Top Tips Grammar: Frequency and probability

Main points

*This includes words like: ‘always’, ‘ever’, ‘never’, ‘perhaps’, ‘possibly’ and ‘probably’.
*Adverbials of frequency are used to say how often something happens.
*Adverbials of probability are used to say how sure you are about something.
*These adverbial usually come before the main verb, but they come after ‘be’ as a main verb.

 

a) You use adverbials of frequency to say how often something happens.

a lot	frequently	normally	rarely
always	hardly ever	occasionally	sometimes
ever	never	often	usually

- We often swam in the sea.
- She never comes to my parties.

 

b) You use adverbials of probability to say how sure you are about something.

certainly	maybe	perhaps	probably
definitely	obviously	possibly	really

- I definitely saw her yesterday.
- The driver probably knows the quickest route.

 

c) You usually puts adverbial of frequency and probability before the main verb and after an auxiliary or a modal.

- He sometimes works downstairs in the kitchen.
- You are definitely wasting your time.
- I have never had such a horrible meal!
- I shall never forget this day.

Note that you usually put them after ‘be’ as a main verb.

- He is always careful with his money.
- You are probably right.

‘Perhaps’ usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.

- Perhaps the beaches are cleaner in the north.
- Perhaps you need a membership card to get in.

‘A lot’ always comes after the main ver.

- I go swimming a lot in the summer.

 

d) ‘Never’ is a negative adverb.

- She never goes abroad.
- I’ve never been to Europe.

You normally use ‘ever’ in questions, negative sentences, and ‘if’- clauses.

- Have you ever been to a football match?
- Don’t ever do that again!
- If you ever need anything, just call me.

Note that you can sometimes use ‘ever’ in affirmative sentences, for example, after a superlative.

- She is the best dancer I have ever seen.

You use ‘hardly ever’ in affirmative sentences to mean almost never.

- We hardly ever meet.

 

 

 

 

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Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
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See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

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