French grammar simplified – French adverbs of Frequency

An adverb describes a verb. It is used to add qualities to the action we are describing. Adverbs of frequency help us express how often an action occurs, whether it’s a daily routine, a habit, or a special event. In French, these adverbs play a crucial role in giving nuance to our statements and making our conversations more dynamic.

Teacher tip: Adverbs of frequency are usually AFTER the verb, unlike English.

Fundamental French Adverbs of Frequency

Teacher Tip: If you are a beginner in French, you must add these adverbs to your vocabulary ASAP. If you are still not confident with your verbs and conjugations, adding an adverb will help the person understand what you mean even if the verb is incorrect.

1. Toujours (Always):

Je bois toujours un café le matin.
I always drink coffee in the morning.

2. Souvent (Often):

Nous visitons Paris assez souvent. 
We visit Paris quite often.

3. Parfois (Sometimes):

Parfois, il pleut en automne. 
It sometimes rains in the fall.

4. Rarement (Rarely):

Tu manges rarement des escargots. 
You rarely eat snails.

5. Jamais (Never):

Ils (ne) regardent jamais la télévision. 
They never watch television.

Teacher tip: Remember the “ne” is not mandatory in SPOKEN French. To sound more natural, you can skip it.

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Common French Adverbs of Frequency

If you’re already familiar with French sentence structure and grammar, learn these:

6. À peine (hardly, barely)

Je comprends à peine ce qu'il dit.
I hardly understand what he is saying.

7. De temps en temps (once in a while)

Je vais au cinéma de temps en temps.
I go to the movies once in a while.

8. D’habitude (usually)

D’habitude, tu étudies quand?
When do you usually study?

9. Encore (again, still)

Il doit encore refaire son devoir.
He still has to redo his homework.

10. Encore une fois (one more time)

Répète ça encore une fois, s'il te plaît.
Repeat that one more time, please.

11. Fréquemment (frequently)

Elle voyage fréquemment pour le travail.
She travels frequently for work.

12. Généralement (generally)

Les magasins sont généralement ouverts le samedi.
Shops are generally open on Saturdays.

13. Pas souvent (not often)

Je ne vais pas souvent à la plage, et toi?
I don't go to the beach often, how about you?

14. Presque jamais (hardly ever)

Il ne sort presque jamais le soir.
He hardly ever goes out in the evening.

15. Presque toujours (almost always)

Elle est presque toujours en retard.
She is almost always late.

16. Quelquefois (sometimes)

Je mange des bonbons quelquefois.
I eat candy sometimes.

Pronunciation: LIAISONS with French Adverbs

If you want to sound more French, you cannot forget the liaison.

De temps en temps: the s links with the e and forms a “z” sound.

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