1. Meaning first, position second
An adverb of frequency answers “how often?”. Usually means “on most occasions”, often means “frequently”, and never means “at no time”. It qualifies an action or state rather than naming a new action.
In a simple affirmative statement without an auxiliary, the neutral position is before the main verb. The main verb names the action: walk (“move on foot”), arrive (“reach a place”), eat (“consume food”).
subject + adverb of frequency + main verb
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- adverb —
- A word adding information about an action, quality or circumstance: slowly, very, often.
I usually walk to work.
I **usually** walk to work.
Usually sits between the speaker I and the action walk.
She always arrives on time.
She **always** arrives on time.
Always specifies how often she arrives on time.
2. With be: the linking verb before frequency
When the main verb is be in the form am, is, are, was or were, the adverb usually follows it: She is often busy.
This is neutral word order. Special emphasis can place the adverb before be, for example You always ARE late! Such alternatives are not automatically grammatical errors.
subject + form of be + adverb + description
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- adverb —
- A word adding information about an action, quality or circumstance: slowly, very, often.
She is always cheerful.
She is **always** cheerful.
Always follows is and precedes the description cheerful.
They are usually busy.
They are **usually** busy.
Are links they with the state busy; usually specifies its regularity.
3. When there is more than one verb
An auxiliary helps form a tense, negative or question: for example, have in have seen or do in don’t eat. When there is an auxiliary, the adverb usually goes after the first auxiliary and before the main action.
In a question, the auxiliary moves before the subject while the adverb remains before the main action: Do you usually cook? The subject is the person or thing being discussed; here it is you.
I have never seen that film.
I have **never** seen that film.
Never sits between the auxiliary have and seen.
Do you usually take the bus?
Do you **usually** take the bus?
Do forms the question; usually follows you and precedes take.
4. Other appropriate positions
Sometimes can naturally start a sentence: Sometimes I walk home. This has the same meaning as I sometimes walk home. Do not declare every other position incorrect.
Always eat your vegetables is imperative advice with the subject you unexpressed. It does not show that an ordinary statement can begin Always I eat vegetables.
The auxiliary do can add emphasis to an affirmative statement: They do usually visit us. It confirms that they really do visit regularly. For a neutral statement, They usually visit us is enough.
Sometimes I work from home.
**Sometimes** I work from home.
Sometimes at the beginning is a natural alternative, not a violation of the rule.
They do usually visit us.
They **do usually** visit us.
Do adds emphasis. The sentence is grammatical, although a neutral version does not need do.
5. Check your sentence
Find the action verb or form of be. If there is more than one verb, identify the first auxiliary. Put the adverb in its neutral position and check that the intended frequency is preserved.
Do not put always between a verb and its direct object: I always eat breakfast is correct. The direct object answers “what?” after the action; here it is breakfast. Never already expresses negation, so an extra don’t is unnecessary for the straightforward meaning “at no time”.
I always eat breakfast at home.
I **always** eat breakfast at home.
Always precedes eat; nothing is inserted between eat and breakfast.
We are never late for work.
We are **never** late for work.
Never follows are; there is no separate not in this sentence.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I eat always breakfast at home.
Correct:I always eat breakfast at home.
In a neutral sentence, always precedes eat rather than separating the verb from its object breakfast.
Incorrect:She is often are tired.
Correct:She is often tired.
For one description of a state, is is enough; the extra are is unnecessary.
Incorrect:Do usually you take the bus?
Correct:Do you usually take the bus?
In an ordinary question, do is followed by the subject you, then usually and the main verb take.
Incorrect:They never visits us.
Correct:They never visit us.
The subject they requires visit without -s. Never does not change that agreement.