Often/a lot

AnonymousThey visit me often/a lot.

With the right context, the first one could express pleasure and the second displeasure: They visit me too much!

With no context at all, you can't draw such a conclusion, but the tone of voice could tell the story.

"A lot" is more casual than "often."

Hi Avangi,

Thank you very much for your comment.

Do they mean exactly the same in the following sentence?

He is interested in hiking, so he goes hiking a lot/often/much.

Is 'much' more formal here?

Hi,

Is it true that when a frequency adverb is placed at the end of a sentence it is much stronger, like

"He visits me often"?

Thanks a lot.

AnonymousDo they mean exactly the same in the following sentence?
He is interested in hiking, so he goes hiking a lot/often/much.
Is 'much' more formal here?

In the negative, "I don't go hiking much" is common, but a bit casual.
"I [do] go hiking much" is not used.

I often go hiking.

I don't often go hiking.

Hi Avangi,

"I don't go hiking much/a lot/often."

Do much, a lot and often mean the same here?

Thanks again!

Hi, Anon.

I'd say the three meanings are the same, but the first two are more casual than the third.

That's not to say that the third is necessarily formal.

- A.

Hi,

Avangi, thank you very much.

Could anyone please answer the following question:

Is it true that when a frequency adverb is placed at the end of a sentence it is much stronger? For example:
1.I go hiking often.

2.I often go hiking.

Is 'often' in #1 stronger than the one in #2?

Thanks a lot.

I'd say a little but not much.

Thank you very much, MM.