Adverbs of frequency

We use adverbs of frequency with the present simple to talk about how often something
happens.

Position
Adverbs of frequency go before the verb, but after the verb be.

In negative sentences the adverb of frequency goes after don’t/doesn’t:

 We don’t often go to bed late.

 He doesn’t always agree with me.

In questions, adverbs of frequency go after the subject.

 Is he always late?
 Do they often go to the library?

never/hardly ever

The adverbs never and hardly ever (=almost never) have a negative meaning, but they
are used with a positive verb:

 He is never late. (NOT He isn’t never late.)

 They hardly ever go to the library. (NOT They don’t hardly ever go to the
library.)

Expressions of frequency
There are other expressions that we use to talk about frequency: once a day, twice a
week, three times a month, every day, etc. These expressions are longer (2 words or
more) and they go at the end of the sentence.

 I brush my teeth three times a day.

 I see her every day.

1
Exercise 1

Order the following sentences, which contain adverbs of frequency.

1

 often
 our teacher
 is
 late

 we
 eat
 never
 fast food

 football
 hardly ever
 watches
 on TV
 my father

 do
 often
 you
 ?
 to the cinema
 go

 usually
 doesn’t
 go to bed
 late
 he

2
Exercise 2

Choose the correct options to complete the sentences.

Page 1 of 2

1Tom _____ to the radio.

a. never listens

b. doesn’t never listen

c. never doesn’t listen

2_____ in class on time?

a. Is always your teacher

b. Is your teacher always

c. Always is your teacher

3He _____ his homework.

a. hardly ever doesn’t do

b. doesn’t hardly ever do

c. hardly ever does

4He _____ to class.

a. doesn’t always go

b. always doesn’t go

c. doesn’t go always
5Alice and Tom _____.

a. cook every day dinner

b. every day cook diner

c. cook dinner every day

3
Exercise 3
Rewrite the sentences using the adverbs of frequency or the expressions of frequency in the correct
position.

1She has a shower in the morning. (always) ⇒ She .

2Where do you go running? (usually) ⇒ Where ?

3She is full of energy. (always) ⇒ She .

4My parents approve of my friends. (hardly ever) ⇒ My parents .

5I listen to the radio. (every night) ⇒ I .

6He is strict with his students. (sometimes) ⇒ He .

7I don’t ask for help when I need it. (usually) ⇒ I when I need it.

8He is late for school. (never) ⇒ He .

9You make mistakes. (often) ⇒ You .

10I meditate. (usually/twice a day) ⇒ I .

1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________________________
7. __________________________________________________________________________
8. __________________________________________________________________________
9. __________________________________________________________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________________

4
 Present simple or Present Continuous?
(Read page 112 of the student’s book)

Exercise 1

Complete the following sentences choosing the correct present simple or present continuous forms.

1You can take the newspaper. I _____ it.

a. ‘m not reading

b. don’t read

c. ‘m not read

2I _____ to work by car, but today I’m going by bus.

a. usually go

b. ‘m usually going

c. usually going

3‘Where is John?’ ‘He _____ a shower.’

a. has

b. having

c. ‘s having

4I _____ sport very often.

a. ‘m not doing

b. don’t do

5
c. ‘m not do

5Can you her that? Our neighbours _____.

a. argue

b. arguing

c. are arguing

Exercise 2
Complete the following postcard with the verbs in brackets in present simple or present continuous.
Dear Kate,

I1 (write) from New York. This is my second year here. Can you believe it? Right now

I2 (sit) in a coffee shop in Manhatan. Lots of business people 3 (walk) fast in

the street, and lots of tourists 4 (look) at the amazing buildings around them.

This is a great city. Every morning, I 5 (get up) early and I 6 (go) for a run in

Central Park. Then I 7 (have) some coffee and bagels before going to work. Now

I8 (have) a capuccino and a bagel in a Starbucks near my office. I 9 (love) my

job, and I’m happy because my business 10 (expand) very quickly.

I hope to see you soon.

Take care,

Sally.