Frequency Adverbs on the TOEIC
A lot of Happy English fans have written to me asking for help with the TOEIC exam. Today, let’s have a look at adverbs of frequency. The TOEIC exam will check your understanding of how to use adverbs of frequency in English. Today I am going to show you how these words and phrases are used. There are basically two kinds of adverbs of frequency; definite and indefinite.
Some examples of adverbs that express definite frequency are every day, once a week, twice a month, etc. These adverbs of frequency come at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
- Every day we have a meeting with the sales team
- We have a meeting with the sales team every day.
- Once a week Jack visits his customers.
- Jack visits his customers once a week.
Some examples of adverbs that express indefinite frequency are usually, never, seldom, etc. There are three positions for these adverbs of frequency, so you’ll need to memorize the rules:
Rule #1. These adverbs come after the be verb
- It is seldom warm in February in NYC.
- Jack is never late for work.
Rule #2. These adverbs come before all other verbs (except the be verb)
- We usually have a meeting with the sales team.
- Jack always visits his customers.
Rule #3. These adverbs come between an auxiliary verb and the main verb:
- We can usually have a meeting in Conference Room B.
- Jack has never visited his customers in Paris.
There are a few exceptions to the rules, so be careful! These adverbs of frequency – Frequently, normally, often, occasionally, sometimes, and usually (FNOOSU) – can also come at the beginning or end of a sentence.
- Sometimes Jack visits his customers in Chicago.
- Jack visits his customers in Chicago sometimes.
Now it’s your turn. How about trying to write an original sentence using some of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!
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Thanks for studying today!
