Ces mots indiquent la fréquence, du plus fréquent au moins fréquent :
always — tout le temps
usually — presque tout le temps
often — souvent
sometimes — parfois
rarely — presque jamais
never — jamais
Le sens de chaque mot de fréquence
I always brush my teeth. (every day)
She usually walks to school. (almost every day)
We often eat rice. (many days)
He sometimes plays games. (on some days)
We rarely eat out. (almost never)
They never drink coffee. (not one time)
Not "sometimes = every time" — say "sometimes = on some days, not most". sometimes est au milieu : plus que never, moins que often.
Essayez: Which word means on some days, but not most days? (sometimes / always / never) Réponse: sometimes — Si tu as choisi always ou never, ce sont les deux extrêmes : always signifie tout le temps et never signifie jamais. sometimes se situe au milieu : certains jours, mais pas la plupart.
Devant le mot d'action
Les mots comme always, usually, often, sometimes, never expriment la fréquence. Place-les devant le mot d'action.
She eats breakfast. → She always eats breakfast.
They watch TV. → They never watch TV.
I play tennis. → I sometimes play tennis.
Not "I eat always breakfast." — say "I always eat breakfast.". Le mot de fréquence se place devant le mot d'action (eat), pas après.
Essayez: She wakes up early. Mets les mots dans l'ordre. Réponse: She usually wakes up early. — Le mot de fréquence se place juste devant le mot d'action : She usually wakes up early. Et non « She wakes up usually early. »
Après am / is / are
Mais avec am, is, are, le mot se place après le verbe be.
She is late. → She is usually late.
I am happy. → I am always happy.
They are busy. → They are often busy.
Not "She always is late." — say "She is always late.". Avec is, le mot de fréquence se place après, pas avant.
Essayez: He is late. Mets les mots dans l'ordre. Réponse: He is often late. — Après le verbe be is, on met le mot de fréquence : He is often late. Avec am/is/are, le mot se place après, pas avant.
Essayez: Before the action word, but after the verb be. Lars ___ tired in the morning. (is always / always is) Réponse: is always — « Tired » s’emploie avec le verbe be is, le mot de fréquence vient donc après : is always tired. (Devant les mots d'action, mais après am/is/are.)