U2: Frequency adverbs & expressions use and Present Simple

Unit 2 - Frequency adverbs use and Present Simple

Objective: Identify use of Present Simple Tense regarding frequency adverbs and expressions, by analysing its use through images, examples in context and answering multiple choice questions.

Look at the following examples taken from the text "The great garbage patch" we read last class and analyse the context and structure of each of them.

Example 1

The plastic usually comes from ships, from litter on beaches, the wind carries it from land, and rivers take it out to sea.

Example 2

This plastic is dangerous for marine life because sometimes fish swallow it

Example 3

But the most harmful plastic is invisible, because ocean waves and sunlight often break up the plastic into tiny pieces. 

Multiple Choice

Do the words sometimes, usually and often, mean the same frequency?

• Yes

• No

Frequency adverbs...

• Are preferably used in Present Simple Tense, when we talk about repetitive actions, habits, free time activities and daily routines.

• They indicate "how often" we do something.

Frequency adverbs sentence placement.

• For sentences using verb to be, the frequency adverb goes after it. Look at the examples in the chart on the right.

• For the rest of the verbs, in any type of sentences (affirmative, negative and interrogative) the frequency adverb goes BEFORE the main verb.

Look at the following examples and see the adverbs placements in them.

• We always recycle plastic bottles. (affirmative sentence - before any verb)

• My older brother is often worried about what to do with rubbish. (affirmative sentence - after the verb to be)

• Who do you usually celebrate New Year with? (interrogative form - before any verb)

• George doesn't always come for holidays. (negative sentences - before any ver

Are there other ways to express frequency, apart from the adverbs?

Yes, they are called FREQUENCY EXPRESSIONS. Let's take a look!

Frequency expressions

• In their use, they are the same as the frequency adverbs (how often you do something but they have some differences:

• ONE: they are placed AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.

• TWO: They are more specific than the adverbs. You can tell exactly the frequency of the action you're talking about. Look at the picture on the right.

Look at the examples using frequency expressions.

• We go to school five days a week. (5 dias a la semana--> more specific frequency)

• Do they stay at home every night? (cada noche --> more specific frequency)

• My friends and me are in the office four days a week. (4 dias a la semana --> more specific frequency)

Practice time

Look at the following statements and choose the correct option to complete them.

Multiple Choice

Grace doesn't _________ meat.

• never eat

• always eat

• eat always

• three days a week eat

Multiple Choice

Do you _________ go home at 8:00 pm?

• every day

• every night

• often

• once a week

Multiple Choice

I eat vegetables _______

• once a day

• sometimes

• always

• seldom

Multiple Choice

Order the following sentence: late / is / she / sometimes

• She is late sometimes.

• She sometimes is late

• She is sometimes late

• She late is sometimes.

Multiple Choice

I ___________ happy.

• usually am

• am usually

• am every day

• every day am

Multiple Choice

Put the following sentence in order: usually / he / goes / to / on / Fridays / the / cinema

• He goes usually to the cinema on Fridays.

• He goes to the cinema on Fridays usually.

• He usually goes to the cinema on Fridays.

• Usually he goes to the cinema on Fridays.

Multiple Choice

You ________ never friendly.

• come

• are

• go

• usually