seldom

Seldom is already an adverb and never takes -ly.

12. ___ I take the bus instead of walking. → Sometimes

Sometimes, usually and occasionally can open a sentence; always and never cannot in ordinary statements.

13. She ___ tea in the evening — she prefers herbal drinks. → never drinks

Drinks is an ordinary verb, so the adverb goes in front of it.

14. Choose the sentence with correct word order. → Do you often go to the cinema?

In a question the adverb follows the subject and comes before the main verb.

15. We have lunch together ___. → every Wednesday

Every + day name is a definite frequency expression and goes at the end.

16. He has ___ mentioned wanting to move abroad. → often

Between the auxiliary has and the main verb mentioned is the correct slot.

17. Which of these means the smallest amount of frequency? → never

Never is zero per cent, the bottom of the scale.

18. My flatmate is ___ tidy, which is why the kitchen looks like that. → never

The second clause explains a mess, so the frequency must be zero.

19. Where does normally go? He ___ finishes ___ at six ___. → first gap

An adverb of frequency belongs before the main verb, so only the first gap works.

20. They go to the mountains ___ a year. → twice

Twice a year is the fixed expression for two occasions in a year.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I ___ check my email before I get out of bed. → always

A positive statement with an ordinary verb takes the adverb before the verb.

2. He is ___ on time — I have waited for him twice this week. → never

The second clause proves the frequency is zero, and be takes the adverb after it.

3. We ___ go to the cinema on Fridays, but not this week. → usually

Usually means about ninety per cent, which fits an exception being mentioned.

4. She has ___ been abroad, not even once. → never

The adverb sits between the auxiliary has and the past participle.

5. How ___ do you go to the gym? → often

How often is the standard question for frequency.

6. My brother ___ ever cooks — he lives on takeaway food. → hardly

Hardly ever is a fixed pair meaning almost never.

7. I go to the dentist ___ a year, in March and September. → twice

Two occasions in a year is expressed as twice a year.

8. They don't ___ work at weekends. → usually

In a negative the adverb follows the auxiliary and precedes the main verb.

9. The shop is ___ closed on Mondays. → always

Is is the verb be, so the adverb comes after it.

10. ___ I walk home instead of taking the tram. → Sometimes

Sometimes can begin a sentence for contrast or emphasis.

11. He ___ drinks coffee after four o'clock because it keeps him awake. → rarely

Rarely means about ten per cent and takes a positive verb.

12. Do you ___ travel for work? → often

In a question the adverb goes after the subject and before the main verb.

13. We visit my parents ___ month, on the first Sunday. → every

Every month is a definite expression of frequency.

14. She is ___ tired in the mornings, but fine by lunchtime. → often

Often follows the verb be like every other frequency adverb.

15. I have ___ wondered why the bus is late so consistently. → often

Between the auxiliary have and the main verb is the correct position.

16. The train ___ arrives on time — perhaps once a month. → seldom

Seldom means very infrequently and never takes -ly.

17. He plays football three ___ a week. → times

Beyond twice, English counts occasions with times: three times a week.

18. They ___ eat out — the restaurant bills would be enormous. → never

The reason given implies zero frequency, and the verb stays positive.

19. I ___ get up before six, and today was no exception. → always

No exception means one hundred per cent frequency.

20. She ___ takes the motorway because it is faster. → normally

Normally behaves exactly like usually and goes before the main verb.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Say what you do every single morning at a fixed time. → I always have breakfast at seven.

Say what you do every single morning at a fixed time.

2. Praise a colleague's punctuality using the verb be. → She is never late for work.

Praise a colleague's punctuality using the verb be.

3. Mention a subject a couple discusses repeatedly. → We have often talked about moving.

Mention a subject a couple discusses repeatedly.

4. Describe a normal weekend, in the negative. → He doesn't usually work on Sundays.

Describe a normal weekend, in the negative.

5. Ask a new friend about their taste for live music. → Do you often go to concerts?

Ask a new friend about their taste for live music.

6. Give an exact number of sessions in a week. → They go swimming twice a week.

Give an exact number of sessions in a week.

7. Complain about a relative who is difficult to reach. → My sister hardly ever answers her phone.

Complain about a relative who is difficult to reach.

8. Start a sentence with the adverb to show an alternative. → Sometimes I take the train instead.

Start a sentence with the adverb to show an alternative.

9. Describe a place that is full at a predictable hour. → The café is always busy at lunchtime.

Describe a place that is full at a predictable hour.

10. Say a habit has almost disappeared from your life. → I rarely watch television these days.

Say a habit has almost disappeared from your life.

11. Give an annual family arrangement. → We visit our grandparents every summer.

Give an annual family arrangement.

12. Report a first experience with a food. → He has never eaten sushi before.

Report a first experience with a food.

13. Describe somebody's normal way of getting to work. → She usually cycles to the office.

Describe somebody's normal way of getting to work.

14. Ask a question with be about somebody's usual mood. → Are you always this cheerful in the morning?

Ask a question with be about somebody's usual mood.

15. Comment on an unreliable delivery time. → The post seldom arrives before ten.

Comment on an unreliable delivery time.

16. Give a precise daily count for a habit. → I check my messages three times a day.

Give a precise daily count for a habit.

17. Say a shop opens now and then on a day off. → They are occasionally open on public holidays.

Say a shop opens now and then on a day off.

18. Complain about somebody's memory, with zero frequency. → He never remembers my birthday.

Complain about somebody's memory, with zero frequency.

19. Ask whether a band appears at a place at all. → Do they ever play at this venue?

Ask whether a band appears at a place at all.

20. Describe a regular monthly appointment. → We normally meet on the first Monday.

Describe a regular monthly appointment.