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Grammar detail: frequency adverbs

frequency adverbs
いつも, よく, ときどき
159 words
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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
+
は
+
Adverb
+
Object
+
Verb
わたし
私
はいつも
なつ
夏
はいなかへ
い
行
きます
。
I go to the country every summer.
あさはいつもさんぽをしますか。
Do you usually go for a walk in the morning?
わたし
私
はときどき
がっこう
学校
を
やす
休
む
。
I am absent from school on occasion.
かれ
彼
はときどき
くるま
車
で
しごと
仕事
に
い
行
く
。
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
い
行
きます
。
I also visit art museums frequently.
とも
友
だち
ですから、よく
はな
話
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
私
はあまりお
かね
金
を
も
持
っていません
。
I don't have much money.
わたし
私
は
ぜんぜん
全然
つか
疲
れていません
。
I'm not at all tired.
わたし
私
はそのことを
ぜんぜん
全然
し
知
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
    い
    行
    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
    ね
    寝
    ました。I slept well.
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See also:

Kanji used in this grammar

全
ゼン   まったく entirely   すべて everything   
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然
ゼン   ネン    resemble   
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行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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寝
シン   ねかす to lay down   ねる to sleep, to lie down   
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私
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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夏
カ   ゲ   なつ summer   
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学
ガク   まなぶ to learn   
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校
コウ    exam   
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休
キュウ   やすむ to rest   やすまる to be rested   やすめる to suspend (use etc.)   
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彼
ヒ   かれ he   
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車
シャ   くるま car   
仕
シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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事
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
友
ユウ   とも friend   
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話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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金
キン   コン   かね gold; money   
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持
ジ   もつ to hold, to have   
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疲
ヒ   fatigue   つかれる to be tired   
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知
チ   しる to know   
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