Adverbs - Adverbs of Time and Frequency

Adverbs Expressing Time

These adverbs answer the question ‘when?’

He wants to see the report now. (Ask the question ‘see when?’ and you get the answer ‘now’.) I will meet your principal tomorrow. (Ask the question ‘meet when?’ and you get the answer ‘tomorrow’.) The two teams play each other tonight. (Ask the question ‘play when?’ and you get the answer ‘tonight’.) She came to the party yesterday. (Ask the question ‘came when?’ and you get the answer ‘yesterday’.) His exam is today. (Ask the question ‘is when?’ and you get the answer ‘today’.) Rajesh left early. (Ask the question ‘left when?’ and you get the answer ‘early’.) Vinod comes late. (Ask the question ‘comes when?’ and you get the answer ‘late’.) He goes to the temple daily. (Ask the question ‘goes when?’ and you get the answer ‘daily’.)

[Note: An adverb of time is usually placed after the verb or after the object of the verb.]

Adverbs Expressing Frequency

These adverbs answer the question ‘how often?’

The batsman never fails. (Ask the question ‘how often fails?’ and you get the answer ‘never’.) They usually go for a walk after dinner. (Ask the question ‘how often go?’ and you get the answer ‘usually’.)

[Note: An adverb of frequency is usually placed between the subject and the verb when the verb has only one word.]

She has never seen him before. (Ask the question ‘has seen how often?’ and you get the answer ‘never’.) My teacher has often told me to improve my handwriting. (Ask the question ‘has told how often?’ and you get the answer ‘often’.)

[Note: When the verb has more than one word, an adverb of frequency is usually placed after the first word of the verb.]

She is never at home between 10 and 11. (Ask the question ‘how often at home between 10 and 11?’ and you get the answer ‘never’.) They are always talking. (Ask the question ‘how often talking?’ and you get the answer ‘always’.)

[Note: When the verb is only ‘is’, ‘am’, ‘are’ or ‘was’, an adverb of frequency is usually placed after the verb.]