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English grammar

always, usually, never — and where they go

A2 · Elementary Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

Words that say how often go BEFORE an ordinary verb and AFTER the verb be: I always walk to work. I am always late. There is only one place for them, and putting them at the end sounds wrong. never is already negative, so it never travels with not.

Pattern

subject + adverb + ordinary verb · subject + be + adverb · never ≠ not … never

Examples

  1. I always take the same bus.

  2. She is usually at her desk by eight.

  3. We hardly ever eat out.

  4. He never answers the phone at lunchtime.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I take always the bus.

    Right: I always take the bus.

    The adverb goes before an ordinary verb.

  • Wrong: She always is late.

    Right: She is always late.

    With be, the adverb goes after.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    I _____ get up before six.

    1. usual
    2. usually
    3. the usually
    4. am usually
    Show answer

    Answer: B I usually get up before six.

    The adverb goes before the ordinary verb.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    He is _____ on time.

    1. never not
    2. no never
    3. not never
    4. never
    Show answer

    Answer: D He is never on time.

    never is already negative.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    We _____ go to the cinema.

    1. are rarely
    2. the rarely
    3. rare
    4. rarely
    Show answer

    Answer: D We rarely go to the cinema.

    The adverb goes before the ordinary verb.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    She is _____ very helpful.

    1. always
    2. the always
    3. is always
    4. always is
    Show answer

    Answer: A She is always very helpful.

    With be, the adverb follows.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    They _____ work at the weekend.

    1. are sometimes
    2. the sometimes
    3. sometimes
    4. sometime
    Show answer

    Answer: C They sometimes work at the weekend.

    The adverb goes before the ordinary verb.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I work late often on Thursdays.
    2. I often work late on Thursdays.
    3. I work often late on Thursdays.
    4. Often I work late on Thursdays, it is my habit.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I often work late on Thursdays.

    Before the ordinary verb.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She never is at home before seven.
    2. Never she is at home before seven.
    3. She is never at home before seven.
    4. She is not never at home before seven.
    Show answer

    Answer: C She is never at home before seven.

    With be, the adverb follows; never needs no not.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. We usually go by bike.
    2. They usually go by bike.
    3. We usually go by bus.
    4. We go usually by bike.
    Show answer

    Answer: D We go usually by bike.

    Before the ordinary verb.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. He rarely calls.
    2. He does not call.
    3. He never calls.
    4. He does not never call.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He does not never call.

    never cannot be used with not.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    I always check the timetable first

    Show answer

    Answer: I always check the timetable first.

    Adverb, then the verb.

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