Adverbs of Frequency

We use some adverbs to describe how frequently we do an activity. Frequency 100% 90% 80% 70% 50% 30% 10% 5% 0% Adverb of Frequency always usually normally / generally often* / frequently sometimes occasionally seldom / rarely hardly ever never Example Sentence I always go to bed before 11pm. I usually walk to work. I normally go to the gym. I often surf the internet. I sometimes forget my wife's birthday. I occasionally eat junk food. I seldom read the newspaper. I hardly ever drink alcohol. I never swim in the sea.

The Position of the Adverb in a Sentence An adverb of frequency goes before a main verb (except with To Be). Subject + adverb + main verb I always remember to do my homework. He normally gets good marks in exams.

An adverb of frequency goes after the verb To Be. Subject + to be + adverb They are never pleased to see me. She isn't usually bad tempered.

When we use an auxiliary verb (have, will, must, might, could, would, can, etc.), the adverb is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb. This is also true for to be. Subject + auxiliary + adverb + main verb She can sometimes beat me in a race. I would hardly ever be unkind to someone. They might never see each other again. They could occasionally be heard laughing.

We can also use the following adverbs at the start of a sentence: Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally
y

Occasionally, I like to eat Thai food.

BUT we cannot use the following at the beginning of a sentence: Always, seldom, rarely, hardly, ever, never.

We use hardly ever and never with positive, not negative verbs:
y y

She hardly ever comes to my parties. They never say 'thank you'.

We use ever in questions and negative statements:

y y

Have you ever been to New Zealand? I haven't ever been to Switzerland. (The same as 'I have never been Switzerland').

We can also use the following expressions when we want to be more specific about the frequency: - every day - once a month - twice a year - four times a day - every other week

Adjective vs. Adverb Review

Adjectives describe nouns (things).
y

My dog is slow.

Slow is an adjective since it describes the subject (my dog). How is my dog? Slow

Adverbs describe verbs (actions).

y

My dog eats slowly.

Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my dog eats. How does my dog eat? Slowly.

Adverbs -LY Adverbs are normally formed by adding -LY to the end of an adjective. For adjectives that end in -l or -e, we simply add -ly: special + ly = specially terminal + ly = terminally literal + ly nice + ly polite + ly = literally = nicely = politely

There are of course some expectations: true whole due full truly wholly duly fully

Adverbs ending in -Y For adjectives that end in -y, we remove the -y and add -ily: crazy happy crazily happily

Adverbs ending in -LE For adjectives that end in a consonant + le we remove the -e and add -y: terrible horrible noble idle terribly horribly nobly idly

Adverbs ending in -IC If the adjective ends in -ic, we add -ally: ironic ironically

enthusiastic enthusiastically realistic realistically

Except: public - publicly Irregular Adverbs Some adverbs, are irregular: Adjective Adverb fast good fast well Example The man drives very fast (quickly). You speak English very well.

Can - Cannot - Can't

Can is a modal verb. Can is used to express ability or to say that something is possible. Can is the same for all subjects. We don't add an 'S' in the third person (like other verbs) The verb that comes after Can is in the infinitive without to:
y y y y

I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible for me to speak Spanish = I have the ability to speak Spanish) He can swim well. We can see my neighbour in the garden. They can play the guitar.

Negative

To form the negative we add "not" after can to form one word: cannot. We can also contract the negative to form can't. (can't = cannot)
y y

I cannot play the piano. We can't go to the cinema tonight. She cannot speak French very well. He can't drive a car.

Questions

To from the question we change the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb. The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.
y y y y

Where can I buy an ice-cream? Can I go to the party, please? Can you speak Japanese? What can we do on Saturday?

Remember that you can use short answers:

y y

Can I sit here please? Yes, you can. Can you speak Chinese? No, I can't.

Impersonal Can

Sometimes You can and Can you? are impersonal and refer to people in general.
y

You can see many stars at night from here. (= people in general can see many stars)

Do vs. Does
The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does. Do/Does Subject Verb* The Rest of the sentence Do I / you / we / they have / buy cereal for breakfast? eat / like etc. Does he / she / it

Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct questions as follows:
Sample Questions Do you speak English? Do I need a dictionary? Short Answer Short Answer (Affirmative) (Negative) Yes, I do. Yes, you do. No, I don't. No, you don't. No, we don't.

Do you both speak English? Yes, we do. Do they speak English? Does he speak English? Does she speak English? Does it have four legs?

Yes, they do. No, they don't. Yes, he does. No, he doesn't. Yes, she does. No, she doesn't. Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.

The order for making sentences with Questions words is the following:
Question Word Do/Does Subject What What Where When How do does do do do you she you you you Verb have for breakfast? have for breakfast? live? study? spell your name?

Don't vs. Doesn't

Contractions

Don't = Do not Doesn't = Does not I don't like fish = I do not like fish.
Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.
Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they don't he / she / it doesn't

have / buy cereal for breakfast eat / like etc.