Para decir con qué frecuencia sucede algo: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. Aprende su posición y matices.
1) Escala y significado aproximado
100% → always 80–90% → usually / normally 60–70% → often 40–50% → sometimes 20–30% → occasionally 5–10% → rarely / seldom / hardly ever 0% → never
| Adverbio | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|
| always | I always have breakfast. | siempre |
| usually / normally | She usually takes the bus. | normalmente |
| often | We often play soccer. | a menudo |
| sometimes | They sometimes eat out. | a veces |
| occasionally | He occasionally travels for work. | de vez en cuando |
| rarely / seldom / hardly ever | I hardly ever drink soda. | rara vez / casi nunca |
| never | She never smokes. | nunca |
2) Posición en la oración
Antes del verbo principal Después de be Entre auxiliar y verbo Inicio/fin con sometimes
| Regla | Estructura | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| Verbo principal (no be) | S + adv + V | I often go to the gym. |
| Verbo to be | S + be + adv | She is usually early. |
| Con auxiliares | Aux + adv + V | We can sometimes meet online. |
| sometimes flexible | Sometimes + S + V / S + V + sometimes | Sometimes I walk to work. · I walk to work sometimes. |
Importante: never ya es negativo. No uses doble negación: ✓ I never go · ✗ I don’t never go.
3) Expresiones de frecuencia (final de frase)
once/twice a week three times a month every day / at weekends from time to time
- Van normalmente al final: I go running twice a week.
- También al inicio para énfasis: Every morning, I read the news.
- a lot expresa frecuencia/cantidad y va al final: We travel a lot.
4) Matices y combinaciones útiles
- almost always / almost never para aproximar.
- not always (= no siempre): He is not always late.
- very often ✓ / very always ✗ (no se usa).
Para preguntas: Do you ever…? → Do you ever cook at home?
5) Errores comunes
| Incorrecto | Correcto | Motivo |
|---|---|---|
| *She usually is late* | She is usually late. | Con be, el adverbio va después. |
| *I don’t never eat meat* | I never eat meat. | never ya es negativo. |
| *We go often to the cinema* | We often go to the cinema. | Antes del verbo principal. |
| *Very always* | almost always / usually | “very always” no es natural. |
6) Mini-práctica
- Coloca el adverbio en el lugar correcto:
a) She (often) goes running. · b) He (never) is late. · c) We (usually) are tired. - Completa con un adverbio apropiado:
I ______ eat breakfast (80%). · They ______ watch TV (0%). - Reescribe evitando doble negación:
I don’t never drink coffee → ____________ - Expresión de frecuencia al final:
I visit my parents ________ (dos veces por semana). - Pregunta con ever:
¿Alguna vez cocinas comida mexicana? → ____________
Soluciones ejemplo: 1) a) often goes · b) is never late · c) are usually tired · 2) usually / never · 3) I never drink coffee · 4) I visit my parents twice a week · 5) Do you ever cook Mexican food?
7) Próximo paso
Sigue con There was / There were (pasado de there is/are) para hablar de existencia en el pasado.