Please rephrase this. (explanation on some frequency adverbs)

Question

Hi teachers,Could you rephrase these explanations in one? Neither of them sound good to me.a) We only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often with a negative verb in a negative sentence.b) We only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences. Thanks in advance

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I don't understand.

Are you saying that a sentence like 'Tom often watches TV' is wrong?

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply.
Are you saying that a sentence like 'Tom often watches TV' is wrong? Not at all.

The thing is that I have given my students the ' Common Adverbs of Frequency'. They have in a chart these ones: Always, Usually, Often Frequently, Sometimes, Seldom, Rarely, and Never.
Then I gave them this explanation:
Important
We only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences.
Since it is incorrect because there are other adverbs that can be used in negative too, for example 'normally, regularly, constanly, and routinely,' I should rephrase the explanation by saying:
Important
According to the adverbs given we only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, frequently, and often in negative sentences.
This is my question, if the underlined explanation is right according to the context?

Thanks
TS

Clive · Answer

Hi,

We only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences.
This makes me think that you mean 'we do not use them in positive sentences'.

Instead, say
We use only the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences.
This makes me think 'those are the only ones, no others'.

To use the sentence you have underlined, I'd reword as
eg From this list of frequency adverbs, we use only always, usually, frequently and often in negative sentences.

In terms of your meaning, it seems fine to me to say eg Sometimes Tom does not eat lunch.

Clive

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Thinking SpainImportant We only use ~~the~~ adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences.Since it is incorrect because there are other adverbs that can be used in negative too, for example 'normally, regularly, constanly, and routinely,' I should rephrase the explanation by saying:

Thinking SpainImportant According to the adverbs given we only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, frequently, and often in negative sentences.

Hi TS,
I am not sure I follow you. Such classification is new to me. What about these sentences:
" my husband usually comes home around 6",
" We frequently call our parents".
" We rarely eat out".
" Peter occasionally takes bus to work".
Are these not correct?

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Clive,
Thank you very much for your reply.
So I should add the adverb 'sometimes' to your definition given, shouldn't I?
From this list of frequency adverbs, we use only always, usually, frequently, often, and sometimes in negative sentences.

It's incredible how much a sentence can change, in this case, with the position of the word 'only'.

We only use the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences. This makes me think that you mean 'we do not use them in positive sentences'.

Instead, say We use only the adverbs of frequency always, usually, and often in negative sentences. This makes me think 'those are the only ones, no others'.

Best,
TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

dimsumexpressHi TS,I am not sure I follow you. Such classification is new to me. What about these sentences:" my husband usually comes home around 6", " We frequently call our parents"." We rarely eat out"." Peter occasionally takes bus to work".Are these not correct?

Hi dimsumexpress,
Thank you for your concerning. Yes of course they are correct. I just wanted to have the right explanation about the negatives ones.

Best,
TS

Please rephrase this. (explanation on some frequency adverbs)

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