Frequency
How often does it happen?
Significado
Frequency tells us how many times or how regularly something happens. It can describe a single occasion, a habit, or something that rarely happens. Languages use words, phrases, or special verb forms for this, but many have no special verb form for repetition. Unlike When and how long, Frequency asks how often, not when or for how long.
Como identificar
Look for words or forms that answer how often or how many times something happens.
Na tua língua materna
Frequency is usually expressed by words and phrases such as sempre, geralmente, às vezes, and uma vez por semana. These can occur at the start or end of a sentence or near the verb, depending on what the speaker highlights. Nunca before the verb normally needs no não; after the verb it usually goes with não.
Minha avó sempre almoça ao meio-dia.
Às vezes, a gente pede pizza.
O Paulo não falta ao trabalho nunca.
Não and nunca work together to express one negative meaning.
Na tua língua de aprendizagem
English uses frequency words such as often and usually and phrases such as twice a week. Often and usually normally go before the verb that names the action or state, but after be or the first auxiliary verb, a helper such as have or will. Longer frequency phrases often come at the end of the sentence.
I often take the bus to work.
Often comes before the verb take.
Mia is usually home by six.
Usually comes after is, a form of be.
We play tennis twice a week.
This phrase gives the number of occasions each week.
Learners whose language allows freer word order may put often between a verb and its object, although the usual order is I often drink tea. Learners whose language places frequency words before every verb may overlook their usual position after be.