Unit 93: always/usually/often etc. (word order 2)
Master adverbs of frequency and word order
A. always / usually / often etc.
These words (always / never / sometimes / ever / rarely / seldom / just / still / already / all / both) are often with the verb in the middle of a sentence:
• My brother never speaks to me.
• She's always late.
• Do you often go to restaurants?
• I sometimes eat too much. (or Sometimes I eat too much.)
• I don't want to go to the cinema. I've already seen the film.
• I've got three sisters. They're all married.
• She's always late.
• Do you often go to restaurants?
• I sometimes eat too much. (or Sometimes I eat too much.)
• I don't want to go to the cinema. I've already seen the film.
• I've got three sisters. They're all married.
B. always / never etc. go before the verb:
always
often
never
etc.
often
never
etc.
go
play
feel
etc.
play
feel
etc.
• I always go to work by car. (not 'I go always')
• Ann often plays tennis. (not 'Ann plays often tennis')
• You sometimes look unhappy.
• They usually have dinner at 7 o'clock.
• We rarely (or seldom) watch television.
• Richard is a good footballer. He also plays tennis and volleyball. (not 'He plays also tennis')
• I've got three sisters. They all live in London.
• Ann often plays tennis. (not 'Ann plays often tennis')
• You sometimes look unhappy.
• They usually have dinner at 7 o'clock.
• We rarely (or seldom) watch television.
• Richard is a good footballer. He also plays tennis and volleyball. (not 'He plays also tennis')
• I've got three sisters. They all live in London.
but always / never etc. go after am / is / are / was / were:
• I am never ill. (not 'I never am ill')
• They are usually at home in the evenings.
• It is often very cold here in winter.
• When I was a child, I was always late for school.
• 'Where's Linda?' 'She's still in bed.'
• I've got two brothers. They're both doctors.
• They are usually at home in the evenings.
• It is often very cold here in winter.
• When I was a child, I was always late for school.
• 'Where's Linda?' 'She's still in bed.'
• I've got two brothers. They're both doctors.
C. always / never etc. go between two verbs (have ... been / can ... find etc.):
verb 1
will
can
do
etc.
will
can
do
etc.
always
often
never
etc.
often
never
etc.
verb 2
go
remember
etc.
go
remember
etc.
• I will always remember you.
• It doesn't often rain here.
• Do you usually go to work by car?
• I can never find my keys.
• Have you ever been to Rome?
• A: Where's Linda?
B: She just gone out. (she's = she has)
• A: Where are your friends?
B: They've all gone to the cinema.
• It doesn't often rain here.
• Do you usually go to work by car?
• I can never find my keys.
• Have you ever been to Rome?
• A: Where's Linda?
B: She just gone out. (she's = she has)
• A: Where are your friends?
B: They've all gone to the cinema.
always / never etc. + verb
never speaks to me
always late
often go to restaurants
always late
often go to restaurants
after be
am never ill
are usually at home
was always late
are usually at home
was always late
between two verbs
will always remember
can never find
have just gone
can never find
have just gone
93.1 Look at Paul's answers to the questions and write sentences with often/never etc.
Questions
1 Do you ever play tennis?
2 Do you get up early?
3 Are you ever late for work?
4 Do you ever get angry?
5 Do you go swimming?
6 Are you at home in the evenings?
1 Do you ever play tennis?
2 Do you get up early?
3 Are you ever late for work?
4 Do you ever get angry?
5 Do you go swimming?
6 Are you at home in the evenings?
Paul
1 Yes, often.
2 Yes, always.
3 No, never.
4 Sometimes.
5 Yes, often.
6 Yes, usually.
1 Yes, often.
2 Yes, always.
3 No, never.
4 Sometimes.
5 Yes, often.
6 Yes, usually.
- Paul often plays tennis.
- He .
- He .
- He .
- He .
- He .
93.2 Write these sentences with the words in brackets ( ).
- My brother speaks to me. (never) My brother never speaks to me.
- Susan is polite. (always) Susan .
- I finish work at 5 o'clock. (usually) I .
- Jill has started a new job. (just) Jill .
- I go to bed before midnight. (rarely) I .
- The bus isn't late. (usually) The bus .
- I don't eat fish. (often) I .
- I will forget what you said. (never) I .
- Have you lost your passport? (ever)
- Do you work in the same place? (still)
- They stay in the same hotel. (always) They .
- Diane doesn't work on Saturdays. (usually) Diane .
- Is Tina here? (already)
- What do you have for breakfast? (usually)
93.3 Write sentences with also. Use the words in brackets ( ).
- Do you play football? (tennis) Yes, and I also play tennis.
- Do you speak Italian? (French) Yes, and I .
- Are you tired? (hungry) Yes, and I .
- Have you been to England? (Ireland) Yes, and I .
- Did you buy any clothes? (some books) Yes, and I .
93.4 Write sentences with both and all.
1
2
- They both live in London. They both play football. They .
- I'm married. I was born in England. I live in New York. .