Components

Grammar detail: frequency adverbs

frequency adverbs  いつも, よく, ときどき
159 words
My current mastery of this grammar point:
LOG IN to view grammar mastery data
Commonly used frequency adverbs
These words describe how often an action happens. They are often used with verbs in either the present or past tense. あまりand ぜんぜん are used with the negative form of a verb.
いつもalways
よくoften
ときどきsometimes
あまり〜ませんnot very often
ぜんぜん
全然
〜ません
never; not at all
The common structure for placing an adverb is:
Topic
+
+
Adverb
+
Object
+
Verb
わたし
いつも
なつ
いなか
きます

I go to the country every summer.
あさいつもさんぽします
Do you usually go for a walk in the morning?
わたし
ときどき
がっこう
学校
やす

I am absent from school on occasion.
かれ
ときどき
くるま
しごと
仕事

He sometimes goes to work by car.
Adverbs can also be placed directly before the verb.
びじゅつかんにもよく
きます

I also visit art museums frequently.
とも
だち
ですからよく
はな
します

Because we are friends, we talk often.
あまり and ぜんぜん can be used with the negative polite or negative plain form a verb.
わたし
あまり
かね
っていません

I don't have much money.
わたし
ぜんぜん
全然
つか
れていません

I'm not at all tired.
わたし
そのこと
ぜんぜん
全然
らなかった

I was entirely ignorant of the matter.
Note: While よく usually means "often," it also means "well." To tell them apart, look at what the verb is doing:
If the verb is a "repeatable action", it usually means often.
  • よく
    きます。I often go.
If the verb is a "state or result", it usually means well or thoroughly.
  • よく わかります。I understand well.
  • よく
    ました。I slept well.
Please LOG IN for free flashcards
See also:

Kanji used in this grammar

ゼン   まった entirely   すべ everything   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ゼン   ネン    resemble   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シン   ねかす to lay down   ね to sleep, to lie down   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カ   ゲ   なつ summer   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ガク   まな to learn   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ    exam   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キュウ   やす to rest   やすまる to be rested   やすめる to suspend (use etc.)   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ヒ   かれ he   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シャ   くるま car   
シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
ユウ   とも friend   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ワ   はな to talk   はなし talking   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キン   コン   かね gold; money   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ジ   も to hold, to have   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ヒ   fatigue   つかれる to be tired   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
チ   し to know   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
Problem with this grammar? Question or comment? Please CONTACT US.
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language. To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard. You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly. For an overview, take the tour.
×