Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They range from always (100%) to never (0%). Their position in the sentence depends on the type of verb, and getting it wrong is a very common beginner-to-intermediate mistake.
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Position of Frequency Adverbs
Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, never) go: before the main verb in simple tenses ("She often works late"), after "be" ("He is always early"), and after the first auxiliary in complex tenses ("I have never tried sushi"). They do NOT go at the very beginning or end of a sentence when used with the main verb (though "sometimes" and "usually" can appear at the start for emphasis).
Frequency Adverbs and Their Meanings
Understanding the approximate frequency each adverb implies helps with precision: always (100%), almost always, usually/generally (80-90%), often/frequently (60-75%), sometimes/occasionally (30-50%), rarely/seldom/not often (10-20%), hardly ever/almost never (<5%), never (0%). "Seldom" and "hardly ever" are especially formal and literary.