Adverbs of frequency and mannerA1–A2

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Frequency adverbs say how often things happen (always, never); manner adverbs say how they happen (slowly, well). Frequency adverbs go before the main verb but after be: I always go. I am always tired.

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CheatsheetA1–A2

Point	Rule	Example
Frequency	how often: always (100%), usually, often, sometimes, never (0%)	I always walk to work.
A2Manner	how it happens: adjective + ly; y → ily	He walks slowly. / They sing happily.
A2Manner: irregular	fast, hard, late and early keep the adjective's form	He runs fast.
How often?	frequency expressions go at the end	How often do you swim? — I swim every day.
Frequency: position	before the main verb, after be	I often walk. / She is always late.
A2Frequency: with an auxiliary	between the auxiliary and the main verb	I can never find my keys.
A2Manner: position	after the verb, or after the object	He opened the door slowly.
A2Trap	good describes a noun; well describes a verb	She sings well.

Form: frequency adverbsA1–A2

Adverb	How often	Example
always	100%	I always walk to work.
usually	≈ 90%	She usually has toast.
often	≈ 70%	We often eat out.
sometimes	≈ 50%	They sometimes call me.
rarely	≈ 10%	He rarely drives.
never	0%	I never drink coffee.

hardly ever (≈ 5%) is close to never: We hardly ever go out.

Form: position of frequency adverbsA1–A2

Position	Example
before the main verb	I often walk.
after be	She is always late.
A2between auxiliary and main verb	I can never find my keys.
A2after don't / doesn't	He doesn't always call.

sometimes also goes at the start: Sometimes I work from home.

Form: how often?A1

Question	Answer
How often do you swim?	I swim every day.
How often does she cook?	She cooks once a week.
How often do they visit you?	They visit twice a month.

Frequency expressions go at the end: every day, once a week, three times a year.

Form: manner adverbsA2

Adjective	Adverb	Example
slow	slowly	He walks slowly.
careful	carefully	Drive carefully.
quiet	quietly	They talk quietly.

A manner adverb says how someone does something. Most are adjective + -ly.

Spelling: -lyA2

Ending	Rule	Examples
consonant + y	y → ily	happy → happily / easy → easily
-le	-le → ly	simple → simply / terrible → terribly
-ic	+ ally	basic → basically
-ue	-ue → uly	true → truly

Form: irregular manner adverbsA2

Adjective	Adverb	Example
good	well	She sings well.
fast	fast	He runs fast.
hard	hard	They work hard.
late	late	I arrived late.
early	early	We got up early.

hardly means almost not, and lately means recently: She hardly speaks.

Form: position of manner adverbsA2

Position	Example
after the verb	She sings beautifully.
after the object	He opened the door slowly.

Compare: good and wellA2

good (adjective)	well (adverb)
describes a noun	describes a verb
She is a good singer.	She sings well.
The food is good.	He speaks English well.

Typical errorsA2

✗	✓	Rule
She sings good.	She sings well.	good + noun, well + verb
He walks careful.	He walks carefully.	manner adverb = adjective + -ly
They work hardly.	They work hard.	hard = hard; hardly = almost not