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Adverbs of frequency

Presentation

Frequency adverbs

The adverbs of frequency are essential to express how often you perform your habits and routines.

In this section, you are going to practice the four basic skills. First, you are going to read about Helen and her family. They live in Sidney Australia. Next, you will listen to 10 sentences and drag the adverb of frequency you hear to the correct sentence.

  • Then you will write about how often you do some activities.
  • Finally, you will record your voice saying how often Abigail performs her activities.

Let’s get started!

Objective

By the end of this topic you will:

Be able to use the adverbs of frequency to express how often you and the people around you perform activities.

Content
Adverbs of frequency

To know more about this topic, check the following information:

Adverbs of frequency are used in Present Simple


Adverbs of frequency are often used to indicate routine or repeated activities, so they are often used with the present simple tense. The adverb of frequency is positioned after the subject but before the verb.

Look at these examples:

  • I always wake up early.
  • My sister usually takes my nephew to school.
  • Gordon often calls me in the afternoon.
  • My father sometimes drives a car.
  • We rarely go to the doctor.
  • Jimmy hardly ever rides his bike.
  • They never listen to music after 6:00 pm.

estructure

Adverbs of frequency with the verb To be (is, are, am).


We can use adverbs of frequency with the verb to be. In this case, they go after the verb ‘to be’.

Look at these examples:

  • I am always on time.
  • She is usually writing letters.
  • My brother is often grumpy.
  • Tom and Jerry are sometimes funny.
  • Tanya is rarely in the classroom.
  • We are hardly ever agreeing.
  • •Yolanda is never alone.

estructure

Important: usually & sometimes


The adverbs usually and sometimes can begin a sentence. They are the only two adverbs that can go at the beginning of an idea.

Look one more time at the previous sentences in both ways:

  • My sister usually takes my nephew to school.
    or
    Usually my sister takes my nephew to school.

  • My father sometimes drives a car.
    or
    Sometimes my father drives a car.

  • She is usually writing letters.
    or
    Usually she is writing letters.

  • Tom and Jerry are sometimes funny.
    or
    Sometimes Tom and Jerry are funny.

reading

Reading


Activity 1

My life in South Wales

Read the text about Hellen, a girl who lives in Australia and the activities she and her family do. Then, according to the text answer True or False.

Sydney

Wilson, J. (2015). Sydney. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/sydney-edificios-puerto-australia-1029683/

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Listening


Activity 2

I always listen to music

Radio

NA. (2013). Radio. [Photo]. Retrieved from:
https://pixabay.com/es/boombox-boom-box-154056/

How often do these people do the activities they mention? While you listen to them, think about how often you do the same activities. Listen to the sentences, and then drag the adverbs of frequency you hear to the correct gap.

Click here to listen to the audio:


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ico_writing

Writing

Activity 3

How often do you…?

Now it’s time for you to write sentences using the adverbs of frequency to check if you understood how to use them. Write sentences expressing how often you do the following activities. Once you finish, remember to check the rubrics.


Look at the following example.

Note
Blogs

Unsplash. (2014). Blogs. [Photo]. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/blogs-blogger-oficina-negocio-336375/


ico_speaking

Speaking

Activity 4

How often does Abigail…?

Now, you are going to record sentences about Abigail's activities. You are going to say how often she does the following activities. Remember to check the rubrics before you begin your activity.

Boy

Prawny. (2015). Boy. [Photo]. Retrieved from:https://pixabay.com/es/personas-persona-hombre-masculina-1099804/

postit


Self-Assessment


Forming sentences

The order of words in the English language is essential and is not the same as in Spanish. In this exercise, all the sentences are scrambled (the words are not in order). You are going to order them to write a correct sentence using the adverbs of frequency. You only have just two opportunities to do it. Good luck!

If you have any questions on how to form a sentence using the adverbs of frequency, go back to the grammar section of this topic.


keyboard



References



Basic references

Thornbury, Scott. (2004). Natural Grammar. Oxford.
S. Azar, Betty and A. Hagen, Stacy. (2009). Understanding and Using English Grammar. Pearson Longman.


Complementary references

Coordinación de Universidad Abierta y Educación a Distancia-UNAM. (2011). English Media. Retrieved from: www.cuaed.unam.mx/english_media