Basic English 2b: Aiko’s Week – Grammar

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Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action happens. They are typically placed before the main verb in a sentence, but after the verb to be (e.g., “He is always late”).

頻度を表す副詞は、行動がどのくらいの頻度で起こるかを説明します。通常、文の中で主要な動詞の前に置かれますが、動詞「be」の後に置かれます（例：「彼はいつも遅れます」）。

Here’s a list of adverbs of frequency in descending order of frequency:

  1. Always – 100% of the time (e.g., “She always plays tennis after work on Thursdays.”)
  2. Usually – about 80% of the time (e.g., “He usually eats lunch at noon.”)
  3. Often – about 60-70% of the time (e.g., “They often go for a walk in the park.”)
  4. Sometimes – about 40-50% of the time (e.g., “I sometimes drink coffee in the morning.”)
  5. Occasionally – about 30% of the time (e.g., “We occasionally travel abroad.”)
  6. Rarely – about 10% of the time (e.g., “She rarely eats fast food.”)
  7. Never – 0% of the time (e.g., “He never watches TV.”)

Adverbial Phrases of Time

Adverbial phrases of time tell us when an action happens. They provide context and help to clarify the timing of events in a sentence. These phrases can indicate specific times, durations, or frequencies.

時間の副詞句は、行動がいつ起こるかを教えてくれます。これらは文の中で出来事のタイミングを明確にするための文脈を提供します。これらの句は、特定の時間、期間、または頻度を示すことができます。

Examples:

  • Every weekday: This phrase indicates how often something occurs (e.g., “Aiko wakes up at 6:30 AM every weekday.”)
  • On weekends: This phrase tells us about a specific time frame (e.g., “Aiko’s schedule is different on weekends.”)
  • In the evening: This phrase specifies when an action takes place (e.g., “Aiko calls her family in the evening.”)

How to Use Them:
Adverbial phrases of time can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, or even in the middle, depending on what you want to emphasize.

時間の副詞句は、強調したい内容によって、文の始めや終わり、または真ん中に置くことができます。

Note: When the adverbial phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is typically used to separate it from the main part of the sentence.

注意: 副詞句が文の始めに置かれる場合、通常、文の主要部分と区切るためにコンマが使われます。

  • After work, Aiko often goes to the gym. (Comma used)
  • Aiko often goes to the gym after work. (No Comma)