Unit

Adverbs of Frequency
Discover the Grammar
Read the conversation between a university student and a reporter who is talking about her job,
and then answer the five questions.

Line
1 Reporter: So, Lily, you’re majoring in journalism, right?
2 Student: Yes, that’s correct. I’m graduating next June, and I’m looking for
3 jobs now.
4 Reporter: Well, it’s never too early to do that!
5 Student: I know! So I’d like to ask you a few questions about what it’s like to
6 work for a newspaper.
7 Reporter: Sure, go ahead.
8 Student: Well, my first question is a basic one. Do you pretty much do the
9 same thing every day?
10 Reporter: No, not really. I rarely do the same thing from one day to the next.
11 Student: Could you explain that a little bit more?
12 Reporter: Well, I mean that I always have a story that I’m working on, but the
13 stories are always different, so I never see the same people. I visit
14 different people, go to different places, and do many different things.
15 My job has a lot of variety.

148
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5: Adverbs of Frequency 149

149

16 Student: How often are you in your office?

17 Reporter: Well . . . some of the time . . . I mean, my computer is there, and
18 that’s where I write my stories, but sometimes I go interview people
19 in their homes or offices. Actually, I spend a lot of time in my car
20 going to and from interviews.
21 Student: How do you stay in touch with the newspaper then?
22 Reporter: Oh, I always take my cell phone with me.
23 Student: Do you usually have a laptop with you, too?
24 Reporter: No. I don’t like to use a laptop when I’m interviewing. I sometimes
25 take notes on paper, but I usually use a little voice recorder. Then I
26 type my stories as soon as I get back to the office.
27 Student: So you don’t use email much?
28 Reporter: Oh, yes, I do. I always check my email before I leave home in the
29 morning, again when I get to the office, before and after lunch, and
30 again before I go home in the evening.
31 Student: Wow, that’s a lot! Do you check your email on weekends, too?
32 Reporter: Yes, I usually check my email on weekends. I will answer personal
33 emails, but I have a rule that I never answer business emails on the
34 weekend or a holiday.

1. Look at the five underlined words in the conversation. These words are called
adverbs of frequency because they tell us how frequent an action is. Study the
meaning of these frequency words, and then write these five words in the boxes.
List them in order from the most frequent (all of the time) to the least frequent
(not at any time).

 100% of the time ————— 50% of the time ————— 0% of the time 
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150 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

2. Locate the three sentences that include the word never. Write the line number of
those sentences. Then circle the order of the subject, verb, and never.

Line Word Order

a. 4 S + V + never OR S + never + V it’s never too early to do
that!
b. 13 S + V + never OR S + never + V I never see the same
people.
c. 33 S + V + never OR S + never + V I never answer business
emails on the weekend or a
holiday.

3. Locate the four sentences that include the word always. Write the line number of
those sentences. Then circle the order of the subject, verb, and always.

Line Word Order

a. 12 S + V + always OR S + always + V I always have a story
b. 13 S + V + always OR S + always + V I’m working on, but the
stories are always different
c. 22 S + V + always OR S + always + V, I always take my cell
phone with me.
d. 28 S + V + always OR S + always + V. I always check my
email before

4. Based on your answers for Questions 2 and 3, where do you think these adverbs
of frequency usually appear in a sentence? Does the verb matter?

It is usually presents on personal information, someting. Ther verb does mather

as depending on the verb the order change

5. One of these frequency words can come before the subject. Can you find an
example of the frequency word that can come before the subject?

Line Frequency Word Subject Verb

18 Sometimes I go
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Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 149

151

Grammar Lesson
Adverbs of Frequency

always
 x
usually x
x
x
x

} x
x


never

Placement of Adverbs of Frequency in a Sentence

after be: be + frequency before other verbs: frequency + VERB
I am always hungry when I first wake up. I always use a pencil in math class.
Mohamed is usually late to class. He usually goes to school by bike.
You are often the first to arrive at work. I My teacher often arrives early.
am sometimes shy around new people We sometimes play tennis at night.
Carlos is rarely absent from school. Carlos rarely misses school.
Zeke and Ana are seldom on time. They seldom fail a test.
We are never at school after 5 PM. I never eat a big breakfast.

Questions with Adverbs of Frequency

A: Do you ever take a bus to work? Meaning: Do you take a bus to work at
B: Yes, but not usually. I prefer to drive any time? The answer is probably yes or
my own car when I can. no with an adverb of frequency.
A: How often do you take a bus to work? Meaning: How many times during a
B: Maybe once or twice a week. certain period of time do you take a bus?
The answer is probably a number with a
period of time.
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152 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

Rule 1. Adverbs of frequency are words that tell how often something happens: always,
usually, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never.
Rule 2. In a sentence, an adverb of frequency usually comes after be but before other
verbs. When a verb has two parts (has eaten), the adverb of frequency occurs between
the two parts (has never eaten).
Rule 3. The word sometimes can occur in all three places: in front of a sentence, in the
middle of a sentence, or at the end of a sentence.
Sometimes we practice together.
We sometimes practice together.
We practice together sometimes.
Rule 4. To ask about the frequency of an action, use ever or How often: Do you ever
play golf? How often do you play golf?
Rule 5. Negative adverbs of frequency such as rarely, seldom, and never should be used
with an affirmative verb. Double negatives are not possible.

BE CAREFUL!
Common Learner Errors Explanation
1. We usually are are usually the first Adverbs of frequency usually come after
people to arrive at work each morning. the verb be.
2. It takes usually usually takes me only Adverbs of frequency usually come
ten minutes to make a tuna sandwich. before verbs (other than be).
3. The price of gas never has been has When a verb has two parts (is using, has
never been as high as it is now. used), adverbs of frequency usually come
between the two parts.
4. I don’t never never text while driving. Double negatives are not possible.
Clear Grammar 2, 2nd edition: Keys to Grammar for English Language Learners
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Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 153

EXERCISE 1. The Meanings of Adverbs of Frequency

Fill in the blanks with the correct adverbs of frequency.

Adverb of Frequency
1.

EXERCISE 2. Understanding Adverbs of Frequency

Read each situation, and then answer the question.

1. Jorge usually does his homework. Raul always does his homework. Diego never
does his homework. Who is the best student? Raul
2. The weather in Florida is rarely cold. It is sometimes cold in Mississippi. It is
usually cold in Alaska. If you don’t like cold weather, which state might be a
good place for you to live? Florida
3. Nedra seldom walks to work. Carol often walks to work. Betty walks to work
sometimes. Who might drive to work more than walk there? Nedra
4. I usually put sugar in my coffee. Rich sometimes puts sugar in his tea. Gabrielle
always puts sugar on her cereal. Who uses sugar the most frequently? Gabrielle
5. My grandmother sometimes takes a walk after dinner. My brother always runs five
miles every morning. I hardly ever exercise. Who gets the most exercise?
My brother

6. Ramon rarely watches American television. Ivan usually listens to public radio in
English. Nadia seldom sees English movies. Nadine prefers to talk to her friends in
her native language. Who probably hears the most English in a day? Ivan
7. Joe is seldom late to work. Adam is usually late to work. Steve is rarely late to
work. Who will the boss most likely give a warning to first? Adam
8. Maddie often spends three hours per day reading e-books on her e-reader. Her
dad is a professor, and he usually reads a chapter in his textbook two nights per
week. Her grandfather used to read the newspaper, but now he seldom does.
Who probably reads the most? Madie
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154 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 3. Writing Sentences with Adverbs of Frequency

Write a new sentence using an adverb of frequency word in place of the information in the
parentheses. Circle the verbs. Follow the example.

Breakfast at My House

1. My family eats breakfast together. (This happens

every morning.)
My family always eatts breakfastt ttogetther.

2. My sister Mariana makes scrambled eggs for

breakfast. (This happens most of the time.)
My sister Mariana usually makes scrambled
Eggs for breackfast.

3. She adds potatoes and green peppers to her eggs. (This happens much of the
time.)

She often adds potatoes and green peppers to her eggs.

4. There isn’t any meat in her scrambled eggs. (She is a vegetarian.) (Hint: You can
use the word because if you want.)

There never isn’t any meat in her scramble eggs because she is a vegetarian
5. My brother Lucas eats a couple of pieces of toast with butter and jam. (He does
this every day.)
My brother lucas always eats a couple of pieces of toast with butter and jam
6. He has a huge cup of black coffee with his toast. (He does this about half the
time.)

He has always a huge cuo of coffe with his toast

7. He is a quiet guy, so he doesn’t talk much at the breakfast table. (He is quiet
most of the time, and he almost never talks.)

He is a quiet guy, so he seldom doesn’t talk much at the breakfast table

8. My family doesn’t start the day without having breakfast together. (This does not
happen at any time.)
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Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 155

My family never doesn’t start the daywithout having breakfast together.

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156 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 4. Word Order with Adverbs of Frequency

Read these sentences, and then circle the most common word order.

My Classmate Yvonne

1. Yvonne amazes me. She (never is, is never) sad. She (always seems,
seems always) so happy.
2. She (always eats, eats always) with a small group of friends.
3. They (always meet up, meet up always) to study together.
4. She (sometimes picks up, picks up sometimes) her friends and takes them to
class.
5. She (always arrives, arrives always) on time when she makes plans with her
friends.
6. Yvonne (always is, is always) available to give very good advice to people.
7. She (seldom says, says seldom) anything bad about anyone.
8. She (never gossips, gossips never).
9. Yvonne (never goes, goes never) to parties on a school night.
10. She and her friends (seldom are, are seldom) late to class.
11. Her answers in English class (usually are, are usually) right. She is great at
English!
12. In addition to being great at English, Yvonne (always has, has always) her books
with her in class. She is very prepared!
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EXERCISE 5. Speaking Practice: How Often Do You . . . ?

Step 1. You will interview another student. Choose someone. Write that person’s name here:

Carlos

Step 2. Read the ten statements labeled a – j. Without talking to your partner, guess how often
your partner does these things. Write your guesses as adverbs of frequency in the column My
Guess: always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom/rarely, never.

My Guess My Partner’s Answer

a. How often do you check your email
on Saturday? All days Ome time to week

b. How often are you late for class? often sometimes,

c. Do you ever use social media sites? rarely often

d. How often do you call your parents? sometimes sometimes,

e. Do you ever listen to news on the radio

in the morning? never. sometimes,

f. How often do you exercise? sometimes sometimes,

g. How often do you see your best friend? always usually,

h. Do you ever skip breakfast? never. usually,

i. How often do you drink coffee? always never.

j. How often do you stay up late? often never.

Step 3. Now interview your partner. Write your partner’s answers in the column on the right. Did
you guess correctly? Give yourself one point for every correct guess. Which of you had the most
points?

Correct guesses

ONE-MINUTE LESSON

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158 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 6. Adverbs of Frequency in Context

Circle the correct word order in this paragraph. Sometimes more than one answer is correct.

Our Garden

At our house, we have a great urban garden.

My husband1(wakes usually up, usually wakes

up, wakes up usually) at 7 AM every day.

2(Sometimes he, He sometimes) goes for a run,

but3(usually he, he usually) waters the garden.

He4 (asks never, never asks) us to help him that

early because we5(usually are, are usually) getting ready for school. Our kids6

(seldom are, are seldom) late for school and7(often are, are often) there pretty early.

8(Sometimes it, It sometimes) rains in the afternoon. In the summer, it

9(usually storms, storms usually) between 2 PM and 4 PM in the afternoon. It

10 (rains rarely, rarely rains) in the wintertime, so my husband or our children

will have to water the garden then. In the fall, we11 (have usually, usually have)

lots of big pumpkins that we12 (always carve, carve always) to get the seeds for

roasting. In the spring, we13 (sometimes have, have sometimes) cucumbers that

we pickle in jars. In early summer, we14 (have often, often have) beautiful red

strawberries that we pick and turn into jam. It15 (sometimes is, is sometimes) a

lot of hard work, but we don’t have to make as many trips to the grocery store.

ONE-MINUTE LESSON
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5: Adverbs of Frequency 159

EXERCISE 7. Editing: Is It Correct?

If the sentence is correct, put a check mark () on the line. If it is not correct, write X on the line,
and circle the mistake. Then change the sentence to make it correct. Write the change above the
sentence. (Hint: There are twelve sentences. Four are correct, but eight have mistakes.)

Going to the Pharmacy

/ 1. When I go to the doctor, I don’t rarely need a prescription.

x 2. Sometimes I need a prescription if I have a bad infection.

/ 3. At my old pharmacy, there was a long line always.

x 4. When I went there, they sometimes make a mistake with my prescrip-

tion, so I changed pharmacies.

/ 5. The cashiers at my new pharmacy are always nice and helpful.

x 6. They rarely having a problem filling my prescription.

x 7. There usually no is a long wait at my pharmacy.

x 8. I often visit the store to pick up extra things while I am waiting for my
prescription.

x 9. I sometime call in my order if I need a refill.

x 10. Someone from the pharmacy often call me to ask if I like the service.

x 11. I don’t never have any questions about my refills.

/ 12. My pharmacy sometimes offers free flu shots, but I hate to get shots.

ONE-MINUTE LESSON

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160 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 8. How Often Do They . . . ?

Answer the questions about the information in the chart. Follow the examples.

Name Go Running? Watch TV? Eat Vegetables?

Marcia yes/every day yes/almost every day yes/all of the time

Boris yes/rarely yes/on Sundays yes/one meal a day

Diego no/never yes/only at night no/never

1. Does Marcia ever eat vegetables ? 2. How often does Marcia eat vegetables?
Yes, shedoes. All of the time
3. Does Boris ever go running? Yes, He does
4. How often does Boris go running? rarely
5. Does Diego ever watch TV? Yes, he does
6. How often does Diego watch TV? Only at night
7. Does Marcia ever go running? Yes, she does
8. How often does Marcia go running? Every day
9. Does Diego eat vegetables? No, he doesn’t
10. How often does Diego eat vegetables? never

ONE-MINUTE LESSON
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Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 161

EXERCISE 9. Mini-Conversations

Circle the correct words in these eight mini-conversations.

1. A: Yuck! Does it (always rain, rain always) so much here?

B: Yes, it (usually does, does usually).

2. A: Where I’m from, it (rarely storms, storms rarely).
B: Oh, it (doesn’t often, does often not) storm here, but it rains frequently.

3. A: That’s good. I don’t like storms because they (scare usually, usually scare) me!

B: I’m (not never scared, never scared) of storms.

4. A: Well, what are you afraid of?
B: I (sometimes am, am sometimes) scared of spiders, but only the big ones.

5. A: Me, too. I’m lucky that I (see seldom, seldom see) them around here.

B: What other things are you afraid of?

6. A: I (am often not, am not often) frightened, so let me think. . . .
B: How about clowns?

7. A: No, clowns (do not usually, not usually) scare me.

B: What about big dogs?

8. A: Yes! Big dogs (always scare, scare always) me! I (always get, get always) afraid
whenever one of them gets too near me.
B: Well, the good news is that you (see seldom, seldom see) any dogs in this
neighborhood. Most people have a cat or no pets at all.

%
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162 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 10. Sentence Study for Critical Reading

Read the numbered sentences. Then read the three answer choices and put a check mark () in
the yes or no boxes in front of each sentence to show if that answer is true based on the informa-
tion in the original sentence. If there is not enough information to mark something as yes, then
mark it as no. Remember that more than one true answer is possible.

1. My brother was very out of shape. He worked out only half a dozen times or so
per year. He bought a new bike but never rode it.
yes no a. My brother often worked out at a gym. X
yes no b. My brother almost never did any exercises. /
yes no c. His only exercise was riding a bike. X
2. Until fairly recently, my brother had red meat every night. He hardly ever ate a
salad. He got fast food and French fries for lunch at least four days per week.
yes no a. My brother always ate red meat for dinner./
yes no b. He usually ate a salad with his meals.X
yes no c. He ate fast food a lot./
3. Not surprisingly, my brother has gained a lot of weight in the past two years. His
knee hurt sometimes, so he had to see a special doctor for the pain every other
month.
yes no a. My brother lost 15 pounds in the past two years. X
yes no b. His knee hurt every day. X
yes no c. He saw the doctor every other month. /
4. The doctor immediately understood my brother’s knee problem. He said that
many overweight people come to his office. He sees some of them every week for
pain in their joints.
yes no a. The doctor had many overweight patients. /
yes no b. The doctor rarely saw the overweight patients.X
yes no c. The doctor often saw overweight
patients for their chest pains. X
5. My brother’s doctor also sees many people who have heart and breathing
problems because of their weight. My brother could not breathe well at night.
He woke up every night because it was difficult for him to breathe.
yes no a. The doctor treats overweight
people with heart and breathing
yes no
problems. /
b. My brother had difficulty breathing at night. /
yes no
c. My brother woke up because he could not breathe./
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5: Adverbs of Frequency 163

6. The doctor told my brother to lose 40 pounds, so now my brother rides his
bicycle every morning. In the evening, he and his wife walk three miles around
the lake near their house.
yes no a. My brother exercises more now than he used to do. /
yes no b. My brother often swims in the lake near his house. X
yes no c. My brother usually walks with his wife. X
7. In addition to increasing his exercise, my brother also stopped eating red meat.
He now eats a salad with lunch and dinner.
yes no a. My brother never works out now. X
yes no b. My brother never eats red meat. /
yes no c. My brother always eats a salad each day. /
8. After he lost the 40 pounds, he decided to start a fitness club at work. His club
meets once per week. They also have walking buddies who exercise during their
lunch hours every day.
yes no a. My brother’s fitness club is at his work. /
yes no b. My brother’s fitness club meets every other week.X
yes no c. Members of the fitness club walk every work day.X

EXERCISE 11. Speaking Practice: How Do You Learn New Vocabulary?

Read each of these ways of learning new vocabulary. How often do you use these ways to learn
new words? Write the answer that is true for you. (Write always, usually, often, sometimes,
seldom, never.) Then work with a partner. Take turns asking and answering these questions. Begin
each question with Do you ever . . . ? If the answer is yes, then ask, How often do you . . . ?

1. I draw a picture of the meaning. usually,

2. I write the meaning down in a special notebook. sometimes,

3. I mark new words with different colors of ink. always

4. When I study vocabulary, I repeat the word aloud. usually,

5. I make an example sentence with the new word. seldom

6. I try to use new words in conversation. seldom

7. I look up the meaning of new words in a bilingual dictionary. seldom

8. I circle or underline new words when I find them. usually,

9. I write each word several times (perhaps five times). sometimes,

10. I write a translation of the word next to the English word. usually,
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164 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 12. Review Test 1: Multiple Choice

Circle the letter of the correct answer. Some are conversations.

1. Lupe asked, “How often do you eat cereal for breakfast?”

Juan Carlos replied, “ .”
a. Ever b. Never c. At all of the time d. Yes, I do
2. Gustavo almost never comes to class on time. He almost always late.
a. is b. are c. comes d. come
3. Ana asked, “Does Dimitry ever eat salad for lunch?”
Olga answered, “Yes, .”
a. always b. ever c. seldom d. at any time
4. Mr. Hobbs almost never has coffee in the morning. He coffee then.
a. seldom has c. doesn’t seldom have
b. has seldom d. seldom doesn’t have
5. Kristina is absent every Monday. She to class then because she is tired.
a. ever comes c. never comes
b. comes ever d. comes never
6. Mary asked, “ study by yourself?”
Damaris replied, “Yes, I don’t like to study with anyone else.”
a. Ever do you c. Do ever you
b. Always do you d. Do you always
7. Nadya asked, “ do you read the newspaper?”
Jose said, “Almost every day. I like to read it in the morning before I go to
work.”
a. However c. Almost always
b. Ever d. How often
8. Which sentence does not have correct grammar?
a. Zina often plays tennis.
b. Always Farah and I are late.
c. The winter here can be very cold sometimes.
d. Meat almost never costs less than vegetables.
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Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 165

EXERCISE 13. Review Test 2: Production and Evaluation

Part 1.
Each sentence has two blanks. Fill in one of the blanks in each sentence with the correct adverb of
frequency: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, ever. The other blank does not need an
adverb of frequency. Which blank needs the adverb?

1. My days are pretty routine. I am on time for school every day. I always
arrive on time.

2. When you were in school, did you go usually by bus?

3. Our teacher wears a tie some of the time. He sometimes wears a tie.

4. Students never eat lunch off campus. It is not allowed.

5. Tom never fails a test. His score ever is above 70.

6. Lunch in the college cafeteria is expensive, so I often eat it

there. The last time was about two months ago.

7. Wendy is a very smart student. She rarely makes a mistake on a

test. Her test average is almost 100.

8. I can’t drive, so I never drive a car from home to campus.

Part 2.
Read this short passage. There are six mistakes. Circle the mistakes, and write the correction above
the mistake.

Bill is often late for work often on Monday. He is late for work because he

always read the Monday morning paper before he go to the office. He enjoys

reading the paper, so he takes his time. Unfortunately, he often takes too much

time. Bill drinks always coffee in the morning, but he hardly ever takes it black.

He drinks coffee without sugar rarely. Sometimes he is late because he goes to

work by bus. He doesn’t never drives to work.

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166 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 14. Reading Practice: Matching People with Their Actions

Read the postings to an Internet bulletin board with advice for online shoppers. Notice the under-
lined adverbs of frequency. Then fill in the chart on page 166. The grammar from this unit is
underlined for you.

Never buy an item at the first site you visit! It’s always a good idea to check several
sites. In fact, the first site I go to rarely has the best price. I don’t know why that is.
Sally Shopper

It’s usually not a good idea to buy an item too quickly. Take a few days to think
about it, and, as Sally Shopper says, to check other sites. You can often find a better
price later.
Cautious Carl

I disagree with Carl. Often items sell out, or sales end. Sometimes you get lucky, sure,
but if you don’t buy an item when you see it, you might never find it again!
Bargain Hunter

I think it’s important to read other customers’ reviews of the product. You can usually
learn a lot that way. Of course advertisers always say their products are great. I want
to hear from a real person who has experience with using that product. I seldom buy
a product online if there aren’t any reviews.
Buyer B-ware

Even great products sometimes have problems, so make sure you only buy from a site
that has a good return policy. It’s important to be able to get your money back or to
get your item replaced.
Cautious Carl

I never like to give out my credit card number online. Isn’t that risky? Sometimes I
read stories in the newspaper about identity theft. Am I just worrying too much?
Nellie

Nellie, I rarely worry about security with online payments. Just make sure that when
you check out, you see the https:// at the beginning of the website address. That
means that the site is secure. However, if you feel nervous, then just check the site’s
contact information. You can often find a phone number, and then you order over
the phone. Or you can usually pay by check through the mail. Of course, that almost
always takes longer.
Thrifty1
Clear Grammar 2, 2nd edition: Keys to Grammar for English Language Learners
Keith S. Folse
http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=273336
Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 167

Put a check mark () in the column to match the names of the people with the descriptions.
Sometimes more than one answer is possible. Sometimes none is possible.

Bargain Buyer Cautious Sally

Hunter B-Ware Carl Nellie Shopper Thrifty1
1. I rarely worry about
paying online.

2. I posted a message on
this board.

3. I believe in moving
quickly if you see
something you want
to buy.
4. I disagree with Cautious
Carl.

5. I talked about security.

6. I recommend going to
different sites to see if
they have better prices.

7. I always look for what

other people say about a
product before I buy.

8. I bought a used car

online.
Clear Grammar 2, 2nd edition: Keys to Grammar for English Language Learners
Keith S. Folse
http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=273336
Michigan ELT, 2012

168 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 15. Vocabulary Practice: Word Knowledge

Circle the word or phrase that is most closely related to the word or phrase on the left. Use a
dictionary to check the meaning of words you do not know.

Vocabulary Answer Choices

1. an interview 2 people 2 places
2. get to school arrive leave
3. once one time two times
4. check your email read your email write your email
5. a couple one two
6. carve with a knife with a dictionary
7. a chapter in a book in a car
8. a reporter a person a place
9. a pharmacy drugs students
10. rarely seldom usually
11. fail bad good
12. a campus a bank a school
13. seeds usually big usually small
14. skip lunch not eat lunch not pay for lunch
15. enjoy hate like
16. a theft review rob
17. risky dangerous wonderful
18. an item a person a thing
19. variety different same
20. to roast in the bathroom in the kitchen
21. scared afraid population
22. breathe air water
23. prefer like less like more
24. turn into become persuade
25. stay up don’t talk don’t sleep
26. kids children dictionaries
27. a refill more of something less of something
28. a cucumber you eat it you read it
29. shy rarely talks usually talks
30. bored bad good
31. several one more than one
32. smart famous intelligent
33. a clown a person a place
Clear Grammar 2, 2nd edition: Keys to Grammar for English Language Learners
Keith S. Folse
http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=273336
Michigan ELT, 2012

5: Adverbs of Frequency 169

EXERCISE 16. Vocabulary Practice: Collocations

Fill in each blank with the answer on the right that most naturally completes the phrase on the
left. If necessary, use a dictionary to check the meaning of words you do not know.

Vocabulary Answer Choices

1. ahead go take
2. pretty the same many much
3. a few question questions
4. from one day the next for to
5. How many time times
6. Do you a lot of exercise? get make
7. plans with someone do make
8. stay touch in on
9. a tie fair wear
10. I a salad for lunch have often often have
11. in to addition subtraction
12. peppers black green
13. the evening at in
14. ever hardly seldom
15. to a prescription die fill
16. play golf the golf
17. a storm bad pretty
18. lucky get run
19. have flu a the
20. spend two hours shop shopping
21. be scared at of
22. a picture draw wear
23. I disagree you to with
24. doing that enjoy want
25. get ready school for to
26. into the price of a new car looking watching
27. the weekend in on
28. how always often
29. while drive driving
30. majoring in business hobbies
31. a grocery shop store
32. a mistake do make
33. up prefer wake
Clear Grammar 2, 2nd edition: Keys to Grammar for English Language Learners
Keith S. Folse
http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=273336
Michigan ELT, 2012

170 Clear Grammar 2, 2nd Ed.

EXERCISE 17. Writing Practice

Part 1. Editing Student Writing

Read these sentences about one student’s opinion about his nephews. Circle the 15 errors. Then write
the number of the sentence with the error next to the type of error. (Some sentences may have more
than one error.)
a. no subject d. word order
b. article e. negative
c. no verb f. verb tense

My Nephews

1. My younger brotther had ttwo sons.

2. I visitt almostt always tthem during tthe montth of July
because tthatt is when I can ttake a vacattion from work.
3. The older boy is five years old, and he full of energy!
4. Thatt child is on tthe go always. Some people say is like
lighttning.
5. He never sleeps, and he keptt all of us very busy.

6. The younger one is sttill baby, and he sleptt mostt of tthe

ttime.
7. My brotther and his family live in Albany. They chose tto live in tthis citty because
like itt very much.
8. They do no usually ttravel because ttheir boys very young.

9. The boys usually hatte tto ttravel by car because tthey can’tt sttand tto sitt in one
place for a very long ttime.
10. Boys like tto ttravel by ttrain, and tthey ttook a ttrain ttrip aboutt tten ttimes so far.

1 1 . My brotther pointts oftten outt intterestting tthings tto tthe boys while tthey are on
tthe ttrain.
12. I always happy tto see tthem when I can gett away from work!

Part 2. Original Student Writing

Write sentences or a paragraph about a person or family. You can write about a real person, or you
can make up a story. Practice using adverbs of frequency. Underline at least five examples of
frequency words in your writing.