Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
79 Adverbs of frequency, time and place: often, today, here
Quick reference
• We use adverbs of frequency to say ’how often’ something happens. The most common are: always, often, frequently, usually, normally, generally, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, never.
They normally come in mid-position. She never smiles. He doesn’t often come.
I’ve rarely smoked. Do you normally eat fish? - Yes, I usually do.
But they come after the verb be. He’s often late. She was always hungry.
• Sometimes, often, usually, generally, normally can go in front or end position for emphasis.
It sometimes snows, or Sometimes it snows, or It snows sometimes.
• Adverb phrases like every day, every year, every evening usually come in end position (or in front position for emphasis).
He plays golf every evening. OR Every evening he plays golf.
• Adverbs of time answer the question When? The most common are: again, now, then, recently, once, nowadays, suddenly, immediately, finally, afterwards, today, tomorrow, yesterday, late, early. They usually go in end position, or in front position for emphasis (but not early and late').
They stopped suddenly or Suddenly they stopped.
Adverbs of definite time like yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week, etc. usually go in end position (or front position for emphasis) but never in mid-position.
/ went to London today or Today I went to London. (not 1 today went to London.)
• Adverbs of place answer the question Where? They include words like here, there, opposite, upstairs, etc. and adverb phrases like in Europe, at work, etc. They normally go in end position.
Do you work here? I saw him there. They live opposite.
• If there are several adverbs in one sentence, the normal word order is:
1 A Californian journalist living in London described the difference between the weather in London and Los Angeles. Mark (*) the best position for the adverbs in brackets.
1 In Los Angeles it’s summer. (always) London has a summer. (occasionally)
2 In Los Angeles it rains in summer. (hardly ever) In London it stops raining. (rarely)
3 In Los Angeles the temperature falls below 25°. (seldom) In Britain it reaches 25°. (occasionally)
2 Mike has just met Jenny at a jazz club. Mark (*) the best position for the adverbs.
Jenny: How often do you come? (here)
Mike: I come. (usually/every Friday)
Jenny: This is my first visit. I don’t listen to jazz (usually), but I’ve wanted to come to this club (always). Have you liked jazz? (always)
Mike: Yes, I’ve got my own jazz band. We play. (often/here) In fact, we played. (here/yesterday)
Jenny: Did you? What instrument do you play?
Mike: I play the tenor sax. (normally) And I play the keyboard too. (sometimes)
3 Read the text and decide which answer, A, B, or C best fits each space.
I’m a London taxi driver. (1) ... as a taxi driver. I enjoy my job because I enjoy meeting people. (2) ... to my passengers. But I like reading too and when I’m waiting for passengers (3) ... a book. How many hours (4) ...? About eight I suppose, but (5) ... I don’t like working at night so (6) ... In fact I (7) ... Ever since I started this job (8) ... I know every street in London because (9) ...
1 A Always I have worked
2 A I usually talk
3 A I read usually
4 A normally do I work?
5 A I worked 11 hours yesterday.
6 A I early start work.
7 A start work at 7.30 every day.
8 A Always I’ve work during the day. Never I work at night.
9 A I’ve always lived here.
В I’ve always worked
В I talk usually
В usually I read
В do I normally work?
В I worked yesterday 11 hours.
В early I start work.
В every day start work at 7.30.
В I’ve always worked during the day. I never work at night.
В I’ve here always lived.
С I always have worked
C Usually I talk
С I usually read
C do normally I work?
С I yesterday worked 11 hours.
С I start work early.
C start every day work at 7.30.
С I work during the day always.
I work at night never.
C here I’ve always lived.
4 a) Write sentences about yourself, using these adverbs of frequency in the right position: always, usually, often, sometimes, never.
Examples; I'm usually good-tempered. I've never smoked.
b) Put these adverbs of time and place in sentences: recently, today, yesterday, in Europe, in this country, here.
Check your sentences with a teacher.