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.
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).
Practice
Which sentence has the adverb in the correct position?
I havemet anyone as talented as her.
Put the words in the correct order:
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.
Practice
Which adverb best fits: "She _____ misses a deadline. She's incredibly reliable."
Iforget to water my plants. I've killed several.
Put the words in the correct order: