2.10 Position of Frequency Words and Expressions

EXAMPLES Times Square is always busy. It is almost never quiet in Times Square. I never drive to Times Square. We hardly ever stay home on New Year’s Eve. Sometimes it’s cold on New Year’s Eve. Often it’s hard to get theater tickets. Every night people visit Times Square. People visit Times Square every night.

EXPLANATION We put the frequency word or expression after the verb be.

We put the frequency word or expression before other verbs. We can put sometimes, usually, and often at the beginning of the sentence. We put frequency expressions that start with each or every at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

Notes: 1. We don’t put always, hardly ever, or never before the subject.

I always celebrate New Year’s Eve. (not: Always I celebrate . . . ) 2. We can put sometimes at the end of a sentence.

It’s cold on New Year’s Eve sometimes.

EXERCISE 20 Rewrite each sentence. Use the frequency word or expression given. In some cases, more than one correct word order is possible.

1. I travel with my family. (often)

I often travel with my family.

2. My family and I take a vacation in the summer. (every year)

3. We are interested in seeing something new. (always)

4. We visit major cities, like New York and San Francisco. (often)

5. We visit relatives in other cities. (sometimes)

6. We travel by car. (usually)

7. We fly. (hardly ever)

8. We are bored. (never)